Family sponsorship
Dependent children sponsorship
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their dependent children to live in Canada. We help you show the relationship clearly and prepare a complete application.
Overview
A dependent child can be sponsored for permanent residence by a parent who is a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or registered under the Indian Act.
Children can be sponsored on their own, or included as dependants when you sponsor a spouse or partner.
Canadian parents with children born abroad. If you are a Canadian citizen and your child was born outside Canada, your child may already be a citizen by descent, and a proof of citizenship application may be the right route. But for children born outside Canada on or after December 15, 2025, a Canadian parent who was also born outside Canada must have spent at least 1,095 days (three years) in Canada before the birth. If you do not meet this rule, your child is not a citizen automatically and may need to be sponsored.
Not sure which applies to your child?
Citizenship or sponsorship depends on where and when you and your child were born, and how long you lived in Canada. A 30-minute consultation will tell you which route fits before you apply.
Who this may be for
- Parents in Canada whose children live abroad
- Canadian citizens born outside Canada whose child was born outside Canada on or after December 15, 2025, and who did not spend 1,095 days in Canada before the birth
- Canadian citizens living abroad who plan to return to Canada with their children
- Sponsors of a spouse or partner who has children
- Parents who have adopted a child
- Parents of an adult child who depends on them because of a physical or mental condition
General eligibility considerations
Who counts as a dependent child
Your child, or your partner's child, who is under 22 and is not a spouse or common-law partner.
Children 22 and older
May qualify if they have depended on you financially since before age 22 and cannot support themselves because of a physical or mental condition.
Sponsor requirements
You must be 18 or older and a citizen, permanent resident, or registered under the Indian Act. Permanent residents must live in Canada. Canadian citizens living abroad must show they will live in Canada when the child becomes a permanent resident.
Check citizenship first
If you are a Canadian citizen, first confirm whether your child is already a citizen by descent. Children born outside Canada on or after December 15, 2025 to a parent who was also born outside Canada are citizens only if that parent spent at least 1,095 days in Canada before the birth.
Custody and consent
If the other parent is not coming to Canada, you may need custody documents or their written consent.
Adopted children
Adoptions must meet Canadian requirements and the laws of the country where the adoption took place.
How the process works
Consultation
We check first whether your child may already be a citizen by descent. If not, we confirm your child's eligibility for sponsorship.
Your document list
We list the documents for you and your child.
Preparing the application
We complete the forms and organize the evidence of your relationship.
Submission
We submit the application online to IRCC as your representative.
Medical exam and requests
Your child completes the medical exam and any biometrics. We respond to IRCC requests.
Decision
If approved, your child completes the final steps to become a permanent resident.
Documents you may need
- Your child's long-form birth certificate showing both parents
- Your child's passport or travel document
- Proof of your status in Canada
- Custody documents or the other parent's consent, if needed
- Adoption records, if the child is adopted
- Police certificates for children 18 and older
- Immigration medical exam results
- For children 22 and older: medical and financial evidence of dependency
How Bonti can help
- Confirm whether sponsorship or a citizenship application is the right route
- Prepare the full application and relationship evidence
- Include children correctly in a spousal sponsorship
- Represent you with IRCC until a decision is made
Common questions
Can I sponsor my child who is 23?
Only if your child has depended on you for financial support since before age 22 and cannot support themselves because of a physical or mental condition.
I am a Canadian citizen and my child was born outside Canada. Do I need to sponsor them?
It depends. If your child was born before December 15, 2025, or you were born in Canada, your child may already be a citizen by descent. Then the right step is a proof of citizenship application, not sponsorship.
If your child was born outside Canada on or after December 15, 2025, and you were also born outside Canada, your child is a citizen only if you spent at least 1,095 days in Canada before the birth. If you did not, your child may need to be sponsored.
Can I include my partner's children?
Yes. When you sponsor a spouse or partner, their dependent children can be included in the same application.
Will IRCC ask for a DNA test?
Sometimes. If the documents do not clearly prove the relationship, IRCC may suggest DNA testing. We explain the process if it comes up.
Next step
Talk to us about your situation.
Start with a 30-minute consultation. You will leave with a clear next step and a list of documents to prepare.
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