Dependent Child or Other Sponsorship Requirements

Sponsoring your dependent child is an option for Canadians who have obtained status for themselves and seek to be reunited with their dependents abroad. Eligible permanent residents and Canadian citizens who qualify to sponsor may facilitate their dependant for permanent resident status.

In order to qualify as a sponsor, you must:

• be 18 years of age or older,
• be a Canadian citizen, Registered Indian or permanent resident,
• be sponsoring a member of the Family Class,
• sign an undertaking promising

When you agree to be a sponsor, you must sign a contract called an undertaking with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. The undertaking is a promise to provide financial support for dependent children. This also includes other health care not provided by public health, such as eye and dental care.

The undertaking ensures that these persons and their family members do not have to apply for social assistance. Its length varies according to their age and their relationship to you. The length of undertaking for a child over the age of 22 is three years. For a child under 22 years of age, the financial undertaking is 10 years or until the child reaches 25 years of age.

As you intend to be sponsoring your dependent child, there are other factors that you should consider as well. Essentially, you will need to demonstrate the validity of your relationship as well as the fact that the qualify to be considered your dependant.

There are three types of dependent children who are eligible: