Family Sponsership

Spouse/Common Law Sponsorship 

Citizens and permanent residents of Canada may sponsor a spouse or common-law partner for immigration to Canada. If the application is successful, the sponsored individual will be granted permanent resident status, allowing the couple (or family, if applicable) to start a new life in Canada.

The Canada immigration program for common-law / spousal sponsorship is part of the Family Class category, through which Canada admits a significant number of new permanent residents each year.

There is a lot to think about if you want to be a sponsor or a sponsored person on this path to permanent residence. Important factors to consider include:

What is your legal standing?

Are you still living in the same place when you apply?

Is the sponsor a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada?

In order for the sponsored person to get Canadian permanent residency, both the sponsor and the sponsored person must be approved by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Child/Dependant Sponsorship

The Canadian government is committed to keeping families together, so parents can sponsor their children for immigration. If a child is a dependant and the parent meets sponsorship conditions, the parent can apply for the child to become a Canadian permanent residence. If a child was born in Canada or if one of the child's parents is Canadian, the youngster is likely a citizen.

A parent must be at least 18 and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor.

All sponsors must provide for a person's fundamental needs. Sponsors must also sign an assurance to maintain their sponsored family member once they become a permanent residence and refund any social assistance payments received during the endeavour.

In some cases, a parent can't sponsor their child:

• If the parent was sponsored fewer than five years before a sponsorship application.
• If the parent doesn't plan to live in Canada with the sponsored child.
• If the parent lives outside Canada. Canadian citizens can apply for sponsorship regardless of their nation of residence, as long as they want to live in Canada with the sponsored relative.
• if the parent receives social assistance for a cause other than a disability.
• If the parent is jailed or convicted of certain crimes, especially against family.

The sponsoring parent rarely needs to produce income verification. If the sponsored child has other dependents, the parent must meet an income threshold.

Parents and Grandparents

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their parents or grandparents under Canada's Family Class immigration category.

Sponsored parents and grandparents become permanent residents of Canada. This includes the freedom to live and work in Canada without geographical, time, or sector restrictions and access to publicly-funded health care and other services. Sponsored parents and grandparents can become citizens.

Both the sponsor and the sponsored must meet qualifying standards for the Parent and Grandparent Program.

Sponsors must:

• Canadian citizen or permanent residence
• fulfill income requirements
• Sponsor someone and their dependents.
• Sponsor and sponsored person(s) must sign a sponsorship agreement.
• obligates the sponsor to support the sponsored person(s) and qualifying relatives for three to 20 years, depending on their age and relationship to the sponsor;
• Permanent residents must sustain themselves.

Supervisa

Allows citizens and permanent residents' parents and grandparents to visit for longer periods. With a Super Visa, a person can enter Canada and stay for five years. As long as the visa is valid, holders can return to Canada. Grandparents can stay in Canada for years. Super Visas last 10 years. Potential sponsors may not submit Parent and Grandparent Program applications.

Super Visa isn't permanent residency. Applicants need private medical insurance and can't work in Canada unless authorized. Families may be reunited in Canada sooner than under the Parent and Grandparent Program due to the faster processing times. If qualified, individuals can apply at any time and be accepted to immigrate to Canada.