Dependent children may be eligible to come to Canada in order to reside with their parents. This includes adopted children. An orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild may also be eligible under this category. In exceptional circumstances, other family members may also be eligible.
Applicants should make sure that they and their family members meet sponsorship requirements before submitting an application.
Orphan Child(ren) Sponsorship
Canadian family class sponsorships also include the ability to sponsor orphaned relatives, such as a niece, nephew, grandchild, brother, and sister. However, the sponsored orphaned relatives must be under the age of 18 and not married or involved in a common-law relationship. Also, written consent must be obtained from any legal guardians before the child can leave their home country, and the ability to provide for the economic well-being of the orphaned child must also be demonstrated.
Dependent Child(ren)
Before August 01, 2014, the age at which a child was considered to be a dependent was under 22 years.
The following conditions were applied to dependent children before August 01, 2014:
- has one of the following relationships with the parent, namely,
- is the biological child of the parent, if the child has not been adopted by a person other than the spouse or common-law partner of the parent, or
- is the adopted child of the parent; and
- is in one of the following situations of dependency, namely,
- is less than 22 years of age and not a spouse or common-law partner,
- has depended substantially on the financial support of the parent since before the age of 22 — or if the child became a spouse or common-law partner before the age of 22, since becoming a spouse or common-law partner — and, since before the age of 22 or since becoming a spouse or common-law partner, as the case may be, has been a student
- continuously enrolled in and attending a post-secondary institution that is accredited by the relevant government authority, and
- actively pursuing a course of academic, professional or vocational training on a full-time basis, or
- is 22 years of age or older and has depended substantially on the financial support of the parent since before the age of 22 and is unable to be financially self-supporting due to a physical or mental condition.
On August 01, 2014, the age at which a child would be considered a dependent was reduced from under 22 to under 19 years.
The exception for full-time students was also removed. Applicants’ children who were 19 or over but were financially dependent on their parents and were enrolled in full-time studies were no longer eligible to be processed as dependent children
The following conditions were applied to dependent children starting August 01, 2014:
- has one of the following relationships with the parent, namely,
- is the biological child of the parent, if the child has not been adopted by a person other than the spouse or common-law partner of the parent, or
- is the biological child of the parent, if the child has not been adopted by a person other than the spouse or common-law partner of the parent, or
- is in one of the following situations of dependency, namely,
- is less than 19 years of age and is not a spouse or common-law partner, or
- is 19 years of age or older and has depended substantially on the financial support of the parent since before the age of 19 and is unable to be financially self-supporting due to a physical or mental condition.
On October 24, 2017, the age at which a child would be considered a dependent was once again raised from under 19 to under 22 years.
The following conditions were applied to dependent children starting October 24, 2017:
- has one of the following relationships with the parent, namely,
- is the biological child of the parent, if the child has not been adopted by a person other than the spouse or common-law partner of the parent, or
- is the adopted child of the parent; and
- is in one of the following situations of dependency, namely,
- is less than 22 years of age and is not a spouse or common-law partner, or
- is 22 years of age or older and has depended substantially on the financial support of the parent since before attaining the age of 22 years and is unable to be financially self-supporting due to a physical or mental condition.
Provincial Family Class Sponsorship
Many Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) have family class sponsorship categories, which are separate from federal sponsorship. Residents of provinces that facilitate family sponsorship may wish to consider these additional options for bringing family to Canada.
Family Sponsorship processing times vary from one Canadian Visa Office to another.
