Sponsoring Children for Immigration to Canada
Planning on sponsoring your child to join you in Canada? Here are the eligibility requirements you should know.
For obvious reasons, an individual may need or want to sponsor their child to come live with them in Canada. Did you know it’s the same process as sponsoring your spouse? Keeping families together is a mission for the Canadian government and it’s important to know what to do when taking that step.
How to Sponsor a Child to Canada
When sponsoring your child, you are obligated and agree to make sure your child is supported financially and does not need social assistance from the Canadian government. To become a sponsor in Canada, you must first meet a number of requirements that apply to all cases, whether you are sponsoring a child, spouse, or partner. You may be considered eligible if:
- You are at least 18 years of age
- You are a citizen, permanent resident living in Canada, or a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
- You are financially stable and capable of providing for the basic needs of any grandchildren
Who May You Sponsor?
If you plan to sponsor your child to Canada, you must prove they are a dependent child. To be considered a dependent child, one must:
- Be under 22 years old
- Not have a spouse or common-law partner
A child over 22 years old may be considered a dependent if:
- They have depended on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22, and
- They are unable to support themselves financially due to a mental or physical condition
Still not sure if your child is an eligible dependent? Use the IRCC Tool Check!
To qualify, the child must continue to meet these requirements until they enter Canada. If your grandchild (a dependent of the primary dependent child) will be immigrating with the primary beneficiary, they are considered an accompanying dependent. In such cases, they will be included in the application. If you are sponsoring more than one principal applicant to Canada, they will each require their own applications, as they are not considered dependents of one another. Overall, the beneficiary must not be inadmissible for any reason.
Steps to Sponsoring Your Child in Canada
When sponsoring your child, it’s important to know that there are two different applications. One application is to sponsor, the other is your child applying for permanent residency which will be submitted at the same time! Here the steps to sponsoring your child!
Step 1: Get Application Package
This package will include a document checklist, the forms you need to complete, and an instruction guide.
Step 2: Pay the Application Fees
In most cases, you will need to pay the processing fees, right of permanent residence fee, biometrics fee, and any needed third-party fees.
Step 3: Submit Application
Mailing instructions are included in the application guide.
Step 4: Send Additional Information
While processing, your child will be asked to give biometrics, complete a medical exam, or police certificates if needed.
Why Hire an Immigration Lawyer in Sponsorship Cases?
When you commit yourself to sponsoring a child to Canada, you want to ensure your application has the best chance of approval possible. That is why so many have chosen to enlist the help of an immigration lawyer. A lawyer can help guide you through the process, and help make sure your application is completed as efficiently as possible to lead to success.
Call Us Today
The first step towards moving to Canada is to get an assessment of your specific situation. Call us today at +1.647.792.3035 for an assessment to see if you are eligible to move to Canada, or fill out our online assessment form.