Family Sponsorships
Canadian citizens or permanent residents aged 18 or older have the opportunity to sponsor specific family members to become permanent residents of Canada. Once granted permanent residency, the sponsored individual can live, study, and work in Canada. As a sponsor, you take on the financial responsibility of supporting your family member when they arrive in the country.
You can sponsor your:
Sponsors | Definitions |
Spouse | You are a spouse if you are married to your sponsor and your marriage is legally valid |
Common-law partner | You are a common-law partner, either of the opposite sex or same sex, if you have been living together in a conjugal relationship for at least one year in a continuous 12-month period that was not interrupted. You will need proof that you and your common-law partner have combined your affairs and set up a household. |
Conjugal partner | This category is for partners, either of the opposite sex or same sex, in exceptional circumstances beyond their control that prevent them from living together and therefore cannot qualifying as common-law partners or spouses. |
Dependent child | A son or daughter is dependent when the child
Note: As of November 11, 2017, changes to immigration legislation made children aged 21 and under eligible to be sponsored as dependents. |
Parents and grandparents | Father, mother, grandfather, grandmother |
Orphaned Relatives | Brother, sister, nephew, niece, grandson or granddaughter, who are orphaned, under the age of 18, and not married or in a common-law relationship |
Other relatives | Only lonely Canadians are eligible to sponsor (have no other family living in Canada) |
Key Requirements for Family Sponsorship:
To qualify as a sponsor:
- Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years old.
- Sponsorship Agreement: Both you and the family member you are sponsoring must sign an agreement. This agreement outlines your commitment to provide financial support if needed, while the sponsored individual agrees to make efforts toward self-sufficiency.
- Financial Support Duration:
- For a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, you must provide financial support for three years starting from the date they become a permanent resident.
- For a dependent child, financial support is required for 10 years or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first.
Sponsorship Obligations
Sponsors are required to sign an undertaking that commits them to provide basic support for the sponsored individual from the moment they arrive in Canada until the end of the agreement’s term. This undertaking serves as a contract with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), obligating the sponsor to repay the government for any social assistance provided to the sponsored person. The obligations remain in effect throughout the agreement period, regardless of changes in circumstances, such as marital breakdown, separation, divorce, or financial difficulties.
Specific Sponsorship Duration
- Spouse, Common-Law, or Conjugal Partner: Sponsors must provide financial support for three years from the date the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.
- Dependent Children Under 19 Years Old: The obligation lasts for 10 years or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first.
- Dependent Children Over 19 Years Old: Sponsors are responsible for three years of financial support from the date the child gains permanent residency.
- Parents and Grandparents: Sponsorship obligations last for 20 years from the date of permanent residency.
- Other Family Members: The obligation period is 10 years from the date of permanent residency.
Legal Considerations
In the 2011 Supreme Court of Canada case Attorney-General of Canada vs. Mavi, the court ruled that while a sponsor’s repayment obligation to the government for social assistance benefits may be deferred in certain situations, it cannot be entirely dismissed.
Sponsors Residing Outside of Canada
- Canadian Citizens Abroad: Canadian citizens living outside Canada may sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent children (who have no dependent children themselves) if they can demonstrate their intent to return and reside in Canada after their sponsored family member’s arrival.
- Permanent Residents Abroad: Permanent residents cannot sponsor family members while residing outside Canada.
- Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada: To submit an in-Canada sponsorship application, both parties must be cohabiting in Canada. Otherwise, the application must be processed through a visa office, which can present additional challenges.
Sponsorship in Quebec (Guarantor):
Sponsors living in Quebec must meet the specific criteria of the province. Quebec residents can sponsor a close relative who has not been convicted of an offense causing bodily harm, provided the sponsor is at least 18 years old, resides in Quebec, and meets the required conditions.
