Family Sponsorship
The Family Sponsorship Canada program helps to bring families back together by allowing adults who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada to sponsor their relatives to come to Canada. Several categories of family members can be sponsored, including:
To be eligible to sponsor your dependent child, you must meet the following requirements:
- Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner.
- Dependent children.
- Parents and grandparents.
- Brothers or sisters, nephews or nieces, granddaughters or grandsons who are orphaned, under 18 years of age, and not married or in a common-law relationship.
- Another relative, if the sponsor has no living relative could be sponsored as a member of the family class.
Eligibility for a Sponsorship with a Spouse or Partner:
If a person falls into any of the following categories, they are eligible for a Sponsorship with a Spouse or Partner:Spouse:
Legal marriage is recognized by Canadian law and registered in the country of origin.Common-law partner:
A minimum of one year of continuous living together in a married relationship.Conjugal party:
A minimum of one year of a conjugal partnership—similar to a common-law partnership—in which a couple is unable to live together due to religious objections, immigration restrictions, marital status, or sexual orientation.Relationships of the same sex:
It is acceptable to submit an immigration application under same-sex relationships.Dependent Child Sponsorship:
If you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, you may be able to sponsor your dependent child (under the age of 22) to come to Canada as a permanent resident. The dependent child can be your biological child, adopted child, or stepchild.To be eligible to sponsor your dependent child, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada
- Meet the income requirements to show that you can support your dependent child and their family members (if applicable)
- Sign an undertaking to provide financial support to your dependent child and their family members (if applicable) for a period of three to ten years, depending on the age of the dependent child and the relationship between the sponsor and the dependent child.
- To apply for sponsorship of your dependent child, you must first complete an application package and submit it to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The application package includes forms, documents, and fees
Who can become a sponsor?
Eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents can become sponsors to help certain family members immigrate to Canada. The following individuals can become sponsors:- Canadian citizens
- Permanent residents of Canada
- Registered Indians in Canada