Immigration process–Intercountry adoption

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.

Determine your eligibility

There are requirements you must meet in order to be eligible to adopt a child from another country. Determine if you are eligible to sponsor a child from another country.

Apply

Once the adoption process is in progress, you can begin the immigration process to bring the child to Canada by filing an application to sponsor the child. Then you will apply for a permanent resident visa for your child once your application for sponsorship is approved.

Check processing times

Find out how long it will take CIC to process your immigration application.

After you apply: get next steps

Find out what happens after you apply for the immigration process for the child.

Check application status

Securely check your application status online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Prepare for arrival

Your adoptive child’s permanent resident visa allows her or him to enter Canada to become a permanent resident. Learn more about preparing for your child’s arrival in Canada.