Being apart from your child, or from the last family you have, is one of the hardest parts of building a life in a new country. Canada’s family sponsorship rules give a clear path for dependent children and a narrower one for certain other relatives. This guide walks through both, so you can see which applies to your family and what it asks of you.
Who counts as a dependent child
- Your or your spouse’s biological or adopted child who is under 22 and does not have a spouse or common-law partner.
- Or a child 22 or older who cannot support themselves because of a mental or physical condition and has depended on their parents since before age 22.
- Apart from age, the child must keep meeting these conditions until IRCC finishes processing.
- When you sponsor only the child, the child is the principal applicant, and you need the other parent’s consent.
- You cannot sponsor a child who is already a Canadian citizen.
Sponsoring another relative
Beyond spouses, children, parents and grandparents, Canada allows two narrow kinds of relative sponsorship:
| Who | Conditions |
|---|---|
| An orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild | Related by blood or adoption, under 18, single, and both parents have passed away. Not possible if a parent is alive, missing, has abandoned them or is in jail. |
| One relative of any age | Related by blood or adoption, and only if you have no spouse, partner, child, parent, grandparent or orphaned relative you could sponsor instead, and no relative who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian. |
IRCC gives examples: an aunt or a cousin can qualify under the one-relative rule, but an uncle’s spouse cannot, because there is no blood tie.
Your promise and the income test
- For a dependent child under 22, your undertaking lasts 10 years or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first. For a dependent child 22 or older, it lasts 3 years.
- For an orphaned relative or another relative, Guide 5196 sets the undertaking at 10 years.
- Sponsoring a dependent child usually has no income test, unless the child has a child of their own.
- Sponsoring another relative requires income at or above the low-income cut-off: IRCC’s 2025 table shows $30,526 for 1 person, $38,002 for 2, $46,720 for 3 and $56,724 for 4.
- You must be 18 or older and live in Canada to sponsor a relative.
| Person sponsored | Fee |
|---|---|
| A dependent child, sponsored on their own | $180 |
| An orphaned relative, or a dependent added to an application | $180 |
| A relative 22 or older, or their spouse | $1,260 (including the right of permanent residence fee) |
| A relative under 22 who is not your dependent child | $780 (including the right of permanent residence fee) |
How to get started
- 01
Confirm who you can sponsor
Check the definitions above against your family, and read IRCC’s examples if your situation is unusual.
- 02
Gather proof of the relationship
Birth, adoption and, for orphans, death certificates show IRCC how you are related.
- 03
Check the income rules
For a relative other than a dependent child, make sure your income meets the cut-off for your family size.
- 04
Submit the sponsorship and the application together
You apply to sponsor, and your family member applies for permanent residence, in one package.
- 05
Welcome them home
Once approved, your family member gets their confirmation of permanent residence and can travel to Canada.
Frequently asked questions
My child turned 22 during processing. Are they still a dependent?
Yes, if they met the definition when you applied. IRCC looks at age on the day the application is received, but the child must keep meeting the other conditions.
Can I sponsor my brother or sister?
Only in narrow cases: if they are orphaned, under 18 and single, or under the one-relative rule if you have no closer family you could sponsor and no relatives already in Canada.
Is there an income test to sponsor my child?
Usually not. It applies only when your dependent child has a child of their own.
I forgot to declare my child when I immigrated. Can I sponsor them now?
The public policy that helped in this situation ended on September 10, 2026. Get advice from a regulated professional about your options.
You don’t have to face the wait alone.
Thousands of people have shared their real timelines so the next person isn’t left guessing in the dark. Add yours, keep your own application and your family’s together in one place, and see a grounded estimate of how long your decision might take, drawn from people who are walking the same path.
- Share your timeline and help the next applicant find their footing.
- Track your own and your family’s applications together, in one calm place.
- See a realistic estimate of your wait, based on people on the same journey.
It’s free, and what you track stays private to you. Sharing your timeline with the community is always your choice.
Key takeaways
- A dependent child is usually under 22 and does not have a spouse or partner.
- Sponsoring a dependent child usually has no income test.
- An orphaned relative, or one other relative, can be sponsored only in narrow cases, with an income test.
- IRCC: Who you can sponsor (spouse, partner or children) (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Sponsor other relatives (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Guide 5196, sponsoring adopted children and other relatives (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Fee list (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026