Canadian citizens and permanent residents have the opportunity to sponsor their adult children for permanent residence under specific conditions.

If you meet the criteria, you can sponsor a child who is classified as a ‘dependent child’ according to Canadian immigration law, which includes many adult children.

This article is intended for sponsors looking to live with their child anywhere in Canada outside Quebec, which has a distinct process.

Who Qualifies as a Dependent Child

There are two ways for a child to be considered a dependent.

Under 22 Years Old

A child is deemed a dependent if they are under 22 years old and not married or in a common-law relationship.

The child only needs to meet the age requirement at the time of application submission, with their age ‘locked in’ for eligibility purposes at that time.

Financially Dependent Children 22 or Older

An adult child aged 22 or older can still be considered a dependent if they are financially reliant on their parent(s) due to a physical or mental condition since they were under 22.

Requirements for a Dependent Child to Qualify for Sponsorship

If your adult child qualifies as a dependent, the only other condition is that they must be admissible to Canada, meaning they are not disqualified due to a criminal record, medical conditions, or national security risks.

Requirements for Sponsorship

To sponsor a dependent child, you must be at least 18 years old and be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian. If you are a permanent resident, you must be residing in Canada for the entire sponsorship process. You must demonstrate your intention to live in Canada with your child and commit to financially supporting them for the specified period.