The Canadian government is forever committed to creating an environment of togetherness for families. Sponsorship of parents, children, and grandparents is an initiative to bring together the families of the immigrants.
For a parent to sponsor their child, certain requirements need to be fulfilled. Once the parent meets all the essential requirements it will be possible to sponsor their child. Similarly, it is also important for the child to fulfill the requirements as a dependent. If both of them qualify the eligibility criteria, the parent will receive an opportunity to sponsor their child to become a permanent resident in Canada.

Family Class Immigration- Its Role
Family Class Immigration in Canada is responsible for numerous immigrants immigrating to Canada. It activates sponsorship for children, dependents, parents, grandparents, and conjugal partners.
Canadian Citizenship Conditions
- A child born in Canada is applicable to becoming a Canadian citizen.
- If a child’s parent is a Canadian citizen, then also, he is liable to be a Canadian citizen.
- One of your biological or legal parents must either be born in Canada or they must have already attained Canadian citizenship through naturalization before you were born.
- You are a Canadian citizen because of the amendment made in the Canadian Citizenship Act.
Sponsorship eligibility requirements for Canadian immigration
The children and parents both need to fir into the eligibility conditions for immigration to Canada.
The IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) has listed a few requirements for parents and children for sponsorship.
- The first eligibility requirement for a parent to sponsor their child would be their age which must be 18 years.
- The sponsor must be eligible for the fulfillment of minimum requirements in case they wish to sponsor.
- The sponsors are also expected to sign an undertaking as their capability of providing enough financial support to the family member they’d like to sponsor after attaining permanent residency in Canada.
Parents ineligible for sponsorship- Conditions
Certain conditions result in parents failing to sponsor their children. The conditions are as follows:
- If a parent holds permanent residency in Canada through sponsorship of a time duration lesser than 5 months before applying to sponsor, then he stands unsuccessful for sponsorship.
- After becoming a permanent resident in Canada, if a parent holds no intention of living with the child they wish to sponsor.
- In the case of a parent having a permanent residency status yet residing outside Canada.
- If any parent is dependent on any kind of social assistance for reasons other than disability.
- If a parent is observed to partake in any criminal offense specifically against relatives or even if they are imprisoned for any criminal activity.
- The parent who is trying to sponsor their child doesn’t need to provide any evidence determining their financial capabilities.
- In the case of a dependent also having dependent children must be required to meet a certain financial criterion.
- If any parent is residing in Quebec but wants to sponsor their child then he will need to fulfill the different set of eligibility requirements as per Quebec regulations.
Eligibility requirements concerning children’s sponsorship for Canadian immigration
- The child must meet the dependency status requirements laid out as per the Canadian immigration standards.
- Children under the age of 22 years and also who have no conjugal partner or spouse until this age are considered dependents.
- Those who have been dependent on their parents concerning their finances even before turning 22 years old are still dependent because of being mentally or physically disabled.
Additional conditions under sponsorship eligibility
- If sponsoring a child for Canadian immigration is on your list, then that child must be your own child.
- The child you wish to sponsor could also be your spouse’s child.
- In case the child you’re sponsoring isn’t related to you but to your spouse then you must also sponsor your spouse or conjugal partner.
- Adopted children can be sponsored but there is a separate process that you need to follow.
- Everyone who has been sponsored cannot enter Canada particularly if they have past criminal records or have peculiar and threatening medical conditions which pose danger to the health and security of Canada.
- If any sponsored family member is suffering from a health issue that involves excessive cost for its treatment, then that member still has a chance to immigrate to Canada.
Child’s Sponsorship for Immigrating to Canada
- The foremost basic requirement for sponsorship is that the applicant must meet all the essential requirements.
- Secondly, the child they are sponsoring must also be able to fulfill all the requirements and this must be proved by the applicant himself.
- Family sponsorship must be truly aligned with IRCCs guidelines and these sponsorships are based on specific requirements demanded by the countries.
- An application package page is available through the IRCC. Using this will enable the applicants to enter their details which will further lead them to the various other instructions and checklists related to child sponsorship.
- Family sponsorships are based on a paper application process which means the interested parent must submit the application to IRCC with all the hard copy documents through email or courier facility.
- A sponsoring fee of CAD $150 for the child is to be paid.
- The time taken for a child sponsorship application depends upon where the child is currently residing.
Spousal Sponsorship Applications- Inland or Outbound
Spousal sponsorship applications are bound for sponsored spouses who either stay inside Canada or outside Canada. Hence, the terms Inland and Outbound are used respectively.
These terms are in no way applicable for child sponsorship.
The role of Express Entry in Family Sponsorship
- Express Entry Programs provide an opportunity for parents and children to acquire permanent residency status.
- Qualifying under any Express Entry Program also enables that individual to officially incorporate their spouse or children on their application.
- To succeed through an Express Entry system, the candidate must have an updated Express Entry profile along with an invitation to apply.
- The Express Entry also lets the applicant avoid the need to separately apply for family sponsorship.