How to Sponsor a Child in Canada 2026 (IRCC Family Class)

Updated April 30, 2026. Knowing how to sponsor a child for Canadian permanent residence comes down to four questions: are you eligible to sponsor, is the child a dependent under IRCC’s definition, can you commit to the financial undertaking, and can you file a complete application before the child ages out. This guide walks through each one using the rules in effect under Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Guide 5289 and the fee schedule that took effect on April 30, 2026.

Check Out How Child Sponsorship Works:

Contents Show

Key Takeaways

Any Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act who is at least 18 years old can sponsor their own dependent child. There is no minimum number of years you have to have held PR status.
A dependent child for IRCC purposes is under 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship, with a narrow exception for older children who cannot support themselves due to a physical or mental condition.
The IRCC fee for sponsoring a dependent child is CAD $180 all-inclusive (sponsorship + processing + right of permanent residence) plus CAD $85 biometrics if the child is 14 or older. There is no income test in most cases.
The sponsorship undertaking lasts 10 years from the day the child becomes a permanent resident or until they turn 25, whichever comes first. For dependent children aged 22 or older, the undertaking is three years.
Posted IRCC processing time in February 2026 was 19 months for inland sponsorship and 16 to 19 months for outland (varies by country). Plan around the child’s age accordingly.
Quebec residents cannot file new family-class undertakings for dependents aged 18 or older until June 25, 2026 because the province has reached its annual cap.

Who Can Sponsor a Child Under the Family Class

To sponsor a child to Canada you must meet five baseline rules. The list below comes directly from the IRCC eligibility hub for spouse, partner, and child sponsorship.

Age 18 or older on the day you sign the sponsorship undertaking.
Status in Canada. A Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a person registered under the Indian Act. Citizens may sponsor from outside Canada, but they must show they will move back to Canada once the child is approved. Permanent residents must be living in Canada at the time of application and during processing.
Not in default on a previous immigration loan, performance bond, or family support order.
Not receiving social assistance for any reason other than disability.
No undischarged bankruptcy. Pending bankruptcies block sponsorship until they are discharged.

A separate set of bars applies to sponsors with certain criminal convictions, especially convictions involving offences against a relative, sexual offences, or attempted offences of either type. IRCC reviews these on a case-by-case basis and may refuse the sponsorship even if the sponsor otherwise qualifies.

There is no minimum number of years you must have been a permanent resident before sponsoring your child. That five-year rule appears in the parent and grandparent program; it does not apply to child sponsorship.

Who Counts as a Dependent Child for IRCC

The age rule is the trap most families fall into. IRCC defines a dependent child by two tests, and the child must pass at least one.

The under-22 test. The child is younger than 22 on the lock-in date and has no spouse or common-law partner.
The financially dependent test. The child is 22 or older but has been dependent on a parent for financial support since before turning 22 because of a physical or mental condition, and remains unable to support themselves at the time of application.

The age cut-off rose from under 19 to under 22 on October 24, 2017. Children who are exactly 22 on the lock-in date do not qualify under the under-22 test; they need to qualify under the financial-dependence test or apply through another immigration stream.

The Lock-In Date (Why Filing Speed Matters)

IRCC freezes a child’s age on the date it receives the complete sponsorship application. That date is called the lock-in date. As long as the application was complete on submission, a child who turns 22 during processing keeps their dependent-child status all the way to permanent residence.

The risk is incomplete applications. If IRCC returns a package as incomplete, the lock-in resets to the date IRCC receives the corrected package. A teenager who was 21 at the first submission can age out before the corrected file is accepted. The practical lesson is to use the IRCC document checklist, double-check signatures, and pay all fees before mailing or uploading.

Which Children You Can Sponsor

Family class child sponsorship covers four scenarios. Each one uses the same Guide 5289 forms but a different supporting-document burden.

Your biological child living abroad. The most common scenario. Provide a long-form birth certificate showing both parents and proof you have lived as the child’s parent.
Your adopted child completed before applying for permanent residence. Different rules apply if the adoption is still in progress; see the adopted child stream on Canada.ca for the dual-intent route.
Your stepchild (the dependent child of your spouse or common-law partner). You do not need to be the biological parent, but you must be the legal spouse or common-law partner of the child’s parent at the time the application is filed. Stepchild sponsorship usually rides on a spousal sponsorship application using forms IMM 5533 or IMM 5534.
A child you are about to adopt under a Hague-compliant or non-Hague international adoption. This is the dual-intent route administered jointly by IRCC and the provincial central authority where you live. Quebec runs its own adoption process through the Secrétariat à l’adoption internationale.

You cannot sponsor a niece, nephew, grandchild, sibling, or family friend under the dependent-child stream. A child outside your direct parent-child relationship may qualify under a separate family class category called the orphaned relative stream, and only when no closer relative is available to sponsor them.

How to Sponsor a Child: Step-by-Step Application

The application is filed online through the IRCC Permanent Residence Portal. Paper applications by mail are still accepted in narrow accommodation cases but are no longer the default.

Confirm your eligibility. Run the Come to Canada tool on Canada.ca, or work through the eligibility checklist in Guide 5289. Confirm the child meets the dependent-child definition on today’s date.
Gather supporting documents. Long-form birth certificate showing both parents, marriage or common-law evidence if applicable, custody documents if one parent is deceased or has lost custody, the child’s passport bio page, and the child’s police certificates from every country they have lived in for six or more months since age 18.
Complete the IRCC forms. The core package is the Application to Sponsor (IMM 1344), the Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008), the Sponsor Questionnaire (IMM 5540), the Sponsorship Evaluation (IMM 5481), and either the Document Checklist for Dependent Child (IMM 5629) or the Document Checklist for Spouse and Dependent Children (IMM 5533) if you are filing a combined spousal and child application.
Pay the fees. CAD $180 covers the sponsorship fee, processing fee, and right of permanent residence fee combined for one dependent child. Add CAD $85 biometrics if the child is between 14 and 79 years old. Pay through the IRCC online payment portal and attach the receipt to the application.
Submit through the PR Portal. Upload the forms and supporting documents, sign electronically, and submit. The system issues an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) within a few weeks if the package is complete. The AOR date is your lock-in date.
Provide biometrics. Within 30 days of receiving the biometrics instruction letter, the child attends a Visa Application Centre (VAC). Children under 14 are exempt.
Complete the medical exam. A panel physician approved by IRCC performs the medical. Do not use a regular family doctor. Results are valid for 12 months.
Respond to IRCC requests. Procedural fairness letters, additional document requests, and DNA test orders (in cases where parentage is unclear) all have deadlines printed on the letter. Missing the deadline can refuse the file.
Receive the decision. Approved children outside Canada receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a permanent resident visa stamped in the passport. Approved children already in Canada receive a COPR and become permanent residents at their next landing appointment.
Land and order the PR card. A child landing from abroad activates PR status at the airport. A child already in Canada activates PR through a virtual landing or scheduled landing. The PR card is mailed to the Canadian address on the application.

Inland Versus Outland Sponsorship

Two filing routes exist and they are not interchangeable.

Inland sponsorship is for children already in Canada with valid temporary status (visitor, student, worker). The child stays in Canada throughout processing and may apply for an open work permit if they are old enough. Posted processing time in February 2026 was 19 months.
Outland sponsorship is for children outside Canada. The application is processed by the visa office responsible for the child’s country of residence. Outland is also available for children physically in Canada when their primary country of citizenship is elsewhere; in that case some applicants prefer outland because of the appeal rights it preserves. Outland processing in February 2026 was 16 months from India and 19 months from Nigeria, with other countries varying.

The choice affects whether the child can work or study during processing and whether the sponsor has a right of appeal if the application is refused. Outland refusals can be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD); inland refusals cannot.

What the Sponsorship Undertaking Actually Commits You To

The undertaking is a contract with the federal government (and with Quebec, if the sponsor lives in Quebec). It binds the sponsor whether or not the relationship with the child remains intact, whether or not the sponsor has children of their own with someone else, and whether or not the sponsor moves outside Canada later.

For a dependent child under 22 at landing: 10 years from the day the child becomes a permanent resident, or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first.
For a dependent child 22 or older at landing (the financially-dependent stream): three years from the day the child becomes a permanent resident.

During the undertaking, the sponsor is responsible for the child’s basic needs: food, clothing, shelter, personal items, and any health needs not covered by provincial health insurance. If the child receives social assistance during the undertaking, the federal or provincial government can claim that money back from the sponsor and the sponsor cannot file a new sponsorship until the debt is repaid.

Income Requirements: When You Need to Prove a Number

Most sponsors of a single dependent child do not need to meet a minimum income. The Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) test only triggers when the dependent child you are sponsoring has dependent children of their own (your grandchildren). In that case the sponsor must show three years of income at or above the MNI table for the new family-unit size.

Two practical implications follow. First, sponsoring a teenage daughter who is herself a parent means filing a Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency for the last three tax years. Second, sponsors who think they may not meet the threshold can add a co-signer who is the sponsor’s spouse or common-law partner; the co-signer’s income counts toward the MNI calculation.

Quebec-Specific Rules

If the sponsor lives in Quebec, the application is two-stage. IRCC assesses the federal sponsorship eligibility first, then the file is transferred to the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) for Quebec’s own sponsor undertaking review and a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ).

Two Quebec-specific points matter in 2026.

Cap pause for older dependents. Quebec is not accepting new family-class undertakings for dependent children aged 18 or older until June 25, 2026. The cap does not affect dependents under 18, who can still be sponsored at any time.
French-language considerations. Quebec does not require the sponsored child to speak French, but Quebec’s settlement-services intake will be primarily in French once the child arrives.

Fees, Biometrics, and Other Costs

The IRCC schedule that took effect on April 30, 2026 sets the federal fees below. Quebec adds its own provincial fees on top, currently CAD $341 per dependent child sponsored separately and CAD $137 per dependent child added to a spousal application.

Fee	Amount (CAD)	Notes
Dependent child all-inclusive sponsorship fee	$180	Combines sponsorship fee, processing fee, and right of permanent residence fee.
Biometrics, per individual	$85	Required for ages 14 to 79. Children under 14 are exempt.
Biometrics, family rate (two or more)	$170 max	Applies when biometrics are submitted together.
Quebec sponsorship fee, per dependent child	$341	Paid to MIFI in addition to federal fees.

Third-party costs that vary by country include the panel-physician medical exam (typically CAD $200 to CAD $400), police certificate fees, and certified translations of foreign-language documents into English or French.

What to Do If Your Child Is About to Turn 22

The age lock-in rule is the most important detail in this guide for parents of teenagers. Three actions reduce the risk.

File earlier rather than later. A complete application submitted six months before the child’s 22nd birthday locks in the age. A complete application submitted six days before the birthday also locks in the age but leaves no margin for IRCC to return the package.
Use the IRCC document checklist line by line. Most returned packages fail on missing signatures, blank optional fields, an unsigned schedule, or an expired police certificate. Walk through Guide 5289 with the checklist open.
Pay the right amount. Underpayment by even one dollar can trigger a return. The current dependent-child sponsorship fee is $180, plus biometrics if applicable. Confirm the live amount on the IRCC fees page before paying.

If the child has already turned 22, the financially-dependent stream is the only remaining route under family class and it requires medical evidence that the dependence existed before age 22. Other immigration streams (study permit, post-graduation work permit, or eventual Express Entry) become the realistic options.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum age to sponsor a child to Canada?

A dependent child must be under 22 and unmarried on the lock-in date. Children 22 or older only qualify if they have a physical or mental condition that prevented them from supporting themselves before age 22 and continues to prevent it now. The age cut-off has been under 22 since October 24, 2017.

How much does it cost to sponsor a child to Canada in 2026?

The IRCC all-inclusive sponsorship fee for a dependent child is CAD $180. Biometrics costs an additional CAD $85 per child aged 14 to 79. Quebec residents pay an additional CAD $341 in provincial fees per child sponsored separately. Third-party costs (medical exam, translations, police certificates) typically add CAD $200 to CAD $600.

How long does child sponsorship take?

Posted IRCC processing time in February 2026 was 19 months for inland applications (child living in Canada) and 16 to 19 months for outland applications, depending on the country. Times shift with application volume and country-specific verification. The IRCC processing-time tool gives a current estimate before you file.

Can I sponsor my child if I just got my permanent residence?

Yes. There is no minimum number of years as a permanent resident required to sponsor your dependent child. The five-year rule that confuses many readers applies to the parent and grandparent program, not to child sponsorship. You must, however, be living in Canada when you apply.

Can I sponsor my stepchild?

Yes, if you are the legal spouse or common-law partner of the child’s parent and the relationship was in place when you filed. Stepchild sponsorship is usually filed alongside a spousal sponsorship application using IMM 5533 or IMM 5534. The child must still meet the dependent-child age and marital-status rules.

Do I need to show income to sponsor a child?

Most sponsors do not. The Minimum Necessary Income test only applies when the dependent child you are sponsoring has dependent children of their own. In that case you need to file Notices of Assessment for the past three tax years and meet the MNI table for the combined family size.

Can I sponsor my child while I am outside Canada?

Canadian citizens may sponsor from outside Canada but must show evidence they will return to Canada with the child. Permanent residents must be physically in Canada when they file and during processing. A move outside Canada during processing can affect the application.

What happens if my child turns 22 during processing?

Nothing, as long as the application was complete when IRCC received it. The child’s age locks in on the receipt date and stays locked until permanent residence is issued. The risk is an application returned for incompleteness; in that case the lock-in resets to the new submission date and the child can age out.

Can I sponsor my niece, nephew, or grandchild as a dependent child?

No. The dependent-child stream covers your biological child, your adopted child, and your stepchild only. Nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and siblings may qualify under the orphaned relative stream only when no closer relative is alive or able to sponsor them.

Where to Go Next

If your child is approaching 22 and you have not yet filed, start with Guide 5289 and the document checklist for your scenario. If your spouse is also applying, file the combined spousal-and-child package using the same submission. If you are the child’s prospective adoptive parent and the adoption is not yet finalized, the Adoption stream on Canada.ca is the right starting point.

For the broader family-class context, our guides on becoming a Canadian citizen, how to become a permanent resident in Canada, and Canada immigration cost cover the financial and status questions that come up after a child’s permanent residence is approved.

This guide reflects IRCC rules and fees in effect on April 30, 2026. Immigration policy changes frequently. Confirm current rules on Canada.ca before you apply, and consider consulting a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or immigration lawyer for case-specific advice.