Spouse, Common-law, or Conjugal Partner

Whether your husband, common-law partner, or conjugal partner is living in Canada on a valid temporary visa or elsewhere, you may be able to sponsor them for Canadian permanent residency. Couples may be able to alleviate some of their financial concerns by applying for an open work visa if they are currently residing in Canada.

While their sponsorship application is being handled, sponsored individuals can work in Canada with a spouse open work visa. If you and your partner are not married but have lived together for a minimum of one year, you may be qualified to apply for spousal sponsorship because Canada recognizes common-law unions.

Parent or Grandparent Sponsorship

The parent and grandparent sponsorship program is another example of Canada’s dedication to family reunion for parents and grandparents of citizens and permanent residents. Citizens and permanent residents must show that they can provide for their family by earning the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the size of their family in order to sponsor a parent or grandparent. Additionally, they have to commit to provide their sponsored family members with financial support if necessary. A Super Visa, a long-term, multiple-entry visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, may be available to sponsors who are unable to provide their parent or grandparent with permanent assistance.

Child or Other Dependant Sponsorship

You have the option to list your children as accompanying dependents on your application for permanent residency if you are moving to Canada. They might still be able to join you in Canada later, though, if you decide not to include them or are unable to do so in any other way. As long as they are single and childless, Canadian citizens and permanent residents may sponsor their biological or adopted children under the age of 22 for permanent residence under the country’s child sponsorship program. If a child over 22 has a medical or mental illness that makes it impossible for them to support themselves, they may be deemed dependent.

Orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild

Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents may be able to sponsor their orphaned sibling, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild to immigrate to Canada under certain conditions. Your orphaned relative must be under the age of eighteen, unmarried, and connected to you either by blood or adoption in order to be eligible to sponsor them.

Other relatives (under exceptional circumstances as a “Lonely Canadian”)

Rarely, Canadian citizens or permanent residents may be able to sponsor one extended family member to enter the country. Sponsors must be regarded as “Lonely Canadians” in order to sponsor a relative who does not fit Canada’s current criteria of Family Class. This indicates that the sponsor is childless, parentless, grandparentless, and has no spouse or common-law partner.

How can I be eligible to sponsor a family member?

To sponsor a family member, you must meet minimum eligibility requirements. Eligible sponsors must:

• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• be at least 18 years old
• be able and willing to provide for the basic financial needs of your family member for three years
• live in Canada, or plan to return to Canada once your spouse or partner becomes a permanent resident of Canada

Who isn’t eligible to sponsor a relative?

There are some cases in which a permanent resident or citizen is not eligible to sponsor. If one of the below scenarios apply, a sponsor may be ineligible if they:

• are currently in prison
• have been convicted of a violent crime, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence, depending on details of the case
• have not paid alimony or child support payments
• failed to pay back an immigration loan, made late payments or missed payments
• have declared bankruptcy and are not yet released
• received social assistance for reasons other than a disability
• have previously sponsored another relative and failed to meet the terms of the sponsorship agreement

How much does it cost to sponsor a family member in Canada?

A $150 payment will be needed for each child listed on the application if you are sponsoring your spouse and they have dependent children, or if you are supporting your adopted child. An extra $1,050 is needed if you are including your relative’s spouse or partner. The following is a list of government processing fees for sponsoring a relative in Canada.

Sponsorship fee $75

Principal applicant processing fee $490

Right of permanent residence fee $515

Biometrics: $85

Total: $1165

If the sponsor resides in Quebec or intends to reside in Quebec upon the issuance of permanent residence, an additional fee of $310 CAD will need to be paid in addition to the fees mentioned above.

What is the income requirement for Canadian family sponsorship?

Certain sponsorship applications, such as those from parents, grandparents, eligible orphaned relatives, or those qualified under the “lonely Canadian” policy, have minimum income criteria.

These sponsors must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) required for the size of their family unit, and must also provide Canada Revenue Agency-issued Notices of Assessment (NOA) as proof that they have met the required MNI for at least three consecutive years.

Unlike most other forms of Canadian sponsorship, you do not need to demonstrate a minimum amount of income to sponsor a spouse. You must, however, sign an undertaking committing you to support your sponsored family member financially for their basic necessities whenever you sponsor them to Canada. All sponsorship applications must include this undertaking, which recognizes a sponsor’s commitment to reimburse social assistance payments made to them and their family member or members for a 20-year period. If the sponsor resides in Quebec, they will need to sign a supplemental undertaking.

The type of sponsorship determines how long the project will take. The duration of the undertaking for spousal sponsorship, which includes spouses and common-law or conjugal partners, is three years from the day the sponsored person is admitted as a permanent resident of Canada.

As long as the dependent child has no children of their own, Canadian citizens or permanent residents who sponsor their dependent children are exempt from the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI).The sponsor must meet the MNI needed for their family unit size if the dependent kid they are sponsoring has dependent children of their own.

Do I need a job to sponsor a family member?

To sponsor a family member other than a spouse or partner, applicants must meet MNI requirements. While a job is not necessarily required, sponsors must provide proof of sufficient income from the past three years to support their sponsored family members.

How long does sponsorship take?

The entire processing time for sponsorship applications is about a year. Depending on the circumstances of your case, they may take longer than the usual 12-month processing time.

Your application may be delayed if your case is complex or if the immigration officer needs more evidence of your relationship.

Making ensuring your sponsorship application is completed correctly the first time is the best approach to guarantee that it is processed as soon as possible. 

What other options do I have to bring my family member to Canada?

If sponsorship is not an option, your relative may be eligible under another Canadian immigration program. Take our free online assessment today to find out what immigration options are available to you or your family members.

How many relatives can I sponsor to Canada?

There is no limit to the number of eligible family members a Canadian permanent resident or citizen can sponsor. However, applicants must submit separate applications for each eligible family member sponsored.

Sponsoring a family member in Quebec

Quebec has more discretion over who can settle in their province thanks to the federal government. Because of this, nationals or permanent residents who live in Quebec must first apply for permission to sponsor an eligible family member from the Quebec Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI). For sponsors residing in Quebec, MIFI is in charge of approving a sponsorship endeavor.

Canadian sponsorship background check

All individuals over the age of 18 applying for Canadian permanent residence must provide a Police Clearance Certificate to confirm they are not criminally inadmissible.

Applicants must obtain police clearances from all countries they have resided in for 6 months or longer since the age of 18.

Canadian sponsorship biometrics

Canada requires most immigration applicants to provide biometrics. Use Canada’s online tool to find out if you need to give your biometrics.

After paying your biometric fee when submitting your application, you will receive a letter from IRCC with instructions on how and where to provide your biometrics.

Canadian sponsorship medical exam

To make sure they are not physically inadmissible, applicants for permanent residence in Canada must pass a medical examination.

Your medical exam is not required to be submitted with your application. Instructions for completing your medical exam will be sent by IRCC after your sponsorship application has been submitted.

The medical exam must be with a doctor on IRCC’s list of panel physicians.

How do I check the status of my sponsorship application?

If you applied for spousal, common-law, or dependent child sponsorship, you may track your application status using Canada’s Permanent Residence Application Tracker portal.

How you monitor the status of your application if you are sponsoring a family member will vary depending on whether you applied online or by mail. Use IRCC’s online tool to learn more about how to check the status of your sponsorship application.

Is there a deadline for Canadian sponsorship applications?

Eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents may apply to sponsor their spouse or child at any time.

Candidates applying to sponsor their parents or grandparents must be invited to do so and apply within the deadline provided.

Can I sponsor my brother or sister to come to come to Canada?

It is very difficult to sponsor your sibling to come to Canada as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. This may only be done if you meet the criteria for a “Lonely Canadian,” or if your siblings can be included as dependents on your parental sponsorship application.

Can I sponsor my fiancé to come to Canada?

Canada does not provide an option for Canadian permanent residents or citizens to sponsor their fiancé to come to Canada. Canadian citizens and permanent residents must get married to apply under the spousal sponsorship category.

Alternatively, it may be possible to sponsor your fiancé to come to Canada if they qualify as a common-law partner.

Can I sponsor my boyfriend or girlfriend to come to Canada?

Canada does not offer a program to sponsor your boyfriend or girlfriend to come to Canada. You must be common-law partners or married to sponsor your boyfriend or girlfriend to come to Canada.

In very specific circumstances, Canadian permanent residents and citizens may be eligible to sponsor their conjugal partner.

Can I sponsor my friend to come to Canada?

Canada does not offer any program for a permanent resident or citizen to sponsor a friend.

If your friend is interested in immigrating to Canada, they may be eligible under another immigration program.

Is there an age limit for sponsorship in Canada?

To sponsor a family member, Canadian citizens or permanent residents must be at least 18 years old. There is no maximum age limit to sponsor a family member to come to Canada.

Can my spouse or common-law partner work in Canada while their inland spousal sponsorship application is being processed?

Your spouse or common-law partner may work continuously until their visa expires if they are in Canada with a valid work permit. They could be able to apply for an open work permit, which would allowing them to work while their application is being processed, if they are currently in Canada with a valid student or tourist visa.

I am adopting a child. Do I need to wait until the adoption is final before I begin the sponsorship process?

No. If the adoption is nearing its conclusion, you can start sponsoring.