A dependent child is defined by age and status at the time the application is received by IRCC — not at the time it is approved. The age lock-in date is one of the most operationally significant details in child sponsorship and the source of many avoidable problems.
Under 22 Years Old
A child who is under 22 at the time the complete application is received by IRCC and who is not married or in a common-law relationship. Age is frozen at the lock-in date — if the child turns 22 after the application is received (as a complete package), they remain eligible for the duration of processing.
22 or Older with Financial Dependence
A child who is 22 or older and has depended substantially on their parent's financial support since before age 22 due to a physical or mental condition. The condition must be ongoing and documented medically. This category is narrow — casual financial support does not qualify. The dependence must be directly caused by the health condition, not by personal choice or circumstance.
Types of Eligible Children
- • Biological children: Birth certificates must establish the parent-child relationship; DNA testing may be requested if documentation is missing
- • Adopted children: Adoption must be legally finalized in both the child's home country and Canada — prospective adoptions are not eligible for this stream
- • Children of sponsored spouse/partner: When sponsoring a spouse, their dependent children can be included in the same application (co-sponsorship)
- • Step-children: Legally recognized in most jurisdictions — documentation of the sponsor's marriage to the parent is required
Practitioner note: The age lock-in issue catches families by surprise when applications are returned as incomplete and must be resubmitted. A child who was 21 at first submission but turned 22 before a complete package was received at IRCC is no longer eligible. Submitting a complete, well-organized application without gaps — the first time — is not just about approval: it's about preserving eligibility for a child near the age cutoff.
Quick Facts
- Sponsorship fee:None
- Processing fee:$150
- Income requirement:None
- Age cutoff:Under 22
- Age lock-in:Date IRCC receives complete pkg
- Processing:12–18 months
Related Services
If your child is approaching 22, the submission timeline is critical. A consultation can review the application for completeness before it is filed.
Schedule your consultationA consultation is required for case-specific advice.