The family sponsorship program in Canada aims to reunite families by allowing Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their child or other dependent for Canadian permanent residence.

Definition of a Dependent Child

To be eligible for sponsorship, children must meet the definition of a dependent child. This includes:

• Biological or adopted children of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Children who are not married or in a common-law relationship and are under the age of 22.
• Children over the age of 22 who have a physical or mental condition preventing them from supporting themselves.

Dependent Child Sponsorship Requirements

Both the sponsor and the sponsored child must meet certain eligibility requirements:

Sponsor Requirements:

• Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must not be in prison, charged with a serious offense, or bankrupt.

Proof of Relationship:

• Provide proof of the relationship with the child, such as a birth or adoption certificate.
• For parents in the end stages of adoption, sponsorship can occur before the adoption is finalized.

Sponsored Child Requirements:

• Must meet the definition of a dependent child.
• Must be the biological child of the sponsor or the sponsor’s spouse, or the adopted child of the sponsor or the sponsor’s spouse.

Sponsoring a Dependent Child in Quebec

If the sponsor resides in Quebec, additional commitments and financial undertakings are required:

Financial Undertaking:

• For a child under 16: Sponsor must commit to financially support the child for 10 years, or until the child is 18, whichever is longer.
• For a child 16 or older: Sponsor must commit to financially support the child for three years, or until the child is 25, whichever is longer.

Dependent Child Sponsorship Minimum Necessary Income

• No MNI Required: Canadian citizens or permanent residents sponsoring their dependent children are not required to meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI), provided the dependent child does not have children of their own.
• With Dependent Children: If the sponsored dependent child has their own dependent children, the sponsor must meet the MNI required for their family unit size.