Canada, with its dedication to family reunification and maintaining familial ties, provides various immigration programs enabling Canadians to sponsor their family members for immigration to the country.
Who can I sponsor to come to Canada?
Spouse, Common-law, or Conjugal Partner:
You may be eligible to sponsor your spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner for Canadian permanent residence, whether they reside in Canada with a valid temporary visa or abroad. Those living in Canada may also qualify for an open work permit, easing financial burdens for couples.A spousal open work permit allows sponsored individuals to work in Canada while their sponsorship application is processed. If you and your partner have lived together for at least a year but are not married, you may still be eligible to apply for spousal sponsorship due to Canada’s recognition of common-law partnerships.
Parent or Grandparent Sponsorship:
You may be eligible to sponsor your parents and grandparents if you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada through the parent and grandparent sponsorship program. Sponsors must demonstrate financial capability by meeting the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for their family size and agree to provide financial support if needed. Alternatively, sponsors unable to provide permanent support may opt for a Super Visa, granting long-term, multiple-entry access to parents and grandparents.
Child or Other Dependant Sponsorship:
Children can be included as accompanying dependents on their parent’s application for permanent residence in Canada. Alternatively, children may join later through Canada’s child sponsorship program, available to citizens and permanent residents for their unmarried, under-22, biological, or adopted children without children of their own. Exceptions exist for dependent children over 22 with physical or mental conditions preventing self-support.
Orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild:
In specific instances, Canadian citizens or permanent residents may sponsor orphaned relatives under 18 who are blood or adopted kin.
Other relatives:
Rarely, Canadian citizens or permanent residents may sponsor one extended relative under the “Lonely Canadian” policy, provided they lack a spouse, common-law partner, child, parent, or grandparent.
Eligibility to sponsor a family member?
To sponsor a family member, you must meet certain eligibility criteria. You need to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, be at least 18 years old, live in Canada or have plans to return once your spouse or partner becomes a permanent resident, and be financially capable and willing to support your family member for a period of three years. These requirements ensure that sponsors can adequately provide for their sponsored family members during their initial settlement period in Canada.
Who isn’t eligible to sponsor a relative?
Sponsors may be ineligible if they are currently in prison, have outstanding alimony or child support payments, are undergoing bankruptcy proceedings or have received non-disability social assistance.Additionally, failing to repay an immigration loan, making late payments, or missing payments, as well as having convictions for violent crimes, offenses against relatives, or sexual offenses, depending on the specific case details, can also result in a sponsor being ineligible to sponsor a relative.
Is there an income requirement for Canadian family sponsorship?
Minimum income requirements apply for some sponsorship applications, necessitating meeting the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for family size and providing proof of meeting MNI for at least three consecutive years.
Unlike other sponsorships, spouses do not require a minimum income but must commit to providing financial support through a signed undertaking which you promise to provide financial support for the basic needs of your sponsored family member.If the sponsored people receive social assistance within that period, then the sponsor will be required to repay the government. This is mandatory for all sponsorship applications and signifies the sponsor’s agreement to reimburse any social assistance benefits provided to the sponsored persons.The undertaking length varies by sponsorship category, lasting three years for spousal sponsorships.The length of undertaking for sponsorship of parents, grandparents and their accompanying dependents is 20 years. This time period begins on the date they become a permanent resident.
Sponsors of dependent children need not meet MNI unless the child has dependents.
Do I need a job to sponsor a family member?
While a job is not mandatory, sponsors must demonstrate sufficient income over three years to support their sponsored family members.
How long does sponsorship take?
Sponsorship applications usually take about 12 months but may be longer for complex cases or additional proof requests.
Sponsor background check, biometrics, and medical exam
Applicants over 18 must provide a Police Clearance Certificate from all countries they resided in for over six months since age 18. In addition, most immigration applicants must provide biometrics, with instructions received after paying biometric fees.Medical exams are mandatory for permanent residence applicants, with instructions provided after submitting the sponsorship application.