New Rules for Dependent Children for all immigration programs

July 29, 2014 · 12:47 amImmigration

The Government of Canada, Citizenship and Immigration will implement new rules for children who may be taking to Canada with their parents as dependent children The new rules will come into effect on August 1st of this year. A dependent child’s age will be lowered to 19.

In order to fall under the definition of “dependent child” you have to:

Be under 19 years of age; and
Be neither married nor in a common-law relationship

If children of prospective immigrants are over 19 and continue their full time studies, they won’t be eligible to come to Canada as dependent children. However they can still be considered dependent, if they, after reaching 19 years of age, suffer from a mental or physical condition.

Who qualifies as a dependent child for Canadian immigration?

A dependent child is generally a child who is under 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship. A child 22 or older can still qualify if they have depended substantially on their parents since before age 22 because of a physical or mental condition.

Category	Requirement
Under 22	Not married or in a common-law relationship
22 or older	Financially dependent since before 22 due to a condition
Locked-in age	Age is fixed at a key point in the process

Including dependants correctly is essential — errors can cause refusals or later problems. Karb Law’s legal team assists with family and sponsorship applications; request a free assessment.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum age for a dependent child in Canadian immigration?

A dependent child must generally be under 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship. Children 22 or older can still qualify if they have been financially dependent on a parent since before turning 22 due to a physical or mental condition.

Is a child’s age locked in during the application?

Yes. To protect applicants from processing delays, a dependent child’s age is generally "locked in" at a defined point in the process, so a child who ages past the limit while the application is pending can still be included. The exact lock-in point depends on the program.

Official resources

External links are provided for general information only and are not legal advice.

Written by

Angelina Shuster

Licensed Paralegal · Law Society of Ontario

Angelina Shuster is a paralegal licensed by the Law Society of Ontario with 25 years of experience in Canada. Based at Karb Law’s office in Richmond Hill, she represents clients across Ontario and in immigration matters throughout Canada, and has helped thousands of people with immigration and legal matters — refugee claims, appeals, admissibility and detention reviews before the Immigration and Refugee Board, and summary-conviction criminal matters.

More about Angelina & Karb Law →

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