416-827-8778 Child Sponsorship
Canadian citizens and permanent residents are both eligible to sponsor their dependent-age children.
Sponsor Requirements
A Sponsor must be:
- At least 18 years old
- A Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident
- Not on social welfare
- Not in Bankruptcy proceedings
- Not in arrears with support payments
- Not have certain criminal convictions
If you are a permanent resident, you must live in Canada to sponsor your dependent child. If you are a Canadian citizen and you are living outside Canada with your dependent child, you may still submit the sponsorship application. However, you will have to demonstrate that you plan to live in Canada once the application is approved.
How Old Can a Sponsored Child Be?
In almost all cases, a Dependent Child must be less than 22 years old at the time the sponsorship application is received by IRCC in order to be eligible for sponsorship. As long as the child is less than 22 at the time the application is received, the child’s age is “locked in,” and they will remain eligible to be sponsored no matter how long the application takes to process and even if they are 22 or older at the time of the final decision.
There are some exceptions to this rule, such as a child who is older than 22 but who has been dependent on their Canadian parent since before they turned 22. Contact us for details regarding exceptions to the dependent child age cut off.
How Long is the Sponsor Responsible for the Child they Sponsor?
The sponsor is financially responsible for the child they sponsor either for 10 years after the child arrives in Canada, or until the child turns 25 years old – whichever comes sooner.