Age for accompanying adult dependants reduced to under 19

Effective August 1, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is implementing new eligibility rules for accompanying dependants.

In order to be considered eligible to accompany a Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) applicant to Manitoba, a dependent child must be:

  • under the age of 19 and not married or in a common-law relationship; or
  • 19 years of age or older, dependent substantially on the financial support of the parent since before the age of 19 and unable to be financially self-supporting due to a physical or mental condition.

CIC's amendment of the definition of dependent child affects all federal and provincial immigration programs.

MPNP's dependant definition before August 1, 2014 was:

These are members of your immediate family who will move with you to Manitoba to settle as permanent residents, and for the purposes of immigration are limited to:

  • your spouse – by legal marriage or common-law relationship of at least one year
  • children under age 18 of whom you have legal custody and who are your biological or adopted children, or those of your spouse
  • adult children who are:
    • under age 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship
    • over age 22 and not financially independent due to a physical or mental condition
    • over age 22 and pursuing full-time education or vocational training

To have your MPNP application considered under the pre-amendment definition of dependent child, it must be received by the MPNP no later than July 31.