Changes to The Definition of Dependent Child in Canada

Definition of Dependent Child in Canada Immigration Matters

As of August 1, 2014, the definition of dependent child in Canada is changing for Canadian Immigration Programs.

The changes including:

• The age at which a child would be considered as a dependent child is reducing from under 22 to under 19.

• Children of applicants who are 19 or over but are financially dependent on their parents and are enrolled in full-time studies will no longer be eligible to be processed as dependent children.

Young adults will be able to apply to come to Canada on their own, as a foreign student, or through other economic programs.

However, in all cases, a child will continue to be considered as a dependent child if they have depended on their parents for financial support because of a mental or physical condition, regardless of age.

All PR applications that are already received by CIC before August 1, 2014, will continue to benefit from the previous definition.

At the same time, transitional measures which allow certain applicants under multi-step permanent resident programs who are already in the immigration process by August 1, 2014, but who have not yet submitted their application for permanent residence, to have their applications completed base on the previous definition of dependent child. Further more, the dependent child’s age will be “locked in” at the first step of a multi-step immigration process.

Applicants under the following programs will apply under the transitional measures:

• Provincial Nominee Program
• Quebec’s Economic Programs
• Live-in Caregivers
• Refugees abroad and refugee claimants
• Quebec Humanitarian Cases
• Parents/Grandparents sponsorship applications received before November 5, 2011
• Privately sponsored refugee applications received before October 18, 2012

For more information, please contact us.