Family Sponsorships in Canada
Sponsorship in Canada is an indispensable pathway for family reunification and one of the core pillars of Canadian immigration policy. This process enables Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor a spouse, partner, parents, children, or dependents. This pathway allows the sponsored individuals to come to Canada and settle as permanent residents. Through sponsorship, Canada strengthens family ties and supports immigrants’ social and cultural integration by uniting them with their loved ones.
Table of Contents
- Family Sponsorships in Canada
- Requirements of Who Can Be a Sponsor
- Who Can Be a Sponsored
- Spouse, Common-Law or Conjugal Partner
- Parent or Grandparent Sponsorship
- Children or Other Dependent Sponsorship
- Orphaned Brother, Sister, Nephew, Niece, or Grandchild
- Other Relatives
- Responsibility of Sponsor
- Length of Undertaking
- Frequently Asked Questions Sponsorship
- How Can Canada By Choice Help with Your Family Sponsorship Application?
Requirements of Who Can Be a Sponsor
You must fulfill specific eligibility criteria to sponsor a family member to come to Canada:
- The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident living inside Canada, or a person registered under the Indian Act.
- The sponsor must be at least 18 years of age.
- The sponsor must show that they do not receive social assistance (excluding if it is received for a disability).
Another critical requirement is the financial ability to support the sponsored individual for several years. This includes providing for their basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter, so that the applicant does not need financial assistance from the government. These requirements are designed to ensure that sponsors can support their family members as they settle in Canada.
- Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or individual registered under the Indian Act
- 18 years of age or older
- Not receiving social assistance
- Able to support the sponsored individual to settle in Canada
Who Can Be a Sponsored
Eligible Family Sponsorship Applications:
- Spouses sponsorship
- Common-law partners sponsorship
- Conjugal partners sponsorship
- Dependent children sponsorship
- Parents and grandparents sponsorship
Under specific conditions, sponsorship may also include:
- Orphaned siblings, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren.
Spouse, Common-Law or Conjugal Partner
Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to sponsor their spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner for Canadian permanent residency. Eligible applicants may be sponsored if they are living in Canada on a temporary visa or if they are living abroad. A spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner must be at least 18 years of age.
Inland Spousal Application
The Inland spousal stream allows eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents on a valid temporary visa to sponsor their spouse in Canada. The two benefits of the inland spousal application are that the couple stays together in Canada throughout the application process, and the applicant may be eligible for an open work permit, allowing them to be employed for any Canadian employer during the waiting period of the application.
Outland Spousal Application
The Outland spousal stream is for eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents who wish to sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner from outside Canada for permanent residency. The sponsored spouse or partner may enter Canada under a visitor visa during the application process. This stream has the right to appeal should the application be rejected.
Parent or Grandparent Sponsorship
Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to sponsor a parent or grandparent in Canada. The eligible sponsor must submit an interest-to-sponsor form to sponsor these categories of persons. Sponsors are then selected through a random draw by Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). If selected, the sponsor will be invited to submit a sponsorship application. In addition, the sponsor will need to demonstrate a Minimum Necessary Income (MNI). The MNI is a financial threshold set by the IRCC that ensures sponsors can financially support these family members without social assistance. This will be verified by the sponsor’s last three years of tax assessments from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Children or Other Dependent Sponsorship
Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to sponsor children or other dependents. To sponsor these classes of people, the applicant must qualify as a child or dependent. The qualification by the Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) states that children under 22 years old without a spouse or common-law partner qualify as dependents for sponsorship. Additionally, children 22 years or older can also be considered dependents if they have a mental or physical condition preventing them from supporting themselves financially and they have relied on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22.
Your Own Child:
If you’re a Canadian citizen, your child might already be Canadian, even if they were not born in Canada. To sponsor your child alone, without a spouse or partner, you must list them as the principal applicant and obtain consent from the other parent or legal guardian for the child’s immigration to Canada. If your child has a child (your grandchild), you can include the grandchild as a dependent in the application. To sponsor an adopted child or an orphaned family member, there are separate, specific guidelines and procedures that must be followed, which are different from those for biological children.
Your spouse or partner and their child:
When sponsoring your spouse or partner along with a child, whether it’s their child, your child, or a child you have together, you should list your spouse or partner as the principal applicant and the child as a dependent in the application. Additionally, if the child you are sponsoring has a child, you should include this grandchild as a dependent in the application.
Orphaned Brother, Sister, Nephew, Niece, or Grandchild
Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to sponsor an orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild if they are related by blood or adoption, both of their parents have passed away, they are under 18 years old, and they are single (not married or in a common-law or conjugal relationship).
An individual under this category is not eligible to be sponsored if one of their parents is still alive, their parents’ whereabouts are unknown, their parents abandoned them, they are being cared for by someone other than their parents while one or both parents are still alive, or their parents are incarcerated or otherwise detained.
Other Relatives
Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to sponsor one relative of any age, related by blood or adoption, under specific conditions. These conditions include not having any living relatives you could sponsor instead, such as a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, son or daughter, parent, grandparent, orphaned sibling, or orphaned grandchild. Additionally, you must not have any relatives (including an aunt or uncle or any of the relatives previously mentioned) who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or registered persons under the Indian Act. If the relative you wish to sponsor has a spouse, partner, or dependent children who will accompany them to Canada, you must include these individuals in the same sponsorship application.
Responsibility of Sponsor
When a sponsor agrees to sponsor an individual to Canada, they must sign an undertaking, committing to provide for the basic needs of their spouse or partner and any dependent children. Basic needs include food, clothing, shelter, and other everyday living necessities, as well as dental care, eye care, and other health needs not covered by public health services. Before signing this undertaking agreement, the sponsor must ensure that the sponsored individuals will not require financial assistance from the government. If the sponsored persons receive social assistance, the sponsor must repay the amount received during the period for which they are legally responsible. The sponsor can only sponsor someone else once this debt is settled.
The undertaking is a legally binding promise of support that remains in effect for the duration specified below, regardless of any changes in the sponsor’s circumstances. This obligation persists even if the sponsored individual becomes a Canadian citizen, or if the sponsor experiences divorce, separation, or relationship breakdown, or if either party relocates to another province or country, or if the sponsor encounters financial difficulties.
Length of Undertaking
Sponsors’ obligations begin once the undertaking comes into effect. If a sponsor decides to withdraw their sponsorship application after submission, they must formally notify IRCC by writing a letter before a final decision is made on the application. Each sponsorship stream has a different length of undertaking. If the sponsorship takes place in Quebec, they have different undertaking lengths and criteria.
Stream | Length of Undertaking |
Spouse, Common-Law Partner or Conjugal Partner | 3 years from the day the spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner becomes a permanent resident |
Dependent Child Over 22 Years of Age | 3 years from the day your dependent child (or the dependent child of your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner) over 22 years of age becomes a permanent resident |
Dependent Child Under 22 Years of Age | 10 years from the day your dependent child (or the dependent child of your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner) under 22 years of age becomes a permanent resident, or until the child becomes 25 years old, whichever comes first |
Parent or Grandparent | 20 years from the day the parent or Grandparent becomes a permanent resident |
Other Relative | 10 years from the day the relative becomes a permanent resident |
Frequently Asked Questions About the Canadian Experience Class
Can I apply for Canadian experience class outside Canada?
Yes, candidates can apply outside of Canada for the Canadian Experience Class if they fulfill the eligibility criteria, including having one year of work experience in Canada within three years immediately preceding the application. Candidates in Canada on a temporary work visa nearing its expiration can obtain a bridging open work permit, allowing them to maintain employment in Canada while awaiting their invitation to apply for permanent residency.
Do you need to show financial proof for the Canadian Experience Class?
No, if you receive an invitation under the Canadian Experience Class, the requirement to demonstrate financial proof does not apply to you. However, by default, the Express Entry system will request proof of funds documents from all candidates. To be exempt, invitees for permanent residency can fulfill this step by uploading a letter stating their invitation under the Canadian Experience Class or uploading evidence of a valid job offer, bypassing the need to show proof of funds.
Do internships and co-ops in Canada count toward Canadian Experience Class work experience?
No, however, it is a bit nuanced. The eligibility of a paid internship to count towards the Express Entry work experience requirement varies depending on its relation to your educational program. If your paid internship was conducted outside of your academic curriculum and not as a requirement for your degree or diploma, it could be considered valid work experience for Express Entry. This means that internships undertaken independently of academic obligations, where you gain practical skills relevant to your professional field, may contribute to fulfilling the work experience criteria for Express Entry applications.
Frequently Asked Questions Sponsorship
How Can I Get Sponsorship in Canada?
To obtain sponsorship in Canada, you must have a family member who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident willing to sponsor you. This family member must demonstrate their relationship to you and agree to support you financially for a specified period. The process begins with the sponsor submitting a sponsorship application to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the relative wishing to immigrate.
How Much Money Do You Need to Sponsor Someone in Canada?
The amount required to sponsor someone in Canada depends on the number of family members being sponsored and the relationship between the applicant and the sponsor. There is generally no minimum income requirement for a spousal, partner, or child sponsorship unless the child has a dependent child. If you are sponsoring a category of persons that require Minimum Necessary Income (MNI), you must provide proof that you meet the income requirements for each of the three tax years before the date you apply.
Total number of people you must account for | Income required for the 3 tax years right before the date of your application (if you apply in 2024) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
2 people | $44,530 | $43,082 | $32,898 |
3 people | $54,743 | $52,965 | $40,444 |
4 people | $66,466 | $64,306 | $49,106 |
5 people | $75,384 | $72,935 | $55,694 |
6 people | $85,020 | $82,259 | $62,814 |
7 people | $94,658 | $91,582 | $69,934 |
If more than 7 people, for each additional person, add | $9,636 | $9,324 | $7,120 |
Who can I sponsor to Canada?
In Canada, you can sponsor certain family members to come and live as permanent residents. Eligible family members include your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner; dependent children (including adopted children); parents and grandparents; and under specific conditions, you may also sponsor your orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild who is under 18 years of age and unmarried.
Can I sponsor a spouse or partner without a job?
Yes, you can sponsor a spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner for Canadian residency without having a job. Unlike other sponsorship categories, such as parents or grandparents, there is no minimum income requirement for sponsoring a spouse or partner. However, you must prove that you can financially support your partner when they arrive in Canada, ensuring they will not need social assistance. This involves demonstrating the ability to meet their and dependent children’s basic needs.
Who is not eligible to sponsor a relative?
Individuals who are not eligible to sponsor a relative in Canada include those under 18 years old, not Canadian citizens or permanent residents, or temporarily residing in Canada (e.g., on a work permit or student visa). Ineligibility also applies to those currently in prison, have defaulted on an immigration loan or made late payments, have previously sponsored a relative but did not comply with the sponsorship agreement terms, have received a removal order, or have been convicted of a violent crime. Additionally, those who are currently receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability, have failed to pay court-ordered alimony or child support, or have declared bankruptcy and have not yet been discharged also cannot sponsor a relative.
Windsor Canadian Immigration Service
How Can Canada By Choice Help with Your Family Sponsorship Application?
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