If you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, age 18 or over, you can sponsor certain family members to become Canadian permanent residents. If you become a permanent resident, you can live, study and work in Canada. If you sponsor a relative to come to Canada as a permanent resident, you are responsible for supporting your relative financially when he or she arrives.
Family Sponsorship Canada
Canada understands that family is important, and that is why Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers family class immigration. Family sponsorship allows Canadian citizens as well as permanent residents to sponsor their loved ones for immigration to Canada including children, parents, grandparents, spouses and common-law partners. Canada firmly believes in keeping families together, and family sponsorship applications are given top priority by Canadian immigration officials. Canada family sponsorship is broken down into two main categories; outland and inland sponsorship.
Outland Family Sponsorship
When the sponsored partner or family member lives outside of Canada, or wishes to enter and exit the country while their sponsorship application is being processed, this option is used. Outland sponsorship applicants can be in Canada when their application is submitted and can be permitted to leave and return to Canada while the process is ongoing. Applications for family sponsorship outside Canada go through a visa office which serves as the applicant's country of origin.
Inland Family Sponsorship
The second option is "in Canada sponsorship" for spouses, common-law partners and close family members such as parents and dependent children. Inland sponsorship is used when a person in Canada has a temporary Canadian status, either as a worker, student or visitor. When applying for in Canada family sponsorship, the individual who is sponsored for Canadian PR may qualify for an Open Work Permit allowing him or her to seek employment during the sponsorship application process. This is not possible with Outland Family Sponsorship files.
General Family Sponsorship Requirements for Canada
- The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or a Canadian permanent resident
- The sponsor must be at least 18 years of age
- If sponsor lives in Quebec, additional steps must be taken since Quebec handles their own immigration.
Spousal Sponsorship in Canada
The Canadian spousal sponsorship program is a subsection of the family class immigration category designed to help Canadian citizens and permanent residents live in Canada with their spouse or loved one. Both the permanent resident or citizen of Canada and the person being sponsored must be approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in order to obtain a Canadian Spouse Visa. The person being sponsored must prove that their relationship qualifies for a permit by meeting one of the following requirements:
Eligible Relationships:
Canada recognizes same-sex marriage, and same-sex partners may be eligible to apply under any of the above three categories, provided they meet all eligibility requirements. To achieve Canada Permanent Resident status through spousal sponsorship, one must meet the following conditions.
You may become a sponsor if you are:
Eligible Relationships:
- Spouse
- Common-law partner
- Conjugal partner
Canada recognizes same-sex marriage, and same-sex partners may be eligible to apply under any of the above three categories, provided they meet all eligibility requirements. To achieve Canada Permanent Resident status through spousal sponsorship, one must meet the following conditions.
You may become a sponsor if you are:
- at least 18 years old
- a Canadian citizen, a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act or a permanent resident,
- living in Canada:
- if you’re a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must show that you plan to live in Canada when your sponsored relative becomes a permanent resident.
- You can’t sponsor someone if you’re a permanent resident living outside of Canada.
- able to prove that you are not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability, and;
- yourself,
- your spouse or partner,
- your spouse or partner’s dependent children (if applicable)
- your dependent children (if you’re sponsoring only your dependent child).
Parent Sponsorship in Canada
There are minimum income requirements to sponsor a parent to Canada. To be eligible, a sponsor must surpass the lowest income level for their family size. The income of both partners can be included for those who are married or in a common-law relationship. In order to show Immigration Canada officials that they satisfy the necessary parent sponsorship income requirements, sponsors must pass a Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) evaluation. During this assessment, a sponsor needs to show that for at least three consecutive years they have met the necessary requirements to qualify as a sponsor. The sponsor must also sign an agreement to repay any provincial social aid benefits given to the sponsored parent for 20 years.
Child Sponsorship Canada
If you are a mother or father, then having your children by your side is paramount, and Canada agrees that keeping families together is a top priority. Child class sponsorship offers Canadian Citizens and permanent residents the ability to sponsor their dependent children for immigration to Canada. In most cases, individuals moving to Canada for temporary work, or to become permanent residents, have the right to bring their dependents along with them. However, there are circumstances when it is not possible at the time of immigration to bring your loved ones. In such cases, the Canadian Government's child sponsorship program can help parents and their children reunite.
Dependent children are defined as both natural and adopted sons and daughters. To qualify for the program, both the Canadian citizen or permanent resident and their children abroad must be approved by IRCC. To receive a visa through this method of immigration to Canada, the sponsor as well as the sponsored son(s) or daughter(s) will be required to prove their relationship to one another. Those who are in the final stages of the adoption process may begin the application before the adoption is finalized. In addition to the Canadian dependent sponsorship requirements, all general rules for Canadian sponsorship must also be followed.
Dependent children are defined as both natural and adopted sons and daughters. To qualify for the program, both the Canadian citizen or permanent resident and their children abroad must be approved by IRCC. To receive a visa through this method of immigration to Canada, the sponsor as well as the sponsored son(s) or daughter(s) will be required to prove their relationship to one another. Those who are in the final stages of the adoption process may begin the application before the adoption is finalized. In addition to the Canadian dependent sponsorship requirements, all general rules for Canadian sponsorship must also be followed.
Canada Super Visa
The Super Visa Canada Program allows parents and grandparents as well as other relatives to come to Canada as long-term visitors, helping families reunite without extended delay. Applicants who are approved under the Super Visa Program will be granted a multiple-entry Canadian Visitor Visa good for up to ten years. A Canadian Super Visa is valid for two years at a time, unlike standard tourist visas that require renewal every six months.
Super Visa Canada Requirements:
Super Visa Canada Requirements:
- Written commitment of financial support from child or grandchild in Canada
- Sponsor in Canada must meet minimum income requirements
- Prove Canadian Super Visa health insurance has been purchased for at least one year
- Complete an immigration medical examination
