Provincial Rule Lookup
Age of Majority18
Legal Drinking Age19
| Leases & Contracts | At 18, individuals can sign binding leases, cell phone contracts, and utilities independently. |
| Student Banking | At 18, students can open independent bank accounts and get primary credit cards without co-signers. |
| Cannabis Age | 19 years old |
| Overview | Ontario sets the age of majority at 18. However, adult restrictions for alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis remain at 19. |
IRCC Immigration Rule: Dependent Child Definition
There is a common misunderstanding among expat families that once a child turns 18 or 19 (the provincial age of majority), they can no longer be sponsored as a dependent child.
IRCC Federal Standard: For all Canadian visa and permanent residency applications, a child is considered a **dependent up to age 22** (as long as they are unmarried and do not have children of their own). The provincial age of majority does not affect their immigration status.
What Changes at the Age of Majority?
- Signing Leases: Residential tenancy laws are provincial. In BC or Nova Scotia, landlords cannot legally enforce a lease signed by an 18-year-old student because they are legally minors. A parent or adult guardian must co-sign.
- Medical Consent: The age at which a youth can consent to or refuse medical treatments is generally based on the "mature minor" doctrine (capacity to understand) rather than the strict age of majority, but provinces differ.
- Civil Lawsuits: Individuals under the age of majority cannot sue or be sued directly; they must act through a "litigation guardian" (usually a parent).
Provinces at a Glance
| Age | Provinces |
|---|---|
| 18 | ON, QC, AB, SK, MB, PE |
| 19 | BC, NS, NB, NL, Territories |