This visa allows permanent Canadian residents and Canadian citizens to apply to sponsor their dependent or adopted children to reside in Canada with them. If the individuals are not able to bring the children along at the time of immigration due to some circumstances then for these families and the children, the Government of Canada has created a special immigration stream - Dependent Children sponsorship visa under the Family Class Visa category.

Eligibility Criteria

The applicants must meet the below mentioned eligibility criteria: -

• The applicant must be less than 19 years of age
• The applicant should not be a spouse or common-law partner.
• The applicants should have been dependent on the financial support offered by their parent, including full time education since before the age of 19.

Proof of relationship

In order to get Family Class Dependent Children sponsorship visa, the applicant have to meet the following criteria:

• The applicant should be the biological child of the parent(s). If the child has been adopted by a person other than the common law partner or spouse, or
• The adopted child of the parent(s).

Eligibility Criteria for Sponsors

The sponsor must meet the following eligibility in order to become a sponsor of a dependent child:

• The sponsor must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
• The sponsor must be 18 years of age or above.
• The sponsor must be able to meet the income guidelines
• The sponsor must be able to support dependent child financially until the child attains the age of 22 years.

Permanent Residency

In the process of a sponsored dependent child gaining permanent residency in Canada, there are mainly two stages involved:

Stage 1 - The applicant must apply for the sponsorship of his/her dependent children as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada

• Sponsorship application will be processed by the Case Processing Centre (CPC) of Canada.
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will intimate the final approval or refusal after the CPC.

Stage 2 - The sponsored children must apply for permanent residence.

Note: The permanent residence application and the sponsorship application, both are essential and for the sponsored dependent at the same time.

After Sponsorship

After the sponsorship, the dependent children gain the status the right to study and work in Canada.

Processing times

The processing of applications under the Family Class sponsorship visa programs is given highest priority at the Canadian immigration visa offices because the Government of Canada believes in keeping families together whenever possible. 16 months is the approximate processing time of a Family Class Dependent Children sponsorship visa.