Dependent Children Eligibility Canada 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the lock-in date for my application?

For Express Entry applications, the lock-in date is the date IRCC issued your Invitation to Apply (ITA). For paper-based family class and other applications, it is the date IRCC received your complete PR application. Always use the earlier of any applicable dates.

My child was 21 when I applied but is now 23. Are they still dependent?

Yes. As long as the child was under 22 on the lock-in date, they remain a dependent throughout the entire application process, even if they turn 22 or older during IRCC processing. The lock-in date freezes their dependency status. Note that being married or in a common-law relationship disqualifies a child from dependency status regardless of age.

My adult child has a mental-health condition and is 24 years old. Does the exception apply?

Possibly. The exception requires two things: the condition caused financial dependence before they turned 22, and the dependence has been continuous since then. You need medical documentation and evidence of continuous support. Talk to an authorized immigration consultant or lawyer if you are relying on this exception.

What about my 23-year-old who is in university full-time?

Full-time student status no longer qualifies a child 22 or older as a dependent. The 2017 rules removed this exception. Your 23-year-old can still immigrate to Canada separately (as a student, worker, or through their own PR application), but they cannot be included in your current PR application as a dependent.

How does this calculator work?

Enter your application lock-in date (the reference date IRCC uses to assess each child's age) and add each child with their birth date. For each child, indicate whether they are married or in a common-law relationship (disqualifies regardless of age), whether they have been a full-time student since before age 22 (no longer an exception after 2017), and whether they have a physical or mental condition causing financial dependence. The checker computes age on the lock-in date and applies IRCC's under-22 rule (in effect since October 24, 2017) to report a per-child verdict of dependent or not.