FAMILY SPONSORSHIP
As a commitment of the Government of Canada to keep families together, the Family Sponsorship program offers opportunities for family reunification for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, registered Indians and their family members.
SPONSOR YOUR SPOUSE, COMMON-LAW PARTNER, OR DEPENDENT CHILDREN
This stream allows Canadians and permanent residents of Canada to sponsor their dependent children, spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner to become a Canadian permanent resident for the objective to be reunited and live together with them in Canada.
For your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, there are two available options when sponsoring: Outland and Inland Sponsorship.
Who I can sponsor under this stream:
Your Spouse: Your spouse can be either sex, must be at least 18 years of age, and must be legally married to you.
Your Common-Law Partner: Your common-law partner can be either sex, must be at least 18 years of age, and cannot be legally married to you. Your common-law partner must be living with you for at least 12-consecutive months.
Your Conjugal Partner: Your conjugal partner can be either sex, must be at least 18 years of age, and is unable to be legally married to you or in a common-law relationship. Your conjugal partner is unable to live with you in their country of residence or marry you because of significant legal and immigration reasons. You must have been in a continuous and committed relationship for at least 12 months.
Dependent Children: Each child must be biological or an adopted child of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Children under 22 years of age may qualify if they do not have a spouse or common-law partner. Children over 22 years of age qualify as dependents only under both circumstances:
- Child is unable to financially support him/herself because of a mental or physical condition, and
- Child has been dependent on their parent(s) for financial support since before the age of 22
Who is eligible to be a sponsor:
- You must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
- You must be 18 years of age or older.
- You must live in Canada or plan on returning to and residing in Canada.
- You are not receiving any social assistance for reasons other than disability.
- You must show that you can financially provide the basic needs for yourself and of your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, and/or dependent children.
- In most cases, under this stream, there is no income requirement. However, there are some circumstances that you will need to show that you have enough money to meet the income requirements if:
- You’re sponsoring a dependent child that has 1 or more dependent children of their own, or
- You’re sponsoring a spouse or partner that has a dependent child, and their dependent child has 1 or more children of their own.
- You must sign an undertaking, promising to give financial support for the basic needs of your spouse or partner and their children. Length of undertaking will differ from each type of application.
There may be circumstances that may make you ineligible to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, and/or dependent child. Please contact us for further information about this stream.
SPONSOR YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS
This stream allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada to sponsor their parents and grandparents and their dependents (if applicable) to immigrate to Canada, for the outcome of family reunification.
The application for this process may change each year. In previous years, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have received sponsorship applications either on a first come, first serve basis with a yearly cap or through a lottery system that would invite, at random, interested candidates to apply. This process is subject to change based on the needs of this program and IRCC’s capacity for the number of applications they will be accepting for the year.
***Interested in applying for your parents and grandparents? Please contact us for further information to find out more on the current process to apply!
Who I can sponsor under this stream:
Parents, Grandparents and their Dependents:
You can sponsor your own parents and grandparents that are related by blood or adoption and their dependents. You can only include brothers and sisters in the application if they qualify as dependent children
Who you cannot sponsor:
- Your spouse’s parents and grandparents (in-laws). However, you have the ability to be a co-signer on your in-laws’ applications
- Someone who is inadmissible to Canada. Some examples of inadmissibility’s are but not limited to, misrepresentation, criminality, medical reasons, etc.
Who is eligible to be a sponsor:
- You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
- You must be 18 years or older
- You must live in Canada
- You have to show you have enough money to support those who you want to sponsor. You will have to meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) required for the 3 taxation years before the date that you submit your application. The MNI is based on your Canada Revenue Agency’s Notice of Assessment
- You must agree in writing to give financial support to your relative and any other accompanying eligible relatives for 20 years from the date they become a permanent resident.
There may be circumstances that may make you ineligible to sponsor your parents or grandparents, please contact us for further information about this stream.
SPONSOR AN ELIGIBLE RELATIVE
This stream allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada to sponsor an eligible relative to immigrate to Canada for the outcome of family reunification. This program allows those who don’t have any living relatives in Canada who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or registered Indian to sponsor an eligible family member.
Who I can sponsor under this stream:
Orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild:
You can sponsor your brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild only if you are able to meet all of these conditions:
- They’re related to you by blood or adoption
- Both parents (mother & father) have passed away
- They’re under 18 years of age
- They’re marital status is single
Other Relative:
You may sponsor one relative, of any age, related by blood or adoption, only if you meet all of these conditions:
- You, the sponsor, do not have any living relatives you could sponsor instead – Such as spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, son or daughter, parent, grandparent, orphaned brother or sister, orphaned nephew or niece, or orphaned grandchild.
- You, the sponsor, do not have any relatives (aunt or uncle or any of the relatives listed above) – who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a registered Indian under the Indian Act.
Who is eligible to be a sponsor:
- You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
- You must 18 years or older.
- You must live in Canada.
- You must meet income guidelines
- You must agree in writing to give financial support to your relative and any other accompanying eligible relatives for up to 20 years from the date they become a permanent resident.
There may be circumstances that may make you ineligible to sponsor a relative, please contact us for further information about this stream.