International adoption: Who can apply—Immigration

When you adopt a child from outside Canada, the immigration process has two parts:

• the application for sponsorship and
• the application for permanent residence for the child.

After your child arrives in Canada as a permanent resident, you can apply for citizenship on the child’s behalf.

Sponsorship eligibility

To sponsor a child from another country for adoption, you must meet the following immigration sponsorship requirements:

• be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
• live in Canada and
• be at least 18 years old.

You may not be eligible to sponsor in some circumstances. These circumstances include (but are not limited to):

• if you failed to 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 pardon was granted or
• if you do not live in Canada now and do not plan to live full time in Canada during the next six months.

If you live in Quebec, you must also meet Quebec’s immigration sponsorship requirements. Get more information on Quebec’s requirements in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.

Learn about:

• Adoptions inside and outside Canada
• Other requirements

Adoptions inside and outside Canada

Most adoptions by Canadian parents will take place in the child’s home country. Each country may have different laws covering adoption by foreigners. For instance, some countries allow adoptions outside the child’s home country, while others only permit adoption inside the country.

If you are adopting a child who is related to you, some provinces or territories require the adoption to take place in Canada.

The adoption must be legal in the child’s home country and in the province or territory where you live in Canada. Canada’s immigration regulations also require that the adoption:

• creates a real parent–child relationship between you and the child
• ends the legal relationship between your adoptive child and the biological parents
• is in the best interests of the child and
• is not primarily to gain permanent resident status for the child in Canada.

The immigration process allows two types of adoptions of children under 18:

• Children adopted outside Canada
  Adopted children may be sponsored to come to Canada if the following conditions are met:
• You have met the requirements of your province or territory, including a home study, and the province or territory has agreed to the adoption.
• Informed consent has been given by your child’s natural parents (if they are living).
• Your child has been legally adopted outside Canada.
• A real parent–child relationship has been created by the adoption.
• The visa officer is convinced you are not adopting primarily to gain permanent residence status for the child in Canada.
• The requirements of the Hague Convention have been met, if they apply.

• Children to be adopted in Canada
  You may sponsor a child to come to Canada to be adopted if the following conditions are met:
• You have met the requirements set out by your province or territory and it has agreed to the adoption.
• The adoption is not primarily to gain permanent resident status for the child in Canada.
• The child has been placed for adoption in the home country or the child is otherwise legally available for adoption.

Other requirements

Adopted children must have a medical examination before being issued a permanent resident visa. You must sign a declaration stating you have obtained information about the child’s medical condition. You will be advised by your province or territory or its licensed adoption agency how and when this medical examination will take place.

International adoption is complex. Other requirements may apply depending on the country from which you are adopting, and your home province or territory. Your provincial or territorial government office, or its licensed adoption agency will tell you about requirements related to the adoption itself.

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Related Links

• Quebec Immigration (ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles)