Family Sponsorship

Family Sponsorship

• Spousal 
• Super visas for parents/grandparents 
• Dependent child

Canada recognizes the value of familial and spousal support for its citizens and residents, and as such, the Family Class Immigration and Spousal Sponsorship processes are simplified and have fewer requirements compared to other immigration streams. There is no annual limit on the number of applications accepted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

As a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada, you may apply to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, children, parents, and/or grandparents. The following list includes programs that prioritize reuniting family members. It is possible to sponsor multiple relatives or groups of relatives, as long as three years have passed since sponsoring the previous relative and all sponsorship requirements are still met. 

Spousal Sponsorship

To be eligible to sponsor a spouse or common-law partner for permanent residence in Canada, both the Canadian citizen or permanent resident and the foreign national must be approved by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) during the application process. The relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored individual must also be classified as one of three categories as determined by Canadian immigration regulations.

• Spouse 
• Common Law Partner 
• Conjugal Partner

To sponsor a relative for permanent residence in Canada, the sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 or older, capable of demonstrating that they are able to financially support the sponsored individual and not reliant on social assistance (unless due to disability). Canadian citizens living abroad must also show that they intend to reside in Canada once the sponsored relative becomes a permanent resident.

Common Law Partner

A Canadian citizen or permanent resident may sponsor a spouse or common-law partner for permanent residence in Canada under the spousal sponsorship category, subject to meeting certain requirements.

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a Canadian Citizen or a permanent resident living in Canada 
• Not be in prison, under a removal order (if a permanent resident), or charged with a serious offense 
• Not be bankrupt and able to provide proof of income or financial resources 
• If the sponsored individual has been living with the sponsor in Canada for at least 1 year, provide the corresponding documentation (such as bills or a lease agreement) to demonstrate this 
• Not have been sponsored for permanent residence in Canada as a spouse within the previous 5 years

The sponsored person must meet the following conditions:

• Be at least 16 years of age 
• Not be closest related by blood to the sponsor 
• Provide all required documentation in the application process, including proof of marital status and cohabitation (such as receipts and bills)

Dependant Child Sponsorship

If you are sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner, their dependent children must also be included in the application. It is worth noting that Canadian citizens are not eligible to be sponsored and if you had a child after becoming a Canadian citizen, they may already be a Canadian citizen.

An individual is considered a dependent if he or she: 

• Is under the age of 22 years old and does not have a spouse or common law partner 
• Is over the age of 22 years old but unable to financially support themselves due to a physical or mental condition 
• Is over the age of 22 years old but has relied on their parents for financial support before turning 22 

A Canadian or permanent resident can sponsor a dependent, providing that they meet these requirements: 

• Be at least 18 year old
• Be able to provide for their own and their family’s basic needs, if applicable 
• Not be in prison, bankrupt, under a removal order, or charged with a serious offense 
• Be able to prove that the dependent is their biological or adopted child

Super Visa

If you would like your relatives to visit you in Canada but do not want them to permanently relocate here, you can apply for a Super Visa. This multi-entry visa allows the holder to enter Canada multiple times over a period of 10 years. For more information on the Super Visa application process, please visit our Super Visa page.

Who can sponsor relatives to become permanent residents under Family Class Immigration?

To sponsor a relative for permanent residence in Canada, the sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 or older, capable of demonstrating that they are able to financially support the sponsored individual and not reliant on social assistance (unless due to disability). Canadian citizens living abroad must also show that they intend to reside in Canada once the sponsored relative becomes a permanent resident.

You cannot apply for sponsorship of relatives through Family Class Immigration if:

• You are a permanent resident living outside Canada 
• You have outstanding debts on an immigration, performance bond, family support payment, or have undergone bankruptcy 
• You have failed to provide for the basic needs of a previously sponsored relative, are under a removal order, or are in a penitentiary, jail, reformatory, or prison
• You receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability 
• You were convicted or a violent or sexual offense, caused bodily harm to a relative, or attempted or threatened to commit any of these offenses
• You are attempting to sponsor an inadmissible person (a person who has a criminal record, is a threat to Canadian society, or has outstanding warrants or debts in their country of origin or any other country).