Sponsorship

The Family Class Sponsorship program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor family members, such as spouses, partners, or dependent children, to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents. This program is designed to support family reunification, one of the three main pillars of Canadian immigration.

Key Aspects of the Program:

Who can sponsor?

To sponsor your family member for Canadian Immigration through the Family Class Sponsorship, a sponsor must:

• Sponsors must be at least 18 years old.

• Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a person registered under the Canadian Indian Act.

• Must not be receiving social assistance, unless it’s for a disability, and must demonstrate the ability to financially support the sponsored individual(s).

Who can be sponsored?

The Family Class broadly consists of the following three categories of sponsorship :

Conjugal Partner

For partners who have been in a committed relationship for at least one year but cannot live together or marry due to legal, immigration, or social barriers, such as same-sex marriage being illegal in their country of residence.

Spouse

You may sponsor your legally married spouse, who must be at least 18 years old. The marriage must be legally recognized in the country where it took place and in Canada.

Dependent Children

You can sponsor a child under 22 years of age who is not married or in a common-law relationship. Children 22 or older may qualify if they have a physical or mental condition that makes them dependent on their parents for financial support.

Common-Law Partner

You can sponsor a partner of either sex with whom you have lived continuously in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months. Periods of separation must have been short and temporary.

• Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program

Canada offers the opportunity to sponsor your parents and grandparents for permanent residency through the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program. Below, you will find detailed information about eligibility, income requirements, and the application process.

Who Can Sponsor Their Parents and Grandparents :

To sponsor your biological or adopted parents and grandparents, you must :

• Be invited to apply.

• Be at least 18 years old.

• Reside in Canada (your primary residence must be in Canada from the time you submit your application until a decision is
  made).

• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered under the Canadian Indian Act.

• Have enough income to support the people you sponsor (with proof of income and possibly a co-signer like your spouse
  or common-law partner).

• Meet all requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations .

You must also agree to sign an undertaking to support the people you’re sponsoring.

Quebec Applicants :

If you live in Quebec, after approval of your sponsorship application, you’ll need to submit an undertaking application to Quebec’s
immigration ministry. Ensure you wait for confirmation from federal immigration authorities before submitting this to Quebec.

Who You Can Sponsor :

Eligible people you can sponsor include:

• Your parents and grandparents.

• Their dependent children (e.g., siblings or step-siblings).

• Divorced or separated parents’ current spouses or common-law partners (must submit separate applications for each).