https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship/helpcentre/glossary.html#dependent_child
Dependant: spouse, common-law partner or dependent child of a permanent resident or
principal applicant.
Dependent child
A child who is under the maximum age and is not married or in a common law relationship. Generally, to qualify as dependants, children must
- be under 22 years old
- not have a spouse or common-law partner
Note: a child’s age is usually “
locked in” when we get a complete application.
Use our
online tool to check if your child qualifies as a dependant.
Exception: Children who are at the age limit or older can qualify as “over-age” dependants if they
- have depended on their parents for financial support since before they reached the age limit and
- can’t financially support themselves due to a mental or physical condition
Previous age limits:
The age limit has changed in recent years. If your application has been in process for a while, one of the older definitions of dependent child may apply. Generally, we use the rules in place when we get your complete application. Previous age limits for a dependent child:
- From August 1, 2014 to October 23, 2017: under 19 years old
- On or before July 31, 2014: under 22 years old
Note: The
rules for over-age dependants are different for applications that were submitted on or before July 31, 2014.