Family Sponsorship
Create lifelong memories, bring family to Canada
General information
Basic requirements
Minimum requirements the sponsor has to meet
to sponsor their family members
Legal status
Canadian or Permanent Resident
Living in Canada or will return to Canada after sponsoring spouse or dependant child (not applicable to permanent resident)
Criminal records
detention or imprisonment
No convictions of a violent criminal offence, offence against a relative or sexual offence inside or outside Canada
Settlement fund
No debt on family or child support
Not receiving social assistance (except for disability)
No debt on immigration loans
Specific requirements
The sponsor and spouse have to meet these requirements
based on who they want to sponsor

Parents and grandparents
Commit the undertaking of financially support in 20 years

Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner
Commit the undertaking of financially support in 3 years

Sibling, nephew, niece or grandchild sponsorship
The sponsored person is under 18 years old, has lost both parents and is still single
Commit the undertaking of financially support in 10 years

Biological child or step-child
Commit the undertaking of financially support in between 3 to 10 years depending on their current age

Child adoption
Commit the undertaking of financially support until reaching 25 years old or for 10 years, whichever ends first

Other relatives
The sponsor does not have any living relative that can be sponsored, including spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, son or daughter, parent, grandparent, orphaned brother or sister, orphaned nephew or niece, orphaned grandchild, anyone above who does not want to come to Canada.
The sponsor does not have any relatives who are Permanent Residents or Canadian
The single status does not include marriage-like relationships such as living with a common-law or conjugal partner
Parents and grandparents sponsorship are only randomly invited every year.
Application process
Process timeline of reviewing a sponsorship application
between the sponsor, sponsored family members and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Parents and grandparents sponsorship
Profile submission
Submit an interest to sponsor to IRCC when eligible. The sponsors will be in the poll of potential sponsors.
Federal invitation
Depending on allocation quota, IRCC randomly selects and invites the sponsors to complete their sponsorship application. Submit the application in 60 days
Biometrics collection
Receive a request from IRCC for biometrics collection at visa application centers to verify identity and admissibility.
Medical examination
Receive a request from IRCC for a medical examination with panel physicians to provide proof of the health conditions.
Decision
Application approved, the passport is required from IRCC to have a counterfoil visa attached to it and ready to come to Canada.
IRCC reviews in 20 - 24 months
Get PR Status
The sponsored family members get Permanent Resident status after landing or confirming on IRCC Portal.
Other relatives sponsorship
Including spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, dependant child, grandchild and other relatives
Application submission
Submit an interest to sponsor online to IRCC or on paper to visa application centers (VAC) in the home country when eligible.
Biometrics collection
Receive a request from IRCC for biometrics collection at visa application centers to verify identity and admissibility.
Medical examination
Receive a request from IRCC for a medical examination with panel physicians to provide proof of the health conditions.
Decision
Application approved, the passport is required from IRCC to have a counterfoil visa attached to it and can be used to come to Canada.
IRCC reviews in 12 months
Get PR Status
The sponsored family members get Permanent Resident status after landing or confirming on IRCC Portal.
Success factors
Crucial elements affect the sponsorship application
Entitlement
Benefits the sponsors and their sponsored family members are entitled to

Family-friendly
The sponsorship application includes all dependents under 22 years old

Appeal
Available to sponsor to challenge a decision of family sponsorship outside Canada

Work Permit
Available to a sponsored spouse who file their application while in Canada

H&R consideration
May request H&R consideration to be exempted from certain requirements

Education
Free or lower tuition for children depends on the level of education

Medical
Access to high-quality modern public health care as same as Canadian

Benefits
Access to social benefits unless covered under the sponsorship agreement

Mobility right
Live and work anywhere under Permanent Resident status

Naturalization
Ability to obtain citizenship if residency conditions are met
Specific requirements
Important requirements in the family sponsorship application
- Parents and Grand-parents sponsorship is a family sponsorship program available to Canadian or Permanent Resident to sponsor their parents and grand-parents to become permanent residents in Canada
- The program will be open to sponsors to submit an interest to sponsor, but only those invited can complete the sponsorship application. The invitation will be sent randomly based on the allocation quota for this class set each year by IRCC.
Immigration Ineligibility
- The sponsored family member
- Have committed a crime, depends on the seriousness of the conviction
- Have been, are or will be engaging in organized crime
- Have been, are or will be engaging in any activities or organizations that are against Canada, contrary to Canada’s interests or endanger the lives or safety of persons in Canada
- Have a health condition that is dangerous to public health, public safety or may cause excessive demand on health or social services
- Have an immigration application refused for misrepresentation in the past 5 years
- Have been deported for failing to comply with any immigration act or regulation
- Not declared as a family member in the sponsor's permanent resident application
- The sponsor
- Receive social assistance unless for disability
- Did not pay back court-ordered family support payments, immigration loan, performance bond, social assistance a sponsored family member received while still on sponsorship undertaking (if applicable)
- Have declared bankrupt and are not discharged from it
- Be under a removal order
- Have been convicted of a violent crime, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis
- Be in jail, prison, or a penitentiary
- Not declared the family member in the sponsor's permanent resident application
Family size
Be calculated based on the number of all family members includes
- The sponsor and spouse or common-law partner
- Dependent child including step-child and grand-child who are single and under 22 or above 22 with mental or physical conditions
- The sponsored family members for whom the sponsor is still financially responsible
- The sponsored grandparent or parent and their dependents (spouse or partner and their dependent children, even if they don't want to come to Canada)
Minimum requirements - The sponsor
- More than 18 years old
- Be a Canadian or Permanent Resident
- Commit to providing financial support for sponsored family members in 20 years by signing a sponsorship agreement
- Have received an invitation to submit the sponsorship application
- Be living in Canada before and after application
- Have gross annual income (including Employment Insurance, COVID-related benefits, paid parental leave and RSP/RRSP withdrawals) meets or exceeds the minimum income requirements based on the current family size plus total sponsored family members, may combine with spouse or partner's income, for each of the 3 taxation years immediately preceding the date of your application as below
Family size | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
---|---|---|---|
2 people | $44,530 | $43,082 | $32,898 |
3 people | $54,743 | $52,965 | $40,444 |
4 people | $66,466 | $64,306 | $49,106 |
5 people | $75,384 | $72,935 | $55,694 |
6 people | $85,020 | $82,259 | $62,814 |
7 people | $94,658 | $91,582 | $69,934 |
If more than 7 people, for each additional person, add: | $9,636 | $9,324 | $7,120 |
- Spousal sponsorship is a family sponsorship program available to Canadian or Permanent Resident to sponsor:
- A married spouse
- A common-law partner (a marriage-like relationship in which both have been living together for a certain amount of time)
- A conjugal partner (a marriage-like relationship but they cannot live together for the reasons such as war, religion, political sanction, social sanction or immigration bars)
- The application must provide adequate proof of the genuine and authenticity of the relationship, not for the purpose of acquiring any status or privilege under the Act
Immigration Ineligibility
- The sponsored family member
- Have committed a crime, depends on the seriousness of the conviction
- Have been, are or will be engaging in organized crime
- Have been, are or will be engaging in any activities or organizations that are against Canada, contrary to Canada’s interests or endanger the lives or safety of persons in Canada
- Have a health condition that is dangerous to public health, public safety or may cause excessive demand on health or social services
- Have an immigration application refused for misrepresentation in the past 5 years
- Have been deported for failing to comply with any immigration act or regulation
- Not declared as a family member in the sponsor's permanent resident application
- Under 18 years old
- The sponsor
- Receive social assistance unless for disability
- Did not pay back court-ordered family support payments, immigration loan, performance bond, social assistance a sponsored family member received while still on sponsorship undertaking (if applicable)
- Have declared bankrupt and are not discharged from it
- Be under a removal order
- Have been convicted of a violent crime, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis
- Be in jail, prison, or a penitentiary
- Not declared the family member in the sponsor's permanent resident application
- Has sponsor a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner within the past 3 years, or has been sponsored as a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner in the last 5 years
- The relationship
- Re-marry while the divorce is not finalized
- The sponsor and the sponsored common-law partner have been separated for at least 12 months and either one is in a common-law relationship with another person
- Marriage where one or both parties are not physically present unless one is a Canadian Armed Forces and there are travel restrictions related to the military service
Minimum requirements - The sponsor
- More than 18 years old
- Be a Canadian or Permanent Resident
- Commit to providing financial support for sponsored family members in 3 years by signing a sponsorship agreement
- Live in Canada when the sponsored family members become Permanent Resident
- In case there is a grand-child (a dependent child of biological child or step-child) in the sponsorship application, the sponsor must meet or exceed the minimum income requirements based on family size plus sponsored family members as table below:
Size of Family Unit | Minimum necessary income |
---|---|
1 person (the sponsor) | $29,380 |
2 persons | $36,576 |
3 persons | $44,966 |
4 persons | $54,594 |
5 persons | $61,920 |
6 persons | $69,834 |
7 persons | $77,750 |
More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add | $7,916 |
- A biological or adopted child of a Canadian who was born in Canada or has been naturalized can apply for citizenship directly instead of becoming a Permanent Resident
- If a child is sponsored without his or her parent overseas, the sponsor must have written consent from the parent for the child to travel to Canada for the purposes of becoming a Permanent Resident
- If there are grand-children, they must be included in the sponsorship application
Immigration Ineligibility
- The sponsored family member
- Have committed a crime, depends on the seriousness of the conviction
- Have been, are or will be engaging in organized crime
- Have been, are or will be engaging in any activities or organizations that are against Canada, contrary to Canada’s interests or endanger the lives or safety of persons in Canada
- Have a health condition that is dangerous to public health, public safety or may cause excessive demand on health or social services
- Have an immigration application refused for misrepresentation in the past 5 years
- Have been deported for failing to comply with any immigration act or regulation
- Not declared as a family member in the sponsor's permanent resident application
- Be over 22 years old and not financially dependent for reasons related to physical or mental conditions
- Be married
- The sponsor
- Receive social assistance unless for disability
- Did not pay back court-ordered family support payments, immigration loan, performance bond, social assistance a sponsored family member received while still on sponsorship undertaking (if applicable)
- Have declared bankrupt and are not discharged from it
- Be under a removal order
- Have been convicted of a violent crime, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis
- Be in jail, prison, or a penitentiary
- Not declared the family member in the sponsor's permanent resident application
Minimum requirements - The sponsor
- More than 18 years old
- Be a Canadian or Permanent Resident
- Commit to providing financial support for sponsored family members in 3 years if above 22 years old, to the 25th birthday if between 10 to 22 years old, or in 10 years if under 10 years old by signing a sponsorship agreement
- Live in Canada when the sponsored family members become Permanent Resident
- In case there is a grand-child (a dependent child of biological child or step-child) in the sponsorship application, the sponsor must meet or exceed the minimum income requirements based on family size plus sponsored family members as table below:
Size of Family Unit | Minimum necessary income |
---|---|
1 person (the sponsor) | $29,380 |
2 persons | $36,576 |
3 persons | $44,966 |
4 persons | $54,594 |
5 persons | $61,920 |
6 persons | $69,834 |
7 persons | $77,750 |
More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add | $7,916 |
Immigration Ineligibility
- The sponsored family member
- Have committed a crime, depends on the seriousness of the conviction
- Have been, are or will be engaging in organized crime
- Have been, are or will be engaging in any activities or organizations that are against Canada, contrary to Canada’s interests or endanger the lives or safety of persons in Canada
- Have a health condition that is dangerous to public health, public safety or may cause excessive demand on health or social services
- Have an immigration application refused for misrepresentation in the past 5 years
- Have been deported for failing to comply with any immigration act or regulation
- Not declared as a family member in the sponsor's permanent resident application
- More than 18 years old
- Be married
- Be entered the relationship for the primary purpose of obtaining the status or privilege under the Act
- The sponsor
- Receive social assistance unless for disability
- Did not pay back court-ordered family support payments, immigration loan, performance bond, social assistance a sponsored family member received while still on sponsorship undertaking (if applicable)
- Have declared bankrupt and are not discharged from it
- Be under a removal order
- Have been convicted of a violent crime, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis
- Be in jail, prison, or a penitentiary
- Previously sponsored a family member and failed to fulfill the undertaking and the sponsorship agreement
Minimum requirements
- The sponsored family member
- Under 18 years old
- Must end the legal relationship between the adopted child and his or her biological parents
- Have consent from both of the adopted child’s biological parents (if they are living)
- Meet the requirements of the Hague Convention for intercountry adoption and the province or territory including a home study
- Create a genuine parent-child relationship
- The sponsor
- Meet the adoption requirements of the adopted child's home country
- Be in the best interests of the adopted child
- More than 18 years old
- Be a Canadian or Permanent Resident
- Commit to providing financial support for sponsored family members until the 25th birthday if above 10 years old, or in 10 years if under 10 years old by signing a sponsorship agreement
- Live in Canada when the sponsored family members become Permanent Resident
- Sibling, nephew, niece or grandchild sponsorship sponsorship is a is a family sponsorship program available to Canadian or Permanent Resident to sponsor those relative who lost both parents, is single and under 18 years old
Immigration Ineligibility
- The sponsored family member
- Have committed a crime, depends on the seriousness of the conviction
- Have been, are or will be engaging in organized crime
- Have been, are or will be engaging in any activities or organizations that are against Canada, contrary to Canada’s interests or endanger the lives or safety of persons in Canada
- Have a health condition that is dangerous to public health, public safety or may cause excessive demand on health or social services
- Have an immigration application refused for misrepresentation in the past 5 years
- Have been deported for failing to comply with any immigration act or regulation
- Not declared as a family member in the sponsor's permanent resident application
- More than 18 years old
- Be married
- The sponsor
- Receive social assistance unless for disability
- Did not pay back court-ordered family support payments, immigration loan, performance bond, social assistance a sponsored family member received while still on sponsorship undertaking (if applicable)
- Have declared bankrupt and are not discharged from it
- Be under a removal order
- Have been convicted of a violent crime, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis
- Be in jail, prison, or a penitentiary
- Not declared the family member in the sponsor's permanent resident application
- Previously sponsored a family member and failed to fulfill the undertaking and the sponsorship agreement
Minimum requirements
- The sponsored family member
- Brother, sister, nephew, niece, and
- Be related by blood or adoption, and
- Have lost both parents (not including missing or abandoned)
- The sponsor
- More than 18 years old
- Be a Canadian (born in Canada or naturalized)
- Commit to providing financial support for sponsored family members in 10 years by signing a sponsorship agreement
- Live in Canada when the sponsored family members become Permanent Resident
- The annual income meets or above the minimum income requirements based on family size plus sponsored family members as table below
Size of Family Unit | Minimum necessary income |
---|---|
1 person (the sponsor) | $29,380 |
2 persons | $36,576 |
3 persons | $44,966 |
4 persons | $54,594 |
5 persons | $61,920 |
6 persons | $69,834 |
7 persons | $77,750 |
More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add | $7,916 |
Other relatives sponsorship is a family sponsorship program available to Canadian or Permanent Resident to sponsor any relative related by blood or adoption of any age. To be eligible, the sponsor in Canada must be single, has no relative (such as uncle or aunt) in Canada, and has no living relatives (including those who don't want to come to Canada) such as:
- Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, and
- Son or daughter, and
- Parent and grandparent, and
- Orphaned brother or sister, orphaned nephew or niece or orphaned grandchild
Immigration Ineligibility
- The sponsored family member
- Have committed a crime, depends on the seriousness of the conviction
- Have been, are or will be engaging in organized crime
- Have been, are or will be engaging in any activities or organizations that are against Canada, contrary to Canada’s interests or endanger the lives or safety of persons in Canada
- Have a health condition that is dangerous to public health, public safety or may cause excessive demand on health or social services
- Have an immigration application refused for misrepresentation in the past 5 years
- Have been deported for failing to comply with any immigration act or regulation
- Not declared as a family member in the sponsor's permanent resident application
- More than 18 years old
- Be married
- The sponsor
- Receive social assistance unless for disability
- Did not pay back court-ordered family support payments, immigration loan, performance bond, social assistance a sponsored family member received while still on sponsorship undertaking (if applicable)
- Have declared bankrupt and are not discharged from it
- Be under a removal order
- Have been convicted of a violent crime, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis
- Be in jail, prison, or a penitentiary
- Not declared the family member in the sponsor's permanent resident application
- Have a sponsorable relative such as a spouse, biological child, parent, grandparent, orphaned brother or sister, orphaned nephew or niece, or phaned grandchild
- Have an aunt or uncle who is Canadian or Permanent Resident
- Previously sponsored a family member and failed to fulfill the undertaking and the sponsorship agreement
Minimum requirements - The sponsor
- More than 18 years old
- Be a Canadian (born in Canada or naturalized)
- Commit to providing financial support for sponsored family members in 10 years by signing a sponsorship agreement
- Live in Canada when the sponsored family members become Permanent Resident
- The annual income meets or above the minimum income requirements based on family size plus sponsored family members as table below
Size of Family Unit | Minimum necessary income |
---|---|
1 person (the sponsor) | $29,380 |
2 persons | $36,576 |
3 persons | $44,966 |
4 persons | $54,594 |
5 persons | $61,920 |
6 persons | $69,834 |
7 persons | $77,750 |
More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add | $7,916 |