How To Sponsor Adult Dependent Children For Canadian PR?

Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be able to sponsor their adult children for permanent residence, provided certain conditions are met.

Many people assume sponsorship is only available for young children. However, Canadian immigration rules allow some adult children to qualify as dependent children, making them eligible for family sponsorship.

A sponsor may submit an application for their own dependent child or for the dependent child of their spouse.

The following information applies to sponsors who plan to live with their child anywhere in Canada outside Quebec. Note that Quebec follows its own sponsorship rules and procedures.

Who Qualifies As A Dependent Child?

There are two ways a child can meet the definition of a dependent child under Canadian immigration law.

Under The Age Of 22

A child qualifies as a dependent if they are under 22 years of age and are not married or living in a common-law relationship.

For sponsorship purposes, the child’s age is locked in on the date the application is submitted. Even if the child turns 22 while the application is being reviewed, eligibility is based on their age at the time of submission.

Financially Dependent Children Aged 22 Or Older

Adult children aged 22 or older can also qualify as dependents in certain situations.

To meet the requirement, the child must be unable to financially support themselves because of a physical or mental condition. In addition, they must have relied on their parent or parents for financial support since before turning 22.

Requirements For A Dependent Child

If an adult child meets the definition of a dependent child, they must also be admissible to Canada.

This means they cannot be found inadmissible because of reasons such as:

• A criminal record
• Medical conditions
• National security risk

Immigration officials will review these factors before making a final decision on the permanent residence application.

Requirements For Sponsors

To sponsor a dependent child, a person must be at least 18 years old and hold one of the following statuses:

• Canadian citizen
• Permanent resident
• Registered Indian

Permanent residents must continue living in Canada during the entire sponsorship process.

Sponsors must also show that they intend to live in Canada with the child after permanent residence is granted.

Another important requirement is agreeing to provide financial support for the child during the period set out in the sponsorship undertaking.

Sponsors must also avoid situations that could make them ineligible to sponsor, including certain criminal convictions, immigration-related violations, or financial issues.

Income requirements may also apply in some cases.

Moreover, if a dependent child has dependent children of their own, the sponsor must meet the minimum income level required to support everyone included in the application.

This includes the sponsor, the dependent child, and any dependent family members connected to that child.

Financial Support Obligations

Sponsors must agree to provide financial support for their dependent child during the full undertaking period.

For children aged 22 or younger, the undertaking lasts for 10 years or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first. 

For dependent children over the age of 22, the undertaking lasts for three years.

During this period, sponsors are responsible for helping meet the child’s basic needs.

It is important to note that permanent residents sponsored through this pathway may still qualify for publicly funded healthcare coverage.

However, if the sponsored child receives social assistance during the undertaking period, the sponsor may be required to repay the government for the amount received.

How To Apply For Sponsorship?

The application package for dependent child sponsorship is available through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s webpage titled “Sponsoring your spouse, partner or dependent child.”

Applicants must select “my dependent child” as the family member they intend to sponsor and indicate the country where the child currently lives.

The system then provides the required forms and document checklist.

A sponsor may complete and submit the application personally or choose to use a representative.

If a representative is hired, that person must be authorized under Canadian law. Authorized representatives include lawyers licensed by a provincial or territorial law society and immigration consultants licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants.

All representatives must be declared using the required government form.

This requirement applies whether the representative is a paid professional or an unpaid friend or family member.

Careful preparation of the application is important. Even small mistakes or missing information can result in delays or refusal.

The estimated application timelines for dependent child sponsorship vary depending on the country where the child lives.

Applicants should ensure that all forms, supporting documents, and declarations are complete before submission to help avoid unnecessary delays.

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