Verifying your eligibility to sponsor a child you wish to adopt

You must have Canadian citizenship or permanent residence.

You must be at least 18 years of age.

If you have already made a sponsorship undertaking or undertakings, you must demonstrate that:

• You have honoured your financial obligations;
• If applicable, you have repaid to the Gouvernement du Québec or another province any sum that was disbursed to this person as last resort financial assistance (social assistance).  

You must not have received last resort financial assistance, except if this assistance is given to you due to your age or disability, which creates barriers to your employment that are severe, permanent or for an indefinite term.

If you must pay support after an official judgment, you must have honoured your obligations over the past five years. Otherwise, you must have repaid any amount owed.

You must not have been convicted, in Canada or abroad, of murder or an offence provided for in Schedule I or II of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act , particularly:

• A sexual offence;
• An attempt or threat to commit a sexual offence;
• An offence causing bodily harm;
• An attempt or threat of offence causing bodily harm.

If you have been convicted of any of these offences, you must have been acquitted as a last resort or rehabilitated or have finished serving your sentence at least five years before submitting your application.

You must not be the object of a Government of Canada deportation measure or be detained in a penitentiary or a prison.