Sponsoring Your Family Member
Spousal Sponsorship
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their spouse or common-law partner for immigration to Canada. If they are successful, the sponsored person obtains permanent resident status.
Eligibility requirements to sponsor a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner include:
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You’re at least 18 years old;
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You’re a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada;
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You’re able to prove that you’re not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability;
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You are able to provide for the basic needs of the persons you want to sponsor;
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Be able to show a legal marriage in either Canada or under the laws of the jurisdiction that it was carried out in.
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For a conjugal or common-law partner relationship, evidence must be shown of a dependent relationship for a minimum of 1 year.
Dependent Children Sponsorship
Dependent children, both natural and adopted, may be sponsored to live with their parent(s) as permanent residents in Canada.
Children qualify as dependants if they meet both of these requirements:
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they’re under 22 years old; and
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they don’t have a spouse or common law partner.
Children 22 years old or older qualify as dependants if they meet both of these requirements:
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they are unable to financially support themselves because of a mental or physical condition; and
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they have depended on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22.
Parent/Grandparent Sponsorship
The parents and grandparents program only opens once a year. It allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada to sponsor their parents and grandparents to come to Canada.
If you’re eligible to sponsor your parent or grandparent, you must submit an interest to sponsor form to Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Applications are then randomly selected and potential sponsors are invited to apply to sponsor their parents and/or grandparents.
You can sponsor your parents and/or grandparents if you meet the following requirements:
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you’re at least 18 years old;
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you live in Canada;
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you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada; and
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you can demonstrate you have enough money to support the person you wish to sponsor.
