Adopt A Child
Child Adoption Program
The Child Adoption Program is a part of Canada’s Family Sponsorship program that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their adopted children for immigration to Canada.
To be eligible for sponsorship under the Child Adoption Program, the child must meet the following criteria:
- Be under the age of 18 at the time of the adoption
- Be adopted by the sponsor before the age of 18
- Have a valid adoption order or equivalent from the province or territory where the adoption took place
- Be sponsored by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is at least 18 years old and is not receiving social assistance for a reason other than a disability
- Be admissible to Canada, which means they must not pose a security risk or have a criminal record, and must pass a medical exam.
The sponsor must provide documentation to demonstrate that they have legal custody and guardianship of the child. They must also provide evidence of their financial ability to support the child in Canada, such as proof of income and employment.
To apply for sponsorship to adopt a child, the Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsor must follow these steps:
- Gather Required Documents:
The sponsor will need to gather documents to demonstrate their eligibility to sponsor and the adopted child’s eligibility to immigrate. These documents may include the sponsor’s proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency, proof of their relationship to the child, the child’s adoption order, and medical and criminal record checks for the sponsor and child.
- Complete Application Forms:
The sponsor must complete the application forms for sponsoring an adopted child, which are available on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
- Pay Fees:
There are fees associated with the sponsorship application, as well as fees for the child’s permanent residence application, medical exams, and biometric data collection.
- Submit Application:
The sponsor must submit the completed application forms and all required documents to the IRCC. The application will be reviewed by an immigration officer to ensure that all eligibility criteria have been met.
- Wait for Processing:
The processing time for adoption sponsorship applications can vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the case and the volume of applications being processed. The sponsor will receive updates on the status of the application from the IRCC.
- Prepare for Arrival:
Once the application is approved, the sponsor will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and must make arrangements for the adopted child’s arrival in Canada.