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Sponsorship Immigration
Sponsorship Immigration
If you're a Canadian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 or older, you can sponsor specific family members to become permanent residents of Canada. This allows your relatives to live, work, and study in Canada.
Basic requirements for family sponsorship:
To be a sponsor:
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
- Both sponsor and sponsored relative must sign an agreement to ensure financial support if necessary. The sponsored person must also commit to making every effort to support themselves.
Who You Can Sponsor:
- A spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner
- Dependent children
- Parents and grandparents
- Siblings, nieces, nephews, grandchildren under 18, who are orphaned, unmarried, or in a common-law relationship
- Other relatives, under specific conditions
- Certain accompanying relatives
Definitions:
- Spouse: Legally married to the sponsor.
- Common-law Partner: Not legally married but living together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 uninterrupted months.
- Conjugal Partner: In a relationship for at least one year but unable to cohabit due to legal or immigration issues.
- Dependent Children: Under 22 years old, not married or in a common-law relationship, or over 22 and reliant on financial support due to a physical or mental condition.
Spousal Work Permit:
Spouses and common-law partners in Canada can work under the Spousal Work Permit Pilot Program while their immigration application is processed. Applicants must maintain valid temporary status as visitors, students, or workers.
Sponsorship Obligations:
Sponsors must sign an undertaking to provide basic support for the sponsored person(s) from the day they enter Canada until the term of the agreement ends. This contract ensures the sponsor will repay any government benefits the sponsored person receives. The duration of the sponsor's obligation depends on the relationship:
- Spouse/Common-law/Conjugal partner: 3 years from the date of permanent residency.
- Dependent children under 22: 10 years or until they turn 22, whichever comes first.
- Parents/Grandparents: 20 years from the date of permanent residency.
- Other family members: 10 years.
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in the 2011 case of Attorney-General of Canada vs. Mavi that sponsors remain financially responsible even if their circumstances change, such as through marital breakdown or a decline in financial status.
Sponsors Living Outside Canada:
Canadian citizens residing outside Canada can sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent children who do not have dependent children of their own and have no convictions for bodily harm. They must show that they will return to Canada once the sponsored individuals become permanent residents.
Permanent residents living abroad are not eligible to sponsor family members from outside Canada; they must be residing in Canada during the sponsorship process. Additionally, a spouse or common-law partner living in Canada can apply to sponsor their partner if they are living together in Canada. Otherwise, the application must be submitted through a visa office, which can present various challenges for sponsors.
Sponsorship and Sponsored Persons in Quebec
Sponsor (Guarantor): To sponsor a relative in Quebec, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Quebec, be at least 18 years old, and meet all requirementSponsored Person (Close Relative): You can sponsor:Your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner
- Your dependent child
- Your father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother (additional conditions apply)
- Your orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, grandson, or granddaughter under 18 years old and not married or in a common-law relationship.
- A child you plan to adopt internationally.
Sponsoring
Your Spouse or Common-Law Partner
Canadian citizens or permanent residents who meet specific conditions can sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner to become permanent residents of Canada.
Who Is Eligible to Sponsor Their Spouse, Common-Law or Conjugal Partner?
Sponsors must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
- Canadian citizens living abroad must demonstrate they will return to Canada when the sponsored persons become permanent residents.
- Permanent residents living outside Canada cannot sponsor.
- Provide evidence of not receiving social assistance except for disability.
- Demonstrate the ability to meet the basic needs of the sponsored persons.
The sponsor must financially support the sponsored persons for at least 3 years after they become permanent residents. This includes covering their financial needs and reimbursing any social assistance received by the sponsored persons. Both the sponsor and the sponsored persons must agree to a sponsorship agreement, which includes:
- The sponsor providing for the sponsored persons’ basic needs.
- The sponsored persons making efforts to support themselves and any family members.
Income Requirement:
Typically, no income requirement is necessary for sponsoring a spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner. However, if the sponsored person has a dependent child who also has children, income requirements may apply.
Who Can Be Sponsored?
The sponsored individual and their family members must pass background, security, and medical checks.
- Spouse:
Can be of any sex and must be:
- Legally married to the sponsor.
- At least 18 years old.
- Common-Law Partner:
Can be of any sex and must:
- Not be legally married to the sponsor.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have lived with the sponsor for at least 12 consecutive months in a conjugal relationship without extended separations.
Proof of Common-Law Relationship:
- Shared residential property ownership.
- Joint lease or rental agreements.
- Shared utility bills.
- Documents showing the same address, such as driver’s licenses or insurance policies.
- Conjugal Partner:
Can be of any sex and must:
- Not be legally married or in a common-law relationship with the sponsor.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have been in a relationship with the sponsor for at least 1 year.
- Live outside Canada.
- Be unable to live with the sponsor in their home country or marry the sponsor due to significant legal and immigration issues.
Choosing the Class of Application:
- Conjugal Partner: Applications to sponsor a conjugal partner should be submitted under the Family Class, and these applications are processed outside Canada.
- Spouse or Common-Law Partner: For sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner, the application can be submitted under either the Family Class or the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class.
When to Apply Under the Family Class
- If the individual being sponsored resides outside Canada.
- If the person being sponsored currently lives with the sponsor in Canada but does not intend to remain in Canada during the application process.
- If the person being sponsored is the conjugal partner of the sponsor.
When to Apply Under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class
- If the spouse or common-law partner resides with you in Canada.
- If the spouse or common-law partner has valid immigration status in Canada.
- If the spouse or common-law partner wishes to apply for, and is eligible for, an Open Work Permit to work while the application is being processed.
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) enables Canadian citizens and permanent residents outside Quebec to sponsor their parents and/or grandparents to become permanent residents of Canada. The federal immigration levels plan aims to admit 23,500 new permanent residents per year through the PGP.
Parents and Grandparents Program: Process
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses a lottery system for the PGP. Canadian citizens and permanent residents must first submit an Interest to Sponsor form to be entered into the lottery pool. IRCC conducts random draws from this pool and issues Invitations to Apply. Sponsors and their parents or grandparents then have 60 days to submit a complete application.
Who Is Eligible to Sponsor Parents or Grandparents?
Sponsors must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Reside in Canada.
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered under the Canadian Indian Act.
- Demonstrate sufficient financial resources by meeting minimum income requirements for the previous three years. A co-signer can be included to combine incomes.
Sponsors must also:
- Commit to financially supporting the parent or grandparent for 20 years from the date of permanent residence approval.
- Reimburse the government for any social assistance provided to the parent or grandparent during this period.
Sponsors Who Live in Quebec
Sponsors residing in Quebec must meet Quebec’s immigration sponsorship requirements after IRCC approval. The Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) assesses the sponsor’s income and requires an undertaking to be signed.
Parents and Grandparents Program: Who Can Be Sponsored?
- Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their own parents and grandparents, whether by blood or adoption.
- In cases of divorce or separation, the spouses or common-law partners of parents and grandparents are also eligible.
- A sponsor’s brothers and sisters, or half-brothers and sisters, are eligible only if they qualify as dependent children.
- Multiple individuals or couples can sponsor if financial requirements are met.
Parents and Grandparents Super Visa
For those who are not selected through the PGP, the Parents and Grandparents Super Visa allows a parent or grandparent to visit Canada for up to two years at a time, with multiple entries allowed over a period of up to 10 years.
Eligibility
To apply for a Parents and Grandparents Super Visa from outside Canada, the applicant must meet certain criteria:
- The applicant must be eligible for a regular visitor visa. This means they must be in good health, have a valid travel document, demonstrate a willingness to leave Canada at the end of their authorized stay, show sufficient ties to their home country such as employment, family, or property, and have sufficient funds to support themselves for the duration of their stay.
- The applicant must prove they are the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- The applicant must obtain medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company, valid for at least one year, with a minimum coverage of $100,000 for health care, hospitalization, and repatriation.
- The applicant must undergo a medical examination.
Additionally, the applicant’s family member in Canada must:
- Demonstrate they are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Provide the applicant with a letter of invitation that includes information about the applicant’s planned visit, the child or grandchild’s occupation and economic situation in Canada, and a written and signed promise to financially support the applicant for the duration of their visit.
- Demonstrate their income is above a predetermined minimum level.
It is important to note that Super Visa holders have the rights and restrictions of regular tourist visa holders and cannot work or study while in Canada. It is also possible to obtain a Super Visa even while an application for permanent residency is pending. Individuals interested in applying for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa are encouraged to complete a Free Online Evaluation to assess their eligibility.
Who Is Eligible to Sponsor Their Dependent Children?
Sponsors must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
- Canadian citizens residing outside Canada must demonstrate that they plan to live in Canada when the sponsored individual(s) gain permanent residency.
- Permanent residents living abroad are not eligible to sponsor.
- Be able to show that they are not receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability.
- Be capable of providing for the basic needs of the person(s) being sponsored.
To sponsor a dependent child, the sponsor must take financial responsibility for the sponsored individual(s).
Person you sponsor | Length of undertaking |
Dependent child (biological or adopted) or child to be adopted in Canada under 22 years of age. | 10 years, or until age 25, whichever comes first |
Dependent child 22 years of age or older | 3 years |
When sponsoring someone, the sponsor is financially responsible for them and must repay any social assistance received during the sponsorship period. Both the sponsor and the sponsored person must enter into a sponsorship agreement, which includes:
- The sponsor committing to meeting the basic needs of the sponsored person(s).
- The sponsored person(s) making efforts to support themselves and their family members.
Income Requirement
Typically, there is no income requirement when sponsoring a dependent child, unless the child has one or more dependent children of their own.
Who Can Be Sponsored?
To be considered a dependent, a child must:
- Be under 22 years old and not married or in a common-law relationship.
- If 22 or older, they must rely on their parents for financial support due to a mental or physical condition, having done so since before turning 22.
Eligible candidates can sponsor their:
- Biological or adopted child.
- Spouse or partner and their child.
To sponsor a dependent child, an application under the Family Class is required, and such applications are processed outside Canada.
- Completing the adoption process.
- Submitting sponsorship and permanent residency applications.
Requirements for Sponsoring an Adopted Child
Sponsors must meet the following criteria:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Reside in Canada or plan to return when the child becomes a permanent resident.
- Be at least 18 years old.
Requirements for Permanent Resident Status
An adopted child may qualify for permanent residency if:
- The sponsor is a Canadian citizen applying for a child under 18.
- The adopted person is over 18 and was adopted by a Canadian citizen.
- A legal guardian applies on behalf of a child under 18 who had a Canadian parent during the adoption.
- A non-Canadian parent applies for a child under 18 when the other parent was a Canadian citizen at the time of adoption.
Requirements for Intercountry Adoption
Intercountry adoptions usually occur in the child’s home country, with different rules for children related to the sponsor. Canadian immigration allows two types of adoption:
- Adoptions completed outside Canada.
- Adoptions completed in Canada.
For immigration, intercountry adoptions must:
- Be legally valid in both the child’s country and the sponsor’s province/territory.
- End the child’s legal ties with their biological parents.
- Establish a genuine parent-child relationship.
- Serve the child’s best interests.
- Not be intended primarily to secure Canadian residency.
Children adopted abroad can be sponsored if:
- Both biological parents consent (if alive).
- The child is legally adopted outside Canada.
- Hague Convention requirements are fulfilled, where applicable.