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How to apply

Before you start the permanent residence application for your adopted child, review the important information you need to know before applying.

If you haven’t been matched with a child yet

You may leave the name of the child blank on the sponsorship forms. Once you know the child’s name, you must notify your visa office and provincial authority.

If you live in Quebec, contact the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) for your sponsorship requirements.

If you’re sponsoring more than 1 child

You must submit a separate application for each child you adopt. This applies even if the children are siblings.

If you live in Quebec

The process works differently if you live in Quebec. See Quebec’s requirements for sponsoring an adopted child.

Follow these steps to sponsor a child for adoption.

  1. Create an account or sign in

    To sponsor a child for adoption, there are 2 applications:

    • Sponsorship application: You apply to become a sponsor.
    • Permanent residence application: The principal applicant (child) applies for permanent residence.

    The principal applicant will submit both applications together online using the Permanent Residence (PR) Portal.

    If the principal applicant is under 18 years old, you (or their guardian) can fill out, sign and submit their application on their behalf.

    Apply through the PR Portal

Request an alternate format (braille, large print or paper)

If you or your representative can’t apply online and require accommodations, including for a disability, you may ask for the application package in one of these alternate formats:

  • braille
  • large print
  • paper
To request another format:

  1. Prepare a new email

    • In the subject line of your email, include
      • the format you need (braille, large print or paper)
      • the application package you want
    • In the body of your email, copy and paste the text below. Then, fill in the missing information.
      • Requested Format: [Braille / Large Print / Paper]
      • Application Package: [Name of the application package or program]
      • Preferred Language: [English / French]
      • Delivery Method: [Email / Regular Mail in Canada]
      • Applicant or Sponsor Information:
        • Full Name (as shown on passport):
        • Email Address (if requesting electronic delivery):
        • Mailing Address (if requesting regular mail – Canada only):

    Please do not add extra information as it is not necessary and will not be taken into consideration to send out the alternate format.

  2. Send your email to: IRCC.PRPortalALTRequest-DemandeALTPortailRP.IRCC@cic.gc.ca

    Note: we will only reply to requests for alternate formats. We won't reply to any other types of requests.

After we review your request, we’ll send the package in the format and delivery method you chose, with instructions on how to send your application back to IRCC.

If you need additional assistance applying with an alternate format, call 1-888-242-2100 (from inside Canada only).

If you’re getting help with your application from someone else

You can ask someone to help you with your immigration application.

There are special requirements depending on what kind of help you’re getting:

If you’re using a paid immigration representative

Paid immigration representatives need to be authorized (opens in a new tab).

If you want to use a paid representative, you must:

A paid representative can fill out forms and communicate with us for you through their own account. They can also:

  • help you prepare the documents you need to upload
  • answer questions about the forms

They can’t:

  • open a portal account on your behalf
  • electronically sign the application for you
  • sign in to the portal using your username and password

After you read the declaration, you must be the one to type your name. This is the legal requirement for your application to be considered “signed” according to Canada’s immigration law.

You don’t need to hire a representative. Using one will not draw special attention to your application and doesn’t mean we’ll approve it.

If you’re using an unpaid representative

Unpaid representatives don’t need to be authorized or certified. They can be:

  • family members
  • friends
  • anyone else who doesn’t charge you a fee

If you want to use an unpaid representative, you must:

An unpaid representative can:

  • help you open a PR portal account
  • fill out forms for you, but not sign them
  • communicate with us for you
  • help you prepare the documents you need to upload
  • answer questions about immigration forms

They can’t electronically sign the application for you.

After you read the declaration, you must be the one to type your name. This is the legal requirement for your application to be considered “signed” according to Canada’s immigration law.

If you’re getting help from someone who isn’t a representative

You don’t need to tell us that you’re getting help from someone as long as they don’t:

  • advise you on which program to apply for
  • complete or update your application as you
  • act as you when dealing with us

They can help you:

  • use our website to find information
  • access a computer, scanner or printer
  • navigate our portals and accounts in your presence
  • view and open electronic forms
  • download/upload documents
  • get your documents translated
  • make travel plans

  1. Get your forms and documents ready

    Use the Document Checklist: Sponsor (IMM 5287) (opens in a new tab)  to make sure you include all the forms and documents you need. You must upload this checklist with your application.

    Forms and documents for the sponsor

    PDF forms the sponsor will fill out

    PDF forms the sponsor will fill out and digitally sign

    The principal applicant will:

    • upload these forms to their online application
    • electronically sign for all family members included in the application
    Forms and documents for the principal applicant

    Online forms the principal applicant (the child) will fill out in the portal

    • Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
    • Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
    • Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)

    If the principal applicant is under 18 years old, you (or their guardian) can fill out and sign these forms on their behalf.

    Other documents

    Birth certificate or legal guardianship

    If the applicant’s under 18 years old, you’ll need to provide a clear copy of:

    • their birth certificate (showing their name, date of birth, place of birth and names of parents or adoptive parents) or
    • legal documents proving their guardianship, if they have a legal guardian

    Police certificates

    If the child is 18 years or older, they must provide a valid police certificate for any country (other than Canada) where they spent 6 months or more in a row, since they were 18 years old. If the original certificate isn’t in English or French, it must be translated.

    Find out how to get a police certificate.

    Including family members on the child’s application

    If the child has family members, include them on their application. You can include a:

    If the child has children who are in the custody of an ex-spouse or partner, they must also be included in the application, whether they’ll be coming to Canada or not. If they’re not included in the application, the child won’t be able to sponsor them in the future, even if there are changes to custody or their living situation.

Get your documents translated and certified if they’re not in English or French

Each supporting document that isn’t in English or French must have 2 parts:

  1. an English or French translation that’s:
    • stamped by a certified translator
      • Their certification must be confirmed by a seal or stamp that shows the translator’s membership number.
      • The translator should also photocopy your original document and stamp it if that’s what they based the translation on.
      • All stamps and seals that aren’t in English or French must also be translated.
      • You can include a scanned copy of a letter explaining that you don’t need an affidavit because you used a certified translator.
    • accompanied by an affidavit from the person who completed the translation, swearing that their translation is true and accurate,
      • The affidavit must be signed in the presence of an authorized person
      • Use this option only if a translation cannot be completed by a certified translator.
      • Both the translated document and the original document the translator worked from must be referred to in the affidavit.
  1. a scan of the original document, or a scan of a certified photocopy of the original document, that the translator worked from.
    • You only need to provide a scan of a certified photocopy of the original document if the translation was based on the certified photocopy.
Who cannot translate documents?
  • Your family members
  • Your immigration representative or consultant

Get copies of documents certified

To have a copy of a document certified, an authorized person must compare it to the original document and print the following on the copy:

  •  “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document.”
  •  the name of the original document
  •  the date of the certification
  •  the name of the authorized person
  •  their official position or title
  •  their signature
Who can certify copies and be the witness to an affidavit

In Canada, examples of authorized persons who can certify the copies of your original documents and be the witness to an affidavit include:

Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Check with your provincial or territorial authorities to be sure who can certify your documents.

Outside Canada, each country has different authorities to certify documents. A notary public may be able to certify your documents, but you should check with your local authorities to be sure.

Who cannot certify copies or be the witness to an affidavit

An authorized person can’t certify a copy of a document or be the witness to an affidavit if they’re also:

  •  the principal applicant or the applicant’s sponsor (if this applies)
  •  a family member of the principal applicant or the applicant’s sponsor (parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or first cousin)
If you want us to release information from your application to someone else

If you want us to give information from your application to someone else (not a representative)

  1. Download the Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475) form.
  2. Complete and sign it (digitally or by hand).
  3. Get the person who needs your information to sign it too.
  4. Upload it with your application.
If you’re having technical issues

If you’re having technical issues applying, contact us using the web form (opens in a new tab).

  1. Select your problem.
  2. Under Tell us about yourself:
    • If you don’t have a unique client identifier number, enter 1111111111.
    • If you haven’t submitted an application yet, and don’t have an application number, enter 0000000.
  3. Under Tell us about your technical issue:
    • Specify the program you’re trying to apply under.
    • Explain any problems that you’re having.
    • Upload screenshots from your account that show us both
      • the page and fields where you’re having problems, and
      • any error messages you’re getting.

Check your visa office for additional instructions

The visa office serving your adopted child’s country or territory may ask for more documents.

If your visa office has additional instructions and documents, you must upload these instructions, and any documents they ask for, with your application.

  • Don’t mail any documents unless an immigration officer asks you to do so.
  • Don’t submit any original documents as they won’t be returned. Upload electronic copies as PDF files with your application.

If your visa office isn’t in this list, there are no additional instructions or documents for you to upload.

If you don’t know which visa office to use, see the list of visa offices that serve each country or territory.

Find your visa office instructions

Choose the visa office for the child's home country or territory

Photo specifications

The principal applicant and their accompanying family members (if this applies) each need to give 1 photo.

Check our photo requirements.

Follow the instructions in the online application to scan and upload both sides of the photo.

  1. Pay your application fees

    You must pay your fees online (opens in a new tab)  and include the receipt with your application. We won’t accept any other forms of payment.

    Pay your application fees
    Processing fees

    You need to pay processing fees for:

    • yourself (the sponsor)
    • the principal applicant (the child)
    • the principal applicant’s accompanying family members (if this applies)
    Right of permanent residence fee

    You need to pay the right of permanent residence fee if the adopted child has a spouse or partner, before they become a permanent resident.

    You don’t need to pay the right of permanent residence fee for the adopted child or any of their children.
    Biometrics fee

    In most cases, you’ll pay a biometrics fee when you submit your application. If you don’t, your application may be delayed.

    This fee covers the cost of collecting fingerprints and a digital photo.
    If you don’t pay all the fees

    We’ll return your application. We’ll only process your application once you return it with the correct fees.

    If you pay too much fees

    If you pay more than the fees needed for your application, we’ll still process your application but we’ll automatically refund the extra amount. You don’t need to ask for a refund.

    The refund will go to the person listed in the “Payment information” section of your receipt (if you submitted a receipt). If no person is listed, or if you paid directly online, the refund will go to the principal applicant.

    Other fees

    Depending on your situation, you may need to pay third parties for a:

    If you live in Quebec, you’ll need to pay an additional processing fee when you submit your undertaking to the Quebec government.

  2. Submit your completed application

    Before submitting the application, make sure you or the principal applicant:

    • answer all questions
    • electronically sign the application (by typing their full name exactly as shown on their passport)
    • include the application fees receipt
    • upload all the supporting documents

    If the principal applicant is under 18 years old, you (or their guardian) can fill out, sign and submit the application on their behalf.

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2026-09-14