Sponsor a Dependent Child to Canada
Your child is waiting. The process does not have to be.
Thousands parents in Canada are separated from their children – not because there is no path, but because the process feels too complicated to start. Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their dependent child for permanent residence, with no income requirement in most cases. At IPJ Immigration Solutions, we make that process clear from the first conversation.
DEPENDENT CHILD SPONSORSHIP AT A GLANCE
Key Facts
Who can sponsor
Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians under the Indian Act
Minimum income requirement
None in most cases - exception applies if your child has dependent children of their own
Child's age cut-off
Under 22, unmarried, not in a common-law relationship - age is locked in on the date IRCC receives your complete application
Marital status
Must remain unmarried throughout the entire process - up to and including landing day
Refusal appeal rights
Yes - most refusals can be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division
Child already in Canada
May be eligible for in-Canada processing - speak with our team to confirm
WHAT IS DEPENDENT CHILD SPONSORSHIP?
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their dependent child for permanent residence through the Family Sponsorship Program. Both applications – yours as sponsor and your child’s for permanent residence – are submitted together and processed as one package.
In most cases, there is no minimum income requirement.
Many parents arrive in Canada first, build stability, and plan to bring their child later. Sometimes the wait is longer than expected. Whatever your situation, this program exists to bring your family together.
DOES YOUR CHILD QUALIFY? THE AGE RULE MANY PARENTS MISS
Your child’s age is frozen on the date IRCC receives your complete application. Even if they turn 22 during processing, they remain eligible. What matters is filing a complete application on time.
Under 22
Your child qualifies if they are:
- Your biological or adopted child, or your spouse's biological or adopted child
- Under 22 years old
- Not married and not in a common-law relationship
22 or Older
- Your child may still qualify if they have depended on you financially since before age 22 due to a physical or mental condition that prevents self-support. Medical evidence is required.
The Lock-In Date
If IRCC returns your application as incomplete, the lock-in date is lost. A child close to 22 could age out before you resubmit. This is why a complete, accurate first submission matters. Unlike age, marital status is not locked in at the time of application - your child must remain unmarried throughout the entire process, up to and including the day they become a permanent resident.
Already a Canadian Citizen?
Children born outside Canada to a Canadian citizen parent may already hold citizenship by descent - but only if that Canadian citizen parent was themselves born in Canada or naturalized before the child was born. If the Canadian citizen parent was also born outside Canada, the first-generation limit may mean the child does not automatically acquire citizenship. Confirm your child's status before filing. A citizen cannot be sponsored. We can help you check.
WHAT YOU NEED TO QUALIFY AND APPLY
Sponsor Requirements
- Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered under the Indian Act
- At least 18 years old
- Living in Canada – citizens abroad must show genuine intent to return
- Not receiving social assistance, except for disability
- No default on a previous sponsorship undertaking
Permanent residents living outside Canada cannot sponsor.
Quebec residents: confirm provincial requirements with your provincial authority before submitting, as Quebec has its own immigration processes that may apply.
Documents You Need
Your Side
- Proof of citizenship or permanent residence
- Government-issued ID
- Proof of Canadian address
- Completed Form IMM 5289
Your Child's Side
- Birth certificate – primary proof of relationship
- Valid passport
- Immigration medical exam
- Biometrics – ages 14 to 79
- Police certificates – age 18 and up, if lived outside Canada six or more months
Other Parent Consent
- If your child is a minor immigrating without one parent, consent is usually required.
- Submit Form IMM 5604 (Declaration from Non-Accompanying Parent/Guardian).
- Additional documents may include,Custody agreements,Court orders,Death certificates
- If the other parent is unreachable, refuses consent, or documents are unavailable, alternative solutions may be possible.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS, STEP BY STEP
Prepare The Document
Confirm eligibility, gather documents,. Declare all family members in the application, including children not immigrating now. Failing to declare a child can affect their ability to be sponsored later.
Submit The Document
Complete and submit both the sponsorship application and the permanent residence application through IRCC's PR Portal. Pay government fees at this stage.
Acknowledgement of Receipt
IRCC confirms receipt and issues an application number. Tracking starts here.
IRCC Processing
Background and security checks, medical review, and possible requests for additional documents. Respond to any IRCC request promptly. Processing times are estimates and may change - check IRCC's official tool for current figures.
Decision and Landing
IRCC issues a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). Your child arrives in Canada, completes landing, and their PR card is initiated. From that day, they can live, work, study, and access public schooling and provincial health coverage.
WHY APPLICATIONS GET REFUSED AND HOW TO AVOID IT
Most refusals are preventable. These are the most common reasons:
Incomplete Application
Missing forms, wrong form version, unsigned fields, or missing fees. IRCC returns the file and the lock-in date is lost.
Undeclared Family Members
Every child must be listed in your application, even if they are not immigrating. This is one of the most serious and avoidable errors.
Weak Relationship Proof
A birth certificate that is untranslated, uncertified, or has name discrepancies causes delays and returns.
Missing Parent Consent
Form IMM 5604 absent or incorrectly completed when a minor is immigrating without one parent.
Child Aged Out
The lock-in date was lost because the original application came back incomplete. Our legal review catches every gap before you submit.
COMPLEX SITUATIONS For depended child sponsorship
That grandchild must be declared in the application whether or not they are coming to Canada. Minimum income requirements may apply based on family size.
If your child is already in Canada on a study permit, visitor visa, or other temporary status, in-Canada processing may be available depending on your circumstances. Contact our team to confirm the right approach before filing.
Most dependent child sponsorship refusals can be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division. If your application has already been refused, contact our team to assess your options and the strength of a potential appeal.
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.
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
Best for hands-on applicants who want expert verification before submitting. Full fee credited if upgraded to Full Care before submission.
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
- Complete Express Entry profile creation and CRS optimisation strategy
- Full post-ITA application preparation
- IRCC portal management
- All IRCC communication as your authorised representative
- Ongoing updates until you receive your decision
Best for complex cases, expiring permits, previous refusals, or anyone who wants complete peace of mind.
Upgrading to Full Care Representation: Start with a Guided Application Review and decide to upgrade to Full Care before your application is submitted? We will credit the full amount you have already paid toward your new fee.
Why Choose IPJ For dependent child sponsorship
Why Clients Choose IPJ Immigration Solutions
Two Decades of Ontario Experience
We have been handling family sponsorship files through every policy change Canada has made. You are not getting someone learning how to sponsor a dependent child on your file.
We Have Been Where You Are
Helping a dependent child immigrate to Canada isn't just paperwork - it's one of the most consequential steps your family will take. Every document, every deadline, every officer's note carries real weight. We understand that, because we've sat exactly where you're sitting.
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 if your child's sponsorship file ever faces a refusal or complication.
Meticulous Attention to Detail
Most families who come to us after a refusal were eligible. The child qualified. The relationship was genuine. The sponsor had the means. The application failed because of what was in the paperwork or what wasn't. Eligibility and a successful application are not the same thing.
You Are Not Just a File Number
Most immigration firms separate intake from case management from document review from follow-up. By the time your file reaches submission, it has passed through several sets of hands - and no single person has read all of it. That is where details fall through.
Success With Difficult Cases
Custody arrangements after separation. A child approaching the age-out threshold. A prior refusal that was never properly explained. Medical inadmissibility that no one flagged the first time around. These are not edge cases - they are the situations families face, and they require more than a standard application template.
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.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Under 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship. The age is assessed on the date IRCC receives your complete application. If IRCC returns your application as incomplete, the lock-in date is lost.
No, in most cases. The only exception is if your sponsored child has dependent children of their own - in that case minimum income requirements may apply based on family size.
A public policy valid until September 10, 2026 may still allow sponsorship. Verify the current status of this policy and book a consultation to check if you qualify before the deadline.
Yes, in most cases. Form IMM 5604 is required when a minor immigrates without one parent. Alternatives exist if that parent is unreachable or if a death certificate cannot be obtained. Each case is different - speak with our team before filing.
Approximately 15 to 18 months. Check IRCC's official processing times tool for current estimates, as timelines change.
In some circumstances, yes. If your child is currently in Canada on a temporary status such as a study permit or visitor visa, in-Canada processing may be available. Contact our team to confirm whether this applies to your situation.
Most dependent child sponsorship refusals can be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division. If your application has been refused, contact us - we can assess your grounds for appeal and advise on the strongest path forward.
Your Next Step Starts Here
Canada continues to prioritize family reunification through its sponsorship programs. The sooner you prepare and submit a complete application to sponsor your dependent child, the sooner they can begin the process of joining you in Canada.
✓ RCIC and Law Society Regulated ✓ Confidential ✓ No Commitment Required ✓ Response Within 1 Business Day
Free 15-Minute Discovery Call
Not sure if your child qualifies as a dependent or if you meet the sponsorship requirements? In this short call, we review your status, your child’s eligibility, and key documents then provide clear, honest guidance on your options
Paid 45-Minute Consultation
Already planning to sponsor your dependent child but unsure about age cutoffs, full-time student eligibility, documents, or timelines? In this focused session, we review your situation and outline a clear strategy, whether you are preparing your application, responding to IRCC requests, or handling a complication.
READY TO START?
Answer a few quick questions about your relationship, residency status, and your child’s details. A licensed immigration consultant will review your responses and get back to you within 24 hours with a clear, honest assessment of your eligibility to sponsor a dependent child to Canada, along with the best next steps for your application.