Sponsoring Your Adopted Child to Canada
Two Processes. One Goal. Bringing Your Child Home.
The adoption is done – now comes the immigration process, and we are here to make it straightforward. At IPJ Immigration Solutions, we have helped hundreds of families bring their adopted children to Canada and we will do the same for yours.
ADOPTED CHILD SPONSORSHIP To canada
Key Facts
Minimum income requirement
None - no LICO threshold applies
Who can sponsor
Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians under the Indian Act
Child's age at adoption
Child must generally be under 18 at the time of adoption for IRCC recognition
Starting point with IRCC
Provincial letter (Letter of Agreement, No Objection, or No Involvement)
Processing time
12 to 18 months or longer, depending on country of origin
Critical form not on standard checklists
IMM 0133 - Medical Condition Statement (mandatory, no exceptions)
Citizenship path after PR
Yes - apply on child's behalf once adoption is finalised and PR is granted
TWO PROCESSES. ONE GOAL.
The adoption process is governed by your provincial authority and the child’s home country. The immigration process is handled entirely by IRCC. Finishing one does not trigger the other. Both run in parallel.
You can submit your IRCC sponsorship application once your province issues one of the following:
- A Letter of Agreement
- A Letter of No Objection
- A Letter of No Involvement
*That letter is your starting point with IRCC. Before it, nothing can be submitted.
One thing worth knowing early:
There is no minimum income requirement to sponsor your adopted child. You do not need to meet a LICO threshold. This surprises most families.
ARE YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH? CITIZENSHIP VS. IMMIGRATION SPONSORSHIP
If an adoptive parent was a Canadian citizen at the time of adoption, your child may qualify for direct citizenship. This page focuses on the immigration and sponsorship process instead.
Use the sponsorship route when:
- Neither parent was a Canadian citizen at adoption, or
- The first‑generation citizenship limit applies.
First‑Generation Limit (Dec 15, 2025)
Children born outside Canada and adopted by a Canadian citizen on or after Dec 15, 2025 may not qualify for a direct citizenship grant if the adoptive parent:
- was born outside Canada to a Canadian citizen or gained citizenship through the adoption grant, and
- spent less than 1,095 days in Canada before the adoption.
Exception: Adoptive parents or grandparents who were Crown servants.
DOES YOUR CHILD'S COUNTRY MATTER? HAGUE VS. NON-HAGUE ADOPTIONS
Yes. The country your child is adopted from affects timelines, documentation, and in some cases whether the adoption can proceed at all.
Hague Member Countries
Both Central Authorities must agree. The process follows a standardized path with predictable steps.
Non-Hague Countries
IRCC takes additional verification steps. These files take longer and require more documentation.
Active Restrictions to Know
- China: since September 5, 2024, China no longer accepts intercountry adoption applications from non-Chinese nationals
- Russia: Canadian adoptions are effectively prohibited under Russian law
- Haiti: adoption processing from Haiti is significantly restricted – confirm the current status with your provincial authority and IRCC before proceeding
Adoption law in Canada is provincial
Your province approves the adoption before IRCC processes immigration. Quebec residents contact the Secrétariat à l’adoption internationale et à l’éducation (SASIE) first, not IRCC. Additional SASIE documentation is required before IRCC will process the file.
WHO CAN SPONSOR AND WHO QUALIFIES
There is no minimum income requirement. You must not be receiving social assistance (except for disability) and must be able to meet your child’s basic needs.
You Are Eligible to Sponsor If You Are
- A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered under the Indian Act
- At least 18 years old
- Living in Canada
You Cannot Sponsor If You
- Have defaulted on a previous sponsorship undertaking
- Are receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability
- Have relevant criminal convictions involving violence, sexual offences, or offences against a relative
Your Child Qualifies If They Are
- Under 22 with no spouse or common-law partner, OR
- 22 or older and financially dependent on you since before age 22 due to a physical or mental condition
Important:
For the adoption to be recognised by IRCC for immigration purposes, the child must generally have been under 18 at the time of adoption. This is one of the most common sources of complication in adopted child sponsorship files – confirm this with our team before proceeding.
The adoption must be legally valid in both the child’s home country and your Canadian province, must have created a genuine parent-child relationship, and must not have been primarily motivated by immigration.
You can begin the sponsorship process before the adoption is finalised, once your provincial letter is issued.
WHAT YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO GATHER
Adopted child sponsorship requires forms that a standard dependent child application does not. Missing any of them will delay your file.
The Form Most Families Have Never Heard Of
IMM 0133 – Medical Condition Statement is mandatory for every adopted child sponsorship. IRCC cannot issue a permanent resident visa without it.
Sponsor Documents
- IMM 1344
- Undertaking
- Proof of citizenship or permanent residence
- Government-issued ID
Child's Documents
- Passport
- Birth certificate with certified translation
- Adoption order with certified translation
- Police certificates (age 18 and older)
- Medical exam by IRCC-designated physician
Adoption-Specific Documents
- IMM 0133 – Medical Condition Statement (mandatory, no exceptions)
- IMM 5604 – Declaration from Non-Accompanying Parent or Guardian (required where consent from a non-accompanying biological parent must be documented)
- Provincial authority letter
Quebec residents
Quebec residents require additional SASIE documentation before IRCC will process the file. We build a personalized document list for your specific situation. Generic checklists miss adopted child requirements regularly.
FROM ADOPTION APPROVAL TO PERMANENT RESIDENCE
Many families lose time because they start Phase 3 before completing Phase 1.
Provincial Approval
Contact your adoption authority, complete your home study, and receive your provincial letter. IRCC is not involved at this stage.
Adoption in the Child's Country
Complete the legal adoption process and obtain all required documentation. Do not plan travel to collect your child until the PR visa has been issued, unless your adoption country's process requires your physical presence during legal proceedings.
IRCC Submission
Sponsorship application and child's PR application are submitted together online. IMM 0133 and consent forms are included. Government fees are paid at submission.
IRCC Processing
Background checks, medical review, and possible document requests. Processing time is 12 or longer depending on the child's country of origin. Applications from higher-risk countries take longer. Processing times are IRCC estimates and may change at any time.
Landing
Your child arrives in Canada as a permanent resident. PR card processing begins after landing - check IRCC's current service standards for the most up-to-date timeline.
Citizenship
Once the adoption is legally finalised and your child has PR status, you can apply for Canadian citizenship on their behalf. Note that the first-generation citizenship limit may apply in some circumstances - confirm this with our team.
SIX THINGS THAT DELAY adoption sponsorships
Most adopted child sponsorship problems are preventable.
Adoption Not Recognised Under Canadian Law
Informal arrangements, Kafala guardianship, and adoptions that did not legally sever the biological parents' rights are not recognised by IRCC. Confirm legal validity before submitting anything.
Missing IMM 0133
It is required. It is not on general checklists. It gets left out regularly. We check for it on every file.
Unresolved Consent from the Non-Accompanying Biological Parent
Disputed, unknown, or undocumented consent stalls the file. Address this before submission.
Submitting to IRCC Before Provincial Approval
IRCC will pause the file. Application fees are non-refundable.
Country Restrictions
There are several countries which currently have restrictions in place when it comes to adoptions. Know your country's status before proceeding - contact our team if you are partway through an adoption from one of these countries.
Adoption Appearing Primarily Immigration-Motivated
IRCC looks for evidence of a genuine parent-child relationship that existed independently of the immigration goal.
What Our Services Include
Every applicant’s situation is different. Some clients want expert support while staying in control of their own application. Others want a team to manage everything.
Guided Application Review - You Prepare, We Review
Perfect if you are comfortable managing your own application but want a licensed professional team to verify your NOC, check your hours calculation, review your reference letters, and audit your full post-ITA package before submission.
What's included
- Sponsor and Applicant eligibility assessment and document strategy
- Custom document checklist, professional templates and guidance
- Full review of your completed application and documents
- Final pre-submission review call
Full Care Representation - We Handle Everything
Ideal for workers with complex situations – such as a borderline NOC, multiple employers, an expiring permit, or a previous refusal – or for anyone who wants complete peace of mind. You share your documents and your story. We take care of the rest.
What's included
- Sponsor and Applicant eligibility assessment and document strategy
- Custom document checklist, professional templates and guidance
- Professional application preparation & submission
- IRCC portal management
- All communication with IRCC as your authorised representative
- Ongoing updates and guidance until you receive your decision
Upgrading to Full Care Representation: Start with a Guided Application Review and decide to upgrade to Full Care Representation before your application is submitted? We will credit the full amount you have already paid toward your new fee.
Professional Fee Schedule
We believe pricing should be honest, transparent, and stress-free. That’s why we don’t charge by the hour or burden you with unexpected fees. Before any work begins, you’ll receive a clear, written agreement outlining exactly what’s included. No guesswork, no surprises – just a straightforward deal you can count on.
Why Clients Choose IPJ Immigration Solutions
Two Decades of Ontario Experience
Before IRCC updated its adoption immigration policies, before overseas adoption processes tightened - we have been guiding families through every stage of this journey.
We Have Been Where You Are
Our team understands how emotional and exhausting this process can be. That shapes how we explain every step, how seriously we take every document, and how personally we care about bringing your child home.
RCIC and Lawyer Combination
CICC-licensed RCICs and an immigration lawyer licensed by the Law Society of Ontario - JD from Osgoode Hall with Federal Court capability on every complex file.
Meticulous Attention to Detail
A missing adoption decree, a name discrepancy between documents, one incomplete form - we catch these before anything reaches IRCC. Full legal review on every sponsorship file.
YOUR CHILD IS NOT JUST A FILE NUMBER
Small, focused team. The same consultant who opens your file stays with it from the adoption stage through to permanent residency. That is not a promise we make - it is how we work
SUCCESS WITH COMPLEX ADOPTION FILES
International adoptions, prior refusals, country-specific legal complications - these are cases we have handled and resolved. Book a free 15-minute call to tell us your situation.
What Our Clients Say
Our clients come to us from across Richmond Hill and the wider Greater Toronto Area, including Markham, Vaughan, Toronto, and Mississauga. Their words reflect what we work to deliver on every file: clarity, honest guidance, and real results.
WHAT FAMILIES ASK US MOST
No. There is no LICO threshold for adopted child sponsorship. You must not be on social assistance and must be able to meet basic needs. That is the full requirement.
Yes, you can apply once your province issues a Letter of Agreement, No Objection, or No Involvement. The adoption does not need to be finalized before you apply to IRCC.
It is the Medical Condition Statement and it is mandatory. IRCC cannot issue a PR visa without it. It does not appear on general checklists, which is why it gets missed. We check for it on every file we review.
No. They arrive as permanent residents. After the adoption is legally finalised, you apply for citizenship on their behalf. Note that the first-generation citizenship limit may apply depending on your circumstances - confirm this with our team before assuming citizenship is automatic.
This affects the adoption process directly. Before you start the adoption process, check IRCC's restricted countries list.
The SAISIE - Secrétariat à l'adoption internationale et à l'éducation - is Quebec's adoption authority. Quebec residents must contact the SASIE before submitting anything to IRCC. Additional SASIE documentation is required for Quebec-based sponsors before IRCC will process the immigration file.
Your Next Step Starts Here
The clearest way to know where you stand is a conversation with someone who can actually assess your adoption sponsorship file.
✓ 20+ Years Experience ✓ Licensed by Law Society of Ontario and CICC ✓ Women-Led Practice ✓ No Hidden Fees
Free 15-Minute Discovery Call
A short conversation to understand your adoption situation and help you choose between Full Care Representation and Guided Application Review.
Paid 45-Minute Consultation
A focused session for specific needs such as overseas adoption complexity, prior refusals, country-specific legal issues, or detailed questions about the sponsorship process. Clear, practical guidance tailored to your file.
Start With a Guided Questionnaire
Complete a short questionnaire to help us understand your adoption stage, your child’s country of origin, and the complexity of your situation. A licensed consultant will review your answers and get back to you within 24 hours with a clear, personalized recommendation.