If a dependent child gets married or enters a common-law relationship before officially landing in Canada, they immediately lose their dependent status under Canadian immigration law. You must inform Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) before travelling, and the child will be removed from your Permanent Residence application.
The journey to Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) is a long, emotional, and highly anticipated process for families. 👪 Whether you are planning to settle in Toronto, Vancouver, or Calgary, receiving that final Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) feels like a monumental victory. However, life does not pause while you wait for government processing. Sometimes, older children fall in love and decide to get married before the family officially moves to Canada.
Many families mistakenly believe that once the COPR document is printed, their immigration status is safely locked in. This is a dangerous misconception. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), a dependent child must meet the legal definition of a dependent both at the time the application is submitted and at the exact moment they cross the Canadian border. If your child’s marital status changes, bringing them to Canada as a dependent is legally considered misrepresentation, which can jeopardize the entire family’s immigration future.
Step-by-Step Process in Canada
Whether you are arriving at a land border in Ontario or flying into Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will ask direct questions about your family’s marital status. 📋 If your dependent child has married, you must follow these strict steps to remain compliant with federal law.
Step 1: Understanding the Legal Definition
First, you must understand how IRCC defines a dependent child. Generally, a child must be under the age of 22 and not have a spouse or common-law partner. If your 20-year-old child gets married, or has been living with a romantic partner continuously for 12 months (qualifying as common-law), they are instantly disqualified from accompanying you on your PR application, regardless of their age.
Step 2: Halting Their Travel Plans
Do not allow the newly married child to travel to Canada using their COPR. ✈ If they arrive at the border and attempt to land as a dependent, the CBSA officer will ask if their marital status has changed. If they say no, it is considered severe misrepresentation (fraud), which can lead to a 5-year ban from Canada. If they tell the truth at the border, they will be denied entry and sent back on the next flight.
Step 3: Notifying IRCC Immediately
As the principal applicant, you must contact IRCC as soon as the marriage takes place. You should use the IRCC Webform to declare the change in family composition. You must upload the official marriage certificate and clearly state that the child no longer qualifies as a dependent. This proactive approach proves your honesty and protects the rest of the family’s application.
Step 4: Removing the Child from the Application
Once IRCC receives your update, they will administratively remove the married child from your PR file. 📂 The good news is that this does not ruin the application for you, your spouse, or your other eligible younger children. IRCC will simply issue updated COPR documents for the remaining eligible family members, allowing you to proceed with your move to Canada.
Step 5: Exploring Future Options
Just because your child cannot come as a dependent does not mean they can never live in Canada. Once you establish yourself as a Permanent Resident, you may consult a local law firm to explore other pathways. While you generally cannot sponsor a married adult child through the Family Class, they might qualify for their own economic immigration program, such as the Express Entry system or a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
To clearly see the difference in status, review this comparison:
| Status Feature | Unmarried Child (Under 22) | Married Child (Any Age) |
|---|---|---|
| IRPA Classification | Accompanying Dependent | Independent Adult |
| Right to Land with Parents | Fully Permitted | Strictly Prohibited |
| Future Canadian Options | Granted PR automatically with family | Must apply under their own economic merits |
How Much Does it Cost in Canada?
Dealing with a change in family composition involves some administrative financial adjustments. 💵 Here is what you can generally expect regarding fees:
- Government Refunds: Dependent children are completely exempt from paying the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF). Only a non-refundable dependent child processing fee of $270 CAD (up from $260 CAD prior to April 30, 2026) is paid, which cannot be refunded once the processing of the application has commenced.
- Webform Updates: Submitting a change of status via the IRCC Webform is entirely free ($0 CAD).
- Law Firm Fees: If you hire an immigration lawyer to handle the complex file amendment and protect the primary applicant, expect to pay between $1,000 and $2,500 CAD.
- Future Applications: If the child applies for Express Entry later on their own, the standard government fee is currently $990 CAD (up from $950 CAD prior to April 30, 2026) plus the $600 CAD RPRF (up from $575 CAD prior to April 30, 2026).
How Long Does the Process Take?
Notifying IRCC of a marriage will unfortunately pause your family’s travel plans. ⏳ Once you submit the Webform, it generally takes IRCC between 4 to 8 weeks to process the update, cancel the old documents, and issue the new COPRs for the remaining family members. If you fail to notify them and the child is caught at the border, the resulting misrepresentation investigation can delay the parents’ PR status for over a year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What if they get divorced before we travel?
If the child legally divorces before the lock-in date or travel, they might regain eligibility if they are still under 22. However, this requires extensive legal documentation and a formal review by an IRCC officer.
Does a common-law relationship count as marriage?
Yes. Under Canadian immigration law, living with a romantic partner for 12 continuous months establishes a common-law relationship. This carries the exact same disqualifying weight as a legal marriage.
Can the principal applicant still travel immediately?
No. You must wait for IRCC to formally acknowledge the change and issue amended COPR documents. Travelling with outdated documents that list the married child can cause massive complications with CBSA.
Will IRCC find out if we just do not tell them?
CBSA officers are highly trained to ask direct questions about marital status upon landing. Furthermore, if the child ever tries to sponsor their new spouse to Canada in the future, IRCC will see the marriage certificate date, realize the fraud, and can strip the child of their PR status.
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