Dependent Child Sponsorship in Canada
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor a dependent child: under 22 and without a spouse or common-law partner, or older if dependent since before 22 because of a physical or mental condition. The child's age locks in on the day IRCC receives your complete application, so turning 22 during processing does not end eligibility.
$180
To sponsor a dependent child, sponsorship and processing fees combined
41 months
IRCC's estimate for a dependent child applying from outside Canada, updated October 9, 2026
Under 22
The age limit, on the day IRCC receives the complete application
IMM 5604
The declaration the other parent signs when a child under 18 comes without them
These are government fees only. They do not include third-party costs such as the immigration medical exam, translations, or police certificates.
Who counts as a dependent child?
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor dependent children for permanent residence as part of the Family Class under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).
- Under 22
- Under IRPR s.2, a child who is under 22 years of age and does not have a spouse or common-law partner.
- 22 or older
- A child who has depended substantially on the financial support of a parent since before age 22, and is unable to be financially self-supporting due to a physical or mental condition.
A child who is under 22 but is married or in a common-law partnership is not a dependent child for Canadian immigration purposes, even if they are otherwise financially dependent on the parent.
On what day is the child's age assessed?
The lock-in date is the date on which a child's age is assessed for eligibility. It is the date IRCC receives a complete application, not the date permanent residence is granted.
IRCC's tool for checking whether a child qualifies as a dependant says it uses the child's age on that date "no matter how old they are during processing", and Guide 5289 sets the test on "the day we receive your complete application".
- Under 22 when IRCC received the complete application
- The lock-in date protects the child's eligibility. They can turn 22 (or older) during processing and still be approved as a dependent.
- The application was incomplete at submission
- Guide 5289 says IRCC returns applications with missing or incomplete information. The age counts on the day IRCC receives a complete one, which could be after the child's 22nd birthday.
- Already 22 at submission
- They cannot be included as a dependent child unless the physical or mental condition exception applies.
- Married after the lock-in date
- Only age is locked in. IRCC says that, with the exception of age, the child must continue to meet the requirements (including having no spouse or common-law partner) until it finishes processing, and Guide 5289 says until they enter Canada. A child who marries or enters a common-law relationship after the lock-in date generally becomes ineligible.
The rule
The general rule under IRPR is that a dependent child must be under 22 years of age and have no spouse or common-law partner.
Can an adopted child be sponsored as a dependent child?
Adopted children can be sponsored to Canada, but the rules vary depending on whether the adoption is already complete and how old the child is. An adopted child can be sponsored as a dependent child (subject to the same age rule) or, separately, as a child under 18 you intend to adopt in Canada (IRPR s.117(1)(g)).
For an adoption that has taken place, IRPR s.117 requires that it was in accordance with the laws of the place where it took place, created a genuine parent-child relationship, and was not entered into primarily to gain status or privilege under the Act.
To sponsor a child under 18 for adoption in Canada, you need a written statement from the province or territory of destination: for a Hague Convention adoption, its approval (with the child's country) as conforming to the Convention; otherwise, a statement that it does not object to the adoption (IRPR s.117(1)(g)). IRCC's adoption pages say you can start the immigration process before the adoption process when the adoption will be completed in Canada.
Which children must be declared, and what must the other parent sign?
When sponsoring a spouse or partner, you can include their dependent children in the same application as accompanying dependants. The child does not need to be your biological or adopted child: they can be your spouse's children from a previous relationship.
Custody and consent:
- If the child's other parent has legal custody or shared custody, IRCC will generally require evidence that the other parent consents to the child immigrating to Canada
- For a child under 18, Guide 5289 asks for the Declaration From Non-Accompanying Parent/Guardian (IMM 5604), signed by hand by the other parent with photo ID
- Where getting it signed is impossible (for example, the parent's whereabouts are unknown), a letter of explanation must be included
- Immigration cannot be used to circumvent custody orders, and relocating a child without the other parent's consent may breach a custody order
Who can sponsor a dependent child?
To sponsor a dependent child, you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a person registered in Canada under the Indian Act
- Be at least 18 years old
- Live in Canada; a citizen living abroad must show they plan to live in Canada when the child becomes a permanent resident, and a permanent resident living abroad cannot sponsor
- Not be in default on any previously signed undertaking
- Not be receiving social assistance for a reason other than a disability
What does it cost to sponsor a dependent child?
Government of Canada fees increased on April 30, 2026. The current IRCC fee list for sponsoring a dependent child:
- Sponsoring a dependent child (sponsorship fee plus processing fee combined): $180 CAD
- A child sponsored as the principal applicant and a child included on a parent or spouse application are each billed at the same combined rate
- Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF): $600 CAD per adult, but the RPRF does not apply to dependent children, so a sponsored child generally does not pay it
- Biometrics: $85 CAD per person, to a maximum of $170 CAD per family (children under 14 are generally exempt from giving biometrics)
Which free tool checks your own case?
- Document ChecklistTypical documents by application type
- Fee CalculatorCurrent government fees, itemized
- Processing TimesIRCC wait times by program
Free, with no account. What you enter in a tool stays in your browser.
What do people ask?
How does dependent child sponsorship work in Canada?
A Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsors the child for permanent residence in the Family Class. The child must be under 22 with no spouse or common-law partner on the day IRCC receives the complete application, or older and dependent because of a physical or mental condition. A child can apply as the principal applicant or on a parent's or spouse's application. Our Document Checklist builds the file list.
What is the current age limit to sponsor a dependent child to Canada?
Under 22, with no spouse or common-law partner, under IRPR s.2. Age is assessed on the lock-in date, generally the day IRCC receives your complete application, so turning 22 later does not end eligibility. Marrying after that date generally does. A child 22 or older can still qualify if dependent on a parent since before 22 because of a physical or mental condition.
How long does dependent child sponsorship take in Canada?
IRCC currently estimates about 41 months for a dependent child applying from outside Canada, in figures updated October 9, 2026. That estimate excludes Quebec, and IRCC updates it monthly. Because the child's age locks in on the day IRCC receives a complete application, a long wait does not by itself make the child too old. Our Processing Times page tracks the current estimate.
How much does it cost to sponsor a dependent child in 2026?
The IRCC fee list shows $180 CAD to sponsor a dependent child, combining the sponsorship and processing fees, after the April 30, 2026 increase. Biometrics cost $85 CAD per person, to a maximum of $170 CAD per family, and children under 14 are generally exempt. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee does not apply to dependent children. Our Fee Calculator totals the government fees for your family.
What documents do I need for dependent child sponsorship?
Start with the complete application, because IRCC returns an incomplete one, and the age counts on the day IRCC receives a complete one. Declare every dependent child, including any who will not immigrate. Each child needs an immigration medical exam by an IRCC panel physician, and biometrics from age 14. If the other parent of a child under 18 is not coming, IRCC asks for their signed declaration (IMM 5604), or a letter of explanation if it is impossible to get. Our Document Checklist tool builds the full list for your case.
Is there an income requirement to sponsor only a dependent child?
Generally no. Sponsoring only a dependent child carries no minimum income requirement in most cases, unlike sponsoring parents or grandparents. The exception is a dependent child who has a dependent child of their own (IRPR s.133(4)). You still sign an undertaking to support the child and meet the other sponsor rules, such as not being in default on a past undertaking and not receiving social assistance except for disability.
I forgot to declare one of my children on my spouse sponsorship application. What happens?
It is serious. Guide 5289 says every family member must be declared and examined, even one who will not come to Canada. Under IRPR s.117(9)(d), a child who was not declared and examined when their parent applied for permanent residence cannot later be sponsored by that parent, apart from the narrow exceptions in s.117(10) and (11). If you discover an oversight, contact IRCC or an immigration lawyer about your situation.
Can I sponsor my stepchild?
Not as your own dependent child unless you have adopted them. IRPR s.2 limits a dependent child to a biological or adopted child of the parent. Your spouse's or partner's children can come as accompanying dependants on the sponsorship application for your spouse or partner, under the same under-22 rule.
Part of:Sponsoring family
- Conjugal Partner Sponsorship Canada: When You Can't Live Together
- Super Visa vs Parent Sponsorship (PGP): Which Is Right for You?
- Sponsorship Undertaking: How Long You're Responsible
The textbook on this subject
Volume 2: Immigrating to Canada $79
The economic and family pathways to permanent residence, explained from the published criteria.
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This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.