Does your child count as a dependent?
IRCC checks age and marital status on the day it receives your application, which is called the lock-in date.
Adopted child: sponsorship or citizenship?
Citizens can choose. Permanent residents must sponsor.
| Sponsorship (PR) | Direct grant of citizenship | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can use it | Citizens and permanent residents | Canadian citizens only |
| Child becomes | Permanent resident first | Canadian citizen directly |
| Province involved | Yes, the adoption must meet provincial rules | Yes, for international adoptions |
| Hague Convention | Applies where the child's country is a member | Applies where the child's country is a member |
| Medical exam | Required | Not required |
The adoption must create a real parent and child relationship and cannot be mainly for immigration. Adoptions of children 18 and older are assessed differently.
Situations we help with
"My son is 15 and lives with my mother in India. His father passed away."
Include a death certificate for the father. No consent is needed. Add your mother's letter about the care arrangement.
"My ex-husband won't sign anything."
IRCC generally wants consent or a custody order. A court order giving you custody, or proof of your efforts to reach him, will be needed.
"My daughter turns 22 in two months."
File before her birthday. Age is locked in on the day IRCC receives a complete application.
"My son is 24 and finishing university."
Full-time study after 22 no longer qualifies on its own. He may have options as a student or worker himself.
Documents to collect
Proof of the relationship
Consent and custody
Your side
Your child
Your ticks are saved in this browser only, so you can come back to the list. The final list is the one IRCC generates for your application.
How the sponsorship runs
- 1
Check the lock-in date
Age and marital status are fixed when IRCC receives the complete file.
- 2
Get consent or custody papers2 to 8 weeks
This is usually the slowest piece.
- 3
Fill in the forms1 week
Sponsorship forms for you, PR forms for your child, submitted together online.
- 4
Pay and submit
$180 plus biometrics if your child is 14 or older.
- 5
Medical and decisionCheck IRCC times
Your child does the medical exam when asked. IRCC then issues PR.
Fees
| Item | Amount (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship of a dependent child | $180 | Sponsor and child fees together. No right of PR fee for children. |
| Biometrics | $85 | Children under 14 are exempt. |
IRCC fees as listed on the IRCC fee page in November 2026. Our professional fees are separate and given to you in writing before you pay.
What delays child sponsorships
- No consent from the other parent and no custody order.
- A child who turns 22 before IRCC receives the file.
- Adoption papers that do not meet the receiving province's rules.
- A birth certificate registered years after the birth, with nothing else to back it up.
Questions about sponsoring a child
Can I sponsor my child who is over 22?
Only if your child has depended on you financially since before 22 because of a physical or mental condition.
Is there an income requirement to sponsor my child?
No, unless your dependent child has children of their own.
Should I sponsor my adopted child or apply for citizenship?
If you are a citizen, a direct grant of citizenship is often the better route for an adopted child. Permanent residents must sponsor.
What if the other parent will not give consent?
IRCC usually needs consent or a custody order. A family court order is the most reliable answer.
Can my child visit while the application is processed?
Your child can apply for a visitor visa, but the officer must believe they will leave if the visit ends before PR is approved.
Official sources
We read these before every update to this page.
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