Requirements to sponsor a child

To sponsor a child from another country for adoption, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident (if you do not currently reside in Canada,
you must do so when the adopted child becomes a permanent resident);
• live in Canada; and
• be at least 18 years old.

You may not be eligible to sponsor in some cases, such as:

• if you did not meet the requirements of a previous sponsorship agreement;

• if you defaulted on a court-ordered support order, such as alimony or child support;
• if you have been convicted of a violent criminal offence—depending on the nature of the
offence, when it occurred and whether a record suspension was granted; or
• if you do not live in Canada now and do not plan to live full-time in Canada when the
child becomes a permanent resident.