Checking your eligibility to sponsor an orphaned minor

You must have submitted a sponsorship application in advance to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) . You must then have received a letter from IRCC that:

• Was sent to you, not to the person you want to sponsor;
• Indicates that you are eligible for the sponsorship;
• Invites you to continue the steps you are taking with the Gouvernement du Québec.

Note that, at this stage, IRCC has, in general, recognized your eligibility as a sponsor, but has not yet verified:

• The family relationship between you and the person you want to sponsor;
• The other requirements that the person you want to sponsor must comply with to obtain permanent residence.

You must have Canadian citizenship or permanent residence.

You must live in Québec. If you are a Canadian citizen, you may reside abroad at the time of application, but you must undertake to reside in Québec when your spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner becomes a permanent resident.

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.