The Government of Canada aims to reunite families by letting Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents sponsor their dependent children abroad for Canadian Permanent Residence. 

What is a dependent child?

A child should meet the definition of a dependent child in order to qualify for sponsorship for Canadian Permanent Residence. A dependent child is a child of a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident who is less than the age of 22 and who is not married or in a common law relationship. A child who is aged 22 or over can also be a dependent child if the child is dependent on their parents due to a physical or mental condition that prevents them from supporting themselves. 

What is the requirement to sponsor a child?

The parents wishing to sponsor the child should:

• Be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident who is living in Canada.
• Be 18 years old or over.
• Not currently in prison, bankrupt or charged with a serious offence.
• Be able to provide a proof of relationship like a birth certificate or adoption certificate.

The dependent child being sponsored should be the biological child of either the sponsor or the sponsor’s spouse, or be the adopted child of either the sponsor or the sponsor’s spouse. 

Who is not eligible to sponsor a child?

A parent is not eligible to sponsor a child if:

• The parent was sponsored for becoming a Permanent Resident of Canada and less than 5 years have passed since they got their Permanent Residence.
• The parent is not planning to stay in Canada once the child gets Permanent Residence.
• The parent is a Permanent Resident who is staying outside Canada. A Canadian Citizen can submit an application for sponsorship no matter where they are residing currently as long as they are planning to come and stay in Canada once the sponsorship is approved.
• The parent is currently getting social assistance other than for the reason of disability.
• The parent is currently in jail or has been convicted for a criminal offence.

How to sponsor a dependent child in Quebec?

When the Canadian sponsor is staying in Quebec then they would have to sign a financial undertaking stating that they would financially support the sponsored person. The duration of the sponsorship depends on the relationship with the sponsored family member. If the dependent child being sponsored is less than the age of 16, then the sponsor should commit to financially support the child for 10 years or till the age of 18, whichever is longer. If the dependent child being sponsored is the age of 16 or older, then the sponsor should commit to financially support the child for 3 years or till the age of 25, whichever is longer. 

Does the sponsor need to meet the Minimum Necessary Income requirement?

If the dependent child does not have any children of their own then the Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident sponsoring the dependent child does not need to meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirement. If the dependent child has any children of their own then the Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident sponsoring the dependent child needs to meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirement as per the unit size of their family. 

We at SAM Law can help you if you want to sponsor your spouse or children, or if you want to be sponsored. Please contact us and we will be happy to discuss your options.