Family Sponsorship

Who You Can Sponsor

The Family Class sponsorship program covers several categories of family members:

Spouse, Common-Law Partner, or Conjugal Partner

• Spouse: You are legally married to your partner
• Common-law partner: You have been living together continuously for at least one year
• Conjugal partner: You have been in a committed relationship for at least one year but cannot live together due to significant immigration, legal, or cultural barriers

Dependent Children

You can sponsor your dependent children if they meet these criteria:

• Under 22 years old and not married or in a common-law relationship
• Or over 22 years old but financially dependent on you due to a physical or mental condition that began before age 22
• Includes biological children and adopted children

Parents and Grandparents

You can sponsor your parents and grandparents through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), which has specific eligibility requirements including:

• Meeting minimum income requirements (MIR) for the past three tax years
• Submitting an Interest to Sponsor form when the program is open
• Being selected to submit a full application

Other Relatives (In Limited Cases) — "Lonely Canadian"

You may sponsor one relative under specific circumstances if:

• You have no spouse, partner, children, parents, or grandparents you can sponsor
• Your relative does not qualify under other categories
• You are a Canadian citizen (not a permanent resident)

Eligibility Requirements for Sponsors

To sponsor your family members, you must meet these fundamental requirements:

Status in Canada

• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• If you are a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must demonstrate intent to return to Canada when your sponsored family member becomes a permanent resident
• Permanent residents must live in Canada to sponsor

Age Requirement

• Be at least 18 years old

Financial Ability

• Demonstrate you can provide for the basic needs of your sponsored family members
• Not be receiving social assistance (except for disability)
• For parents and grandparents sponsorship, meet specific minimum income requirements

Agreement to Provide Financial Support

Sign an undertaking agreement to financially support your sponsored family members. The undertaking period varies by relationship:

• Spouse/partner: 3 years
• Dependent children under 22: 10 years or until age 25 (whichever comes first)
• Parents/grandparents: 20 years

Who Cannot Sponsor

You cannot sponsor family members if:

• You were sponsored as a spouse/partner and became a permanent resident less than 5 years ago
• You are currently under a removal order
• You are in prison, banned from the country, or facing criminal charges
• You failed to pay a previous sponsorship undertaking
• You failed to pay court-ordered support payments (alimony or child support)
• You were sponsored by a spouse and became a permanent resident less than 5 years ago

The Application Process

Important Considerations

Inadmissibility Issues

Your family member may be inadmissible to Canada for:

• Criminal history
• Security concerns
• Medical conditions that pose danger to public or cause excessive demand on health services
• Financial misrepresentation

If inadmissible, they may not be able to immigrate even if sponsored.

Maintaining Relationship

For spouse/partner sponsorship, you must maintain your relationship throughout the process. If you separate or divorce before your partner becomes a permanent resident, the application may be refused.

Dependent Children Changes

If your child turns 22 before the application is processed, they may no longer qualify as dependent unless they meet the financial dependency requirement due to disability.

Processing Times

Processing times are estimates and can vary. Apply as early as possible and monitor your application status through IRCC's online portal.

Benefits for Sponsored Family Members

Once your family members become permanent residents of Canada, they receive:

• Right to live, work, and study anywhere in Canada
• Access to healthcare through provincial health systems
• Pathway to citizenship after meeting residency requirements (3 years for most)
• Protection under Canadian law and Canadian values
• Ability to sponsor their own family members later if they meet requirements
• Social benefits including education subsidies for children

Getting Started

To begin sponsoring your family to immigrate to Canada:

• Review the official requirements on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website
• Complete the eligibility assessment for your specific category
• Gather all required documents
• Submit your application through the appropriate IRCC channel
• Monitor your application status regularly

The Canadian Family Sponsorship Visa offers a meaningful pathway for bringing your loved ones to join you in Canada, creating a unified family under Canada's protective and welcoming system.