As a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible to sponsor your dependent child(ren) for permanent residence (PR) in Canada.
This guide explains who can sponsor and be sponsored, the responsibilities of sponsorship, and the step-by-step application process.
Who Can Sponsor a Dependent Child
To sponsor your child, you must:
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Be at least 18 years old.
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Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian.
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Live in Canada, or plan to live in Canada once your child becomes a PR.
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Meet the minimum income requirement (if applicable).
👉 Only Canadian citizens living abroad can sponsor from outside Canada. Permanent residents must be residing in Canada.
💡 No minimum income requirement applies if your dependent child has no children of their own. If they do, you must meet the financial threshold outlined in the Financial Evaluation form (IMM 1283).
Who Cannot Sponsor
You may be ineligible if you:
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Already have a pending sponsorship application for the same dependent.
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Are behind on immigration loans, bonds, or court-ordered payments (e.g., child support).
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Failed to meet financial obligations from a prior sponsorship.
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Are bankrupt and not yet discharged.
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Are receiving social assistance (except for disability).
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Have been convicted of certain violent or criminal offences.
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Are currently in prison.
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Have been issued a removal order from Canada.
(Quebec has its own rules; some restrictions may not apply there.)
Who Can Be Sponsored
Your child must be admissible to Canada and meet the definition of a dependent:
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Under 22 years old, not married, and not in a common-law relationship.
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Over 22 years old, if they are financially dependent due to a physical/mental condition and have relied on their parents since before age 22.
The child must continue to meet the dependency criteria until Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) finalizes the application.
Sponsorship Undertaking & Agreement
When sponsoring, you must sign an undertaking agreement, committing to financially support your child for a set period. This includes providing for their basic needs (food, housing, clothing) and health costs not covered by public services.
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If your child receives social assistance, you must repay the government.
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You cannot withdraw the sponsorship after your child becomes a PR.
Undertaking duration in Canada:
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Under 22 years old: 10 years or until age 25 (whichever comes first).
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22 or older: 3 years.
Application Process
You must complete two applications together:
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Sponsorship application (for you as the sponsor).
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PR application (for your child as the principal applicant).
Applications are submitted online through the Permanent Residence (PR) Portal.
Steps to apply:
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Download the application package (instruction guide, forms, and personalized checklist).
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Gather documents listed in the checklist. If a document is missing, explain why.
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Children 18+ who have lived abroad for 6+ months must provide police certificates.
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Complete and validate all forms in the PR portal.
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Pay the application fees:
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Sponsorship fee: $85
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Processing fee: $85
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Biometrics fee: $85 (for dependents 14+)
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Additional dependent child fee (if applicable): $175
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Submit the application online.
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Provide additional documents if IRCC requests them.
Processing times depend on the child’s country of residence.
Special Rules for Quebec
Quebec has its own sponsorship system. Applicants must submit to both IRCC and MIFI (Ministère de l’immigration, de la francisation et de l’intégration).
Key points:
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Sponsors must sign a Quebec-specific undertaking agreement.
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An income assessment is required if the child has dependents.
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Quebec currently does not accept sponsorships for dependent children aged 18+ until June 25, 2026 (applications submitted before then will be returned with fees refunded).
Sponsoring a dependent child allows families to reunite in Canada while ensuring the child has financial and emotional support as they transition to life in Canada.
