Overview of Family Sponsorship
Canada places great importance on keeping families together. The Family Class sponsorship program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor eligible family members for permanent residency. This is one of the most emotionally significant immigration pathways, as it enables families separated by borders to reunite and build their lives together in Canada.
The family sponsorship program is managed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and has several distinct categories, each with its own requirements and processing timelines.
Who Can Be a Sponsor?
To sponsor a family member, you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Be at least 18 years old
- Reside in Canada (citizens living abroad may sponsor if they plan to return to Canada when the sponsored person arrives)
- Be able to prove you can provide for the basic needs of the person you are sponsoring (and in some cases, sign an undertaking to do so for a specified period)
- Not be in default on previous sponsorship undertakings, immigration loans, or support payments
- Not be subject to a removal order, in prison, or charged with a serious criminal offence
Sponsorship Categories
Spousal and Partner Sponsorship
This is the most common family sponsorship category. You can sponsor your:
- Spouse: A person you are legally married to
- Common-law partner: A person you have lived with in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 continuous months
- Conjugal partner: A person outside Canada with whom you have had a conjugal relationship for at least one year but who could not live with you or marry you due to significant legal or immigration barriers
The sponsored person can apply from within Canada (inland application) or from outside Canada (outland application). Inland applications may be eligible for an open work permit while the sponsorship is being processed, allowing the sponsored person to work in Canada during the wait.
Processing times: Spousal sponsorship typically takes 12-16 months, though times can vary. IRCC has made reducing processing times a priority in recent years.
Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship
This program allows you to sponsor your parents and grandparents for permanent residency. Due to high demand, this program operates through an annual intake process:
- IRCC opens an interest to sponsor form during a specific window each year
- Potential sponsors submit their interest
- IRCC randomly selects sponsors from the pool and invites them to submit a complete application
- The number of invitations varies each year based on government targets
Financial requirements: Sponsors must meet a Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) threshold for three consecutive tax years before applying. The MNI is based on the size of your family unit (including the persons you are sponsoring) and is updated annually. You must provide Notices of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency as proof.
Undertaking period: The sponsor signs a 20-year undertaking to provide financial support for sponsored parents and grandparents.
Processing times: Parent and grandparent sponsorship can take 20-24 months or longer.
Dependent Children
You can sponsor your dependent children, including adopted children. A dependent child is generally defined as being under 22 years of age and not having a spouse or common-law partner. Children over 22 may qualify if they have substantially depended on a parent's financial support since before age 22 due to a medical condition.
Other Eligible Relatives
In specific circumstances, you may also sponsor:
- Orphaned siblings, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren under 18 who are not married or in a common-law relationship
- Any relative, regardless of age or relationship, if you have no living family members listed above and no relatives who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents
The Sponsorship Process Step by Step
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Both the sponsor and the sponsored person must meet the eligibility criteria for their respective roles. The sponsor must demonstrate financial ability and meet other requirements, while the sponsored person must pass medical and security checks.
Step 2: Gather Documents
Collect all required documents, including identity documents, relationship proof (for spousal sponsorship, this includes marriage certificates, photos together, joint financial documents, communication records), financial documents, and police clearances.
Step 3: Submit the Application
Applications are typically submitted online through the IRCC portal. The sponsorship application includes both the sponsor's application and the sponsored person's permanent residency application, submitted together as a package.
Step 4: Pay Fees
Fees include the sponsorship fee (CAD $75), the principal applicant processing fee (CAD $490), the right of permanent residence fee (CAD $515), and biometric fees (CAD $85). Additional fees apply for dependent children included in the application.
Step 5: Biometrics and Medical Exam
The sponsored person must provide biometrics and complete an immigration medical exam with a designated panel physician.
Step 6: Wait for Processing
IRCC processes the application, which may include requests for additional information, an interview, or additional verification of the relationship.
Step 7: Decision
If approved, the sponsored person receives their permanent residency. For inland applications, the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) is issued directly. For outland applications, the person may need to complete additional steps at a visa office abroad before traveling to Canada.
Tips for a Successful Sponsorship Application
- Provide comprehensive relationship evidence: For spousal sponsorship, include a wide range of evidence showing the genuineness of your relationship -- photographs, travel records, communication logs, joint accounts, and letters from friends and family.
- Be honest and thorough: Incomplete or inconsistent information is one of the most common reasons for delays or refusals.
- Meet financial requirements early: For parent and grandparent sponsorship, start building your income history well in advance.
- Apply for the open work permit: If eligible, submit the open work permit application with your inland spousal sponsorship to allow your partner to work while waiting.
- Keep copies of everything: Maintain organized records of all submitted documents and correspondence with IRCC.
Common Reasons for Refusal
- Insufficient evidence of a genuine relationship
- Failure to meet financial requirements
- Medical inadmissibility of the sponsored person
- Criminal inadmissibility
- Misrepresentation or inconsistent information in the application
- Previous sponsorship undertaking defaults
How Imigrando Can Help
Family sponsorship applications require meticulous preparation and a thorough understanding of IRCC's requirements. At Imigrando, we help sponsors and their family members navigate every aspect of the process, from determining eligibility and gathering evidence to preparing and submitting a strong application. We understand how important family reunification is, and we work diligently to help bring your loved ones to Canada. Contact us to discuss your family sponsorship options.