What is Age Lock-in and on what date is it calculated in each Canadian immigration program?
When you submit a permanent residence application, your child’s age determines whether they qualify as a “dependent child.” Because processing takes time, IRCC uses a fixed reference point called Age Lock-in. Once the age is locked in, the child can grow older during processing without losing eligibility.
Each immigration category uses a different lock-in date. Here is how IRCC sets it, based on the exact program groups shown in their system:
- Family Class – Sponsorship
Age lock-in date: The day IRCC receives a complete PR application.
- Economic Classes Outside Quebec
Covers Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, Canadian Experience Class, Start-up Visa, Self-employed, Atlantic Immigration Program, RNIP, and the Agri-Food Pilot.
Age lock-in date: The day IRCC receives a complete PR application.
Note: PNP is excluded and listed separately below.
- Quebec Immigration Categories
Age lock-in date: The day Quebec receives a complete CSQ application.
- Live-in Caregiver Program
Age lock-in date: The day IRCC receives a complete PR application.
- Home Child Care Provider Pilot & Home Support Worker Pilot
Age lock-in date: The day IRCC receives a complete PR application, unless the program requires an earlier assessment step.
- Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) Applications
Age lock-in date: The day IRCC receives the complete PR application under H&C grounds.
- Refugee Applications from Outside Canada
Age lock-in date:
The date the case is referred to Canada by an authorized body (such as UNHCR or a partner organization), or the date IRCC confirms the referral.
- Protected Persons in Canada
Age lock-in date: The day the protected person submits their PR application.
- Provincial Nominee Program – PNP
PNP has its own rule.
Age lock-in date: The day the province receives a complete nomination application.
Not the date the federal PR application is submitted.
If you want, I can turn this into a table, infographic-style text, or a simplified version for clients with zero background knowledge.
