October 24, 2017 -  Effective today, the definition of dependent child has increased from 18 to 21 years of age. To be dependent, the child still needs to be unmarried and not in a common-law relationship and for overage children with a physical or mental condition to have been continually unable to financially support themselves since before turning 22.

The new definition of dependent child applies to applications received on or after October 24, 2017. Applications received between August 1, 2014 and October 23, 2017 will be processed on the previous definitions. Please note that there will be transitional provisions to deal with the dependent child who made an application as a principal applicant as a member of the family class on or before July 31, 2017.  The transitional provisions allow the applications of certain children whose ages were locked in before August  1, 2014, to be processed based on the pre-amendment definition. It is important to note that for some permanent resident programs, IRCC will continue to receive some applications, which include those of children who are 22 or older, who are full-time students and who qualify as dependants based on the 2014 transitional provisions because their ages were locked in before August  1, 2014. These transitional provisions may apply regardless of the date IRCC receives the permanent residence application.

If you have any questions regarding the definition of a dependent child, please contact us directly.

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