If you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident in Canada with the majority age, you can sponsor certain family members to become permanent Canadian residents so they can live, study and work in Canada. If you sponsor a family member, you are responsible for their financial support when they arrive.
Basic requirements to be a family sponsor:
- Have a minimum of 18 years old
- Sign a sponsorship agreement that commits you to provide financial support to your family member if it is necessary. This agreement also establishes that the individual being sponsored will make every effort to support itself.
- Should provide financial support to a spouse, a couple in de facto, or spousal couple for three years, starting from the date in which they become a permanent resident.
- In case of having a dependent child, the sponsor should provide financial support for 10 years, or upon turning 18 years old.
Individuals interested in applying under the category of Family Class sponsor can obtain an evaluation of their eligibility upon completing our online Evaluation.
You can sponsor a:
Spouse
Married to the sponsor.
Couple in de facto relationship
The couple must have been living together in a spousal relationship for at least a 12-month continuous period. You must be able to prove that you have established a home.
Spousal couple (Restrictions apply)
Couples that because of special circumstances haven’t been able to live together and as a consequence, they cannot qualify as a couple in de facto or spouse.
Dependent children
A son or daughter is dependent when:
• They have less than 19 years old and do not have a spouse or are in a couple in de facto relationships.
• They are at least 19 years old and depends on the financial support of the parent due to a physical or mental condition.
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- They are at least 19 years of age and do not have a spouse or couple in de facto;
- They are at least 19 years of age and substantially depend of the financial support of the parent prior to their 19 years of age due to a physical or mental condition.
Parents(Additional conditions apply)
Grandparents (Additional conditions apply)
Brothers or sisters; nephews or nieces; grandchildren that are orphans,
• (Under 18 years old and that are not married or in a de facto relationship)
• Any other family member of any age or relationship under specific conditions.
• Accompanying family members of the previous (for example spouse, couple in de facto, dependent child).
Sponsorship obligations
All sponsors must sign a commitment to provide the sponsored individual with the basic requirements from the day they enter Canada, until the end of their authorized stay. The commitment is a contract between the sponsors and the CIC (Canada Immigration and Citizenship) that agrees the sponsor will reimburse to the government any assistance payment done to the sponsored individual. The sponsors are obligated to fulfill the agreement during the complete period of the contract, even if the circumstances change, such as a marriage breakup, separation, divorce or financial change.
In the case of a dependent child older than 19 years old, the obligation begins the day the dependent child becomes a permanent resident of Canada and during a period of 3 years.
In the case of parents and grandparents, the obligation of the sponsor extends for a period of 20 years, from the date in which the family member becomes a permanent resident of Canada. For other family members, the obligation has a duration of 10 years.
Sponsors that live outside of Canada
Canadian citizens that live outside of the country can sponsor their spouse, couple in de facto, spousal partner or dependent children, without their own dependent children and that have not been sentenced for causing bodily harm, if they can prove that they will be living in Canada after their family member arrives at the country.
Permanent residents that reside internationally cannot sponsor their family from outside of Canada. In addition, a spouse, couple in de facto or spousal partner can only present an application within the country to sponsor their spouse, couple in de factor spousal partner, if they are living together in Canada. On the contrary, the application should be presented through their visa office. These are the areas that cause various difficulties and challenges for the sponsors.