Sponsor a Child or Relative to Canada: Dependent Children, Adoption and Other Relatives
You can sponsor your dependent child, an adopted child, or a child you plan to adopt abroad. In very specific cases you can also sponsor an orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild, or one other relative who is alone in the world. Each route has its own rules, fees and undertaking.
since 1991
Which route covers your family member?
A dependent child is under 22 with no spouse or common-law partner, or is 22 or older and cannot support themselves because of a physical or mental condition. An adopted child, or a child you plan to adopt abroad, follows an adoption route. Other relatives qualify only in two narrow cases.
Include your child or sponsor separately?
You can include your child in your spouse or partner application, or sponsor a child on their own. Either way the fee is $180 per child. You must declare every family member in your application, even one who is not coming.
Key rules at a glance
- Income: most child cases have no income test, but one applies if the child has children of their own
- Undertaking: 10 years or until age 25 for a child under 22, and 3 years for a child 22 or older
- Adoption: it must be legal in the child’s country and your province, and not be mainly to gain PR
- Relatives: only an orphaned relative or one relative alone in the world
Which route fits your family?
Pick the situation that matches yours.
Child or adoption fits if
- Your child is under 22 and single, or older and unable to support themselves
- Your child is biological or adopted, or your spouse’s child
- You live in Canada and can sign the undertaking
- An adoption abroad meets IRCC’s rules
Other relatives fit if
- The relative is an orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild under 18
- Or you have no living relative you could sponsor and no listed relative who is a citizen, PR or registered Indian
- You are 18 or older and live in Canada
- You can meet the income guidelines
Not sure? Read the spousal sponsorship guide, the parents and grandparents page, or see the family sponsorship hub.
Requirements by route
Each route has its own rules. Source: IRCC.
Sponsor status
You must be at least 18, be a citizen, PR or registered Indian, and live in Canada. For a relative, your address must stay in Canada until IRCC decides.
Dependent child
Biological or adopted child, or your spouse’s child. Under 22 with no spouse or partner, or 22 or older and unable to support themselves because of a condition.
Adopted child
The adoption must be legal in the child’s country and where you live, end the link to the birth parents, meet your province’s rules including a home study, and not be mainly to gain PR.
Orphaned relative
Your brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild by blood or adoption, under 18, single, with both parents deceased. A living, missing or jailed parent rules it out.
One other relative
You may sponsor 1 relative of any age if you have no living relative you could sponsor instead, and no aunt, uncle or listed relative who is a citizen, PR or registered Indian.
Not sure which route fits?
We check your family against IRCC’s rules before you pay any fee.
Your undertaking
Child under 22
You support the child for 10 years or until they turn 25, whichever comes first. Nobody can cancel or shorten it.
You support the child for 3 years after they become a PR. The child signs an agreement to make every effort to support themselves.
You support a relative for up to 20 years, depending on their age and how you are related. If they receive social assistance, you repay it.
Documents to prepare
The exact list depends on your route. Start with these.
How sponsoring a child or relative works, step by step
Six stages from choosing your route to landing.
Choose your route
Confirm whether the person is a dependent child, an adopted child or an eligible relative.
Check you can sponsor
Check your age, status, residence, any bar and the income guidelines.
Prepare both applications
You sign the sponsorship and undertaking, and the person you sponsor completes the permanent residence forms. For relatives, both go in at the same time.
Submit online and pay
Pay the fees, sign and upload every document. If biometrics apply, they are due within 30 days of the letter.
IRCC reviews the file
IRCC checks you as a sponsor and your family member for admissibility. It may ask for more documents.
Decision and landing
If approved, your family member becomes a permanent resident and your undertaking begins.
Fees at a glance
From the IRCC fee list updated 21 September 2026. Last updated: October 2026.
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Child and relative sponsorship FAQs
Who counts as a dependent child?
A dependent child is your biological or adopted child, or your spouse or partner’s, who is under 22 and has no spouse or common-law partner. A child 22 or older also qualifies if they cannot support themselves because of a physical or mental condition.
Can I include my child in my spouse application?
Yes. You add each dependent child to the application for $180 per child. You must declare every family member, even a child who is not coming to Canada. See our spousal sponsorship guide.
Can I sponsor my child on their own?
Yes. A dependent child can be sponsored separately for $180 per child. The undertaking lasts 10 years or until age 25 for a child under 22, and 3 years for a child 22 or older.
Is there an income requirement to sponsor a child?
In most cases, no. You only need to show income if the dependent child you sponsor has children of their own. IRCC’s Financial Evaluation form (IMM 1283) explains the amount.
Can I sponsor an adopted child?
Yes, if the adoption meets IRCC’s rules. It must be legal in the child’s country and where you live, end the legal link to the birth parents, meet your province’s rules including a home study, and not be mainly to gain permanent residence. The fee is $180 per child.
Can I sponsor my brother or sister?
Only an orphaned brother or sister. They must be related to you by blood or adoption, under 18, single, and both their parents must have died. A parent who is alive, missing, jailed or who abandoned them rules it out.
Can I sponsor an aunt, uncle or cousin?
Only as your one “other relative”. You must have no living relative you could sponsor instead, and no aunt, uncle or listed relative who is a citizen, PR or registered Indian. You can sponsor just 1 relative of any age.
Can I sponsor more than one other relative?
No. IRCC allows 1 relative of any age. If that relative has a spouse, partner or dependent children coming with them, you must include them on the same application.
How much does it cost?
A dependent child, adopted child or orphaned relative costs $180 per child. A relative under 22 who is not your child costs $780, and a relative 22 or older costs $1,260. These are IRCC fees from 21 September 2026.
What is the sponsor’s undertaking for a relative?
You support the relative for up to 20 years, depending on their age and how you are related. If they receive social assistance, you repay it, and you cannot sponsor anyone else until you do.
How long does it take?
IRCC publishes times for dependent children abroad and updates them every month. See our family processing times page for the current figure.
What if I live in Quebec?
You also meet Quebec’s rules and sign an undertaking with Quebec after IRCC asks you to. Do not send it before IRCC tells you to, or Quebec will not process it.