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Immigration process — Intercountry adoption: About the process

From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

There are two processes that you must go through when you adopt a child from another country: the adoption process and the immigration process.

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. However, the adoption must be finalized before the child can be granted citizenship.

Learn more about applying for a grant of citizenship for your child.

Fees

Sponsor an adopted child: $150

Processing time ?

Varies by country

Check application processing times

Processing times

Processing times will vary based on:

  • Type of application submitted;
  • Volume of applications received;
  • How easily we can verify information;
  • How well and how quickly you respond to any requests or concerns;
  • Whether the application is complete.

Many more people want to immigrate to Canada than the Government of Canada can bring in each year under our annual immigration plan. Applications received after the maximum has been met may have to wait longer to be processed.

Learn more about how Citizenship and Immigration Canada calculates processing times.

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