Canada Path Immigration Services
Family sponsorship / Canada Path guide

Sponsoring a dependent child

A guide to the family relationship and dependency rules for children.

What to understand

The child's eligibility depends on the immigration definition of a dependent child, relationship to the sponsor and application details. Biological and adopted children can involve different evidence.

What to prepare

Check current age and dependency criteria, gather birth or adoption records and identify custody or consent documents where relevant. Disclose all family members as required on the application.

Important to know

A child's age may be assessed under specific lock-in rules. Do not rely on a general age assumption without checking the applicable program instructions.

Check the official requirements

Program rules, eligibility, fees and processing times may change. This guide is general information, not legal advice or a guarantee of any outcome. Check the current government instructions before applying.

Visit the official Canada.ca information
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