Canada is one of the best countries in the world to raise a family. This is partly because the Canadian government supports family reunions.

It is a key component of Canada’s immigration policy. As a result, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) desires to reunite more families.

So, if you are eligible and have immigrated here, you can sponsor your spouse, partner, or dependent children for Canadian permanent residency.

Learn more about Canadian family sponsorship and be ready for your loved ones to relocate to Canada.

The Canada Family Sponsorship Program attempts to bring families together by allowing relatives to study and work in Canada if they become permanent citizens.

As a result, you and your family will develop priceless memories while immersing yourselves in the rich Canadian culture.

If you agree to sponsor a loved one, you must commit to providing for their necessities so they do not require aid from the Canadian government.

Who Can I Sponsor?

You can sponsor the immigration of a sibling, spouse, partner, or dependent child to Canada.

However, both you, as the sponsor, and the relative being sponsored must meet specific requirements.

For the time being, let us examine the eligibility of both parties applying for the Canada Family Sponsorship.

The Canada Sponsorship Application Process

Below is a step-by-step method for applying for the Family Class Sponsorship Program, as well as the program requirements:

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

You must first determine your eligibility for the program before applying. If you are a permanent resident of Canada and want to sponsor a relative, you have a good chance.

However, you must be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen, or a permanent resident.

If you live outside of Canada, you must:

You must be a Canadian citizen and intend to return to be there when your relative arrives in Canada.
Understand that if you are a permanent resident living outside of Canada, you cannot sponsor a relative. You must be present in the country both when you seek to sponsor and when the person arrives.
Unless you are disabled, you must demonstrate that you will not require any social assistance or government benefits.
It should be noted that there are no income criteria for sponsoring your family. However, income requirements will apply if any of the following conditions are met:
You are sponsoring a dependent child who has another dependent child/children.
You are sponsoring your husband or partner, who has a dependent child of their own.

You are unable to sponsor someone if:

You are under the age of 18.
You will not reside in Canada. The individual you intend to sponsor is granted permanent residency.
You are not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Indian under the Canadian Indian Act. You are a temporary resident of Canada.
You are still in the process of obtaining permanent residency in Canada.
You may not have enough finances to help those you wish to sponsor You may be unable to sponsor someone if:
You obtained Canadian permanent residency after being sponsored by a spouse or partner less than five years ago.
You continue to sponsor your ex-spouse or lover.
You are awaiting the outcome of a sponsorship application.
You are now incarcerated in a jail, prison, or penitentiary.
You have not repaid an immigration loan, alimony, or child support.
Are depending on the Canadian government’s social assistance Have been convicted of a violent criminal offense or a sexual offense inside or outside of Canada
Have received a removal order.

Step 2: Know Who You Can Sponsor

Consider who you can sponsor before applying for Canadian family sponsorship.

Your spouse must be legally married to you and at least 18 years old when applying for Canadian spousal sponsorship.

Your common-law spouse, who must not be legally married to you, must be 18 years old or older and have been living with you in a conjugal relationship for 12 months without any separations.

Any prospective separation times must have been brief and transient. You will also be required to present proof of a conjugal relationship, which can include anything from joint ownership of home property to joint leases or agreements.

You and your conjugal partner must not be lawfully married or in a common-law partnership.

They must be 18 or older, live outside of Canada, and have been in a relationship for at least a year.

Furthermore, due to legal and immigration situations or reasons, they cannot cohabit with you in their country of residency or marry you.

When asking for sponsorship, you must demonstrate all of the elements that comprise a conjugal connection.

Dependent children must be under the age of 22 and not have a spouse or common-law partner to qualify.

They will also be categorized as dependents if they are not financially self-sufficient and suffer from a medical or mental illness. As a result, applicants must ensure that they meet both sets of criteria.

Keep in mind that different provinces will have different requirements while putting up your Canada sponsorship application.

Quebec, for example, may require you to sign a contract called an undertaking to tie your sponsorship. if you fail to meet the sponsorship terms, or if you commit any other crime not stated.

Step 3: Know How to Apply

For applying to sponsor a spouse, partner, or child, there are two options:

Your request to become a sponsor
The application for Canadian permanent residency of your spouse, partner, or child
Each application package will include a document checklist for you as the sponsor as well as the person being sponsored. It will also include the relevant forms to complete as well as an instruction manual.

Remember: You must guarantee that you are eligible to sponsor your relatives and care for them once they join you, that you accurately mention all relatives, and that your application is filled out.

Finally, they must be truthful in the information they offer, or their application will be refused.

When applying for Canadian family sponsorship, you must pay application fees. This is a non-refundable cost.

Depending on the type of application or case, you must also pay for biometrics, a right of permanent residency fee and processing fee, police clearance, and other necessary fees.

Once you’re sure your Canada family sponsorship application is complete, submit it online. Expect a rejection if anything on your application is discovered to be lacking.

Your application will then be returned to you for completion and re-submission. To avoid disappointment and delays, keep the following in mind:

Fill in all the required sections
Answer truthfully
Provide an electronic signature where needed
Add receipts of all fees paid
Add all required documents

Step 4: What to do After Applying

The IRCC will assess your Canada family sponsorship application after it has been received. As previously stated, it will be returned if it is incomplete or if payments are not made.

When the IRCC begins processing your application, they will:

Send your application number
Acknowledge the receipt of your application
Conduct all necessary assessments

If you are not selected as a sponsor, you can choose whether you want the IRCC to continue processing your family members’ applications for permanent residency.

If you withdraw your application, you will not be refunded the sponsorship fee. Other fees, however, will be refunded.

Tracking or Updating Your Application

You can watch your application and ensure it is up to date while it is being handled by:

Monitoring your application status
Updating information where needed

Step 5: Preparing for the Day You Arrive

Prepare your family members for their arrival in Canada. They will be required to present their Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), permanent resident visa, valid passport, and any other documentation they were recommended to bring with them when they enter the nation.

An immigration officer will review all documentation to ensure that everything is in order. They may be required to answer questions from your application to ensure that they are the same person who applied for the sponsorship.

How do I sponsor my parent or grandparent?

The PGP allows parents and grandparents to be sponsored.

Unlike other family class programs, IRCC does not accept PGP applications on a rolling basis.

The reason for this is that the number of immigration spots available to sponsor parents and grandparents greatly outnumbers the number of available spots.

As a result, IRCC has hosted lotteries in previous years to allow eligible sponsors to file permanent residence petitions on behalf of their parents and grandparents.

To be eligible as a sponsor, you must be at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident during the sponsorship process.

If you are a temporary resident or have a permanent residence application, you may not sponsor your parents or grandparents for immigration through the PGP.

You must also provide proof of income demonstrating that you meet the necessary Minimum Necessary Income (MNI).

The application process, including the MNI required to sponsor parents and grandparents, is subject to change regularly.

IRCC issues application instructions on an annual basis. The IRCC has yet to release anything about the 2023 PGP process.

The Parents and Grandparents Super Visa

Grandparents and parents who want to visit Canada may be eligible for the Super Visa, which permits them to stay for up to five years on their first visit without the need to renew their status.

To apply for a Super Visa, parents and grandparents must submit the following documentation to IRCC:

An invitation letter from their Canadian kid or grandchild
Proof that the child or grandchild is eligible for the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO).
A birth certificate, for example, is proof of a family relationship.
Evidence of private health insurance coverage

The application should be processed at the Canadian visa office in charge of the applicant’s domicile. All applicants must also pass a medical examination.

The Canadian visa office will provide you with instructions when you have filed your application.

FAQs

When Can I Expect Status Updates on My Application?

Once you get an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) letter or email, you will begin receiving sponsorship application status updates.

This will occur once your application has been received and assessed.

Who is eligible to sponsor a family member to come to Canada?

If you are at least 18 years old and one of the following, you can sponsor certain relatives to come to Canada:

A Canadian citizen.
A person who has been registered as an Indian in Canada under the Canadian Indian Act.
A Canadian permanent resident.

Who can sponsor a family member?

A US citizen over the age of 21 may also petition for the following relatives: brothers and sisters.

When you file your petition, you must include documents proving your link to the person for whom you are submitting.

How long does it take to sponsor a family member for immigration to Canada?

How long does it take to get a sponsorship? From start to finish, sponsorship applications take around a year to process.

They are normally handled within 12 months, but depending on the nature of your case, it may take longer.

What are the prerequisites for a family visa to Canada?

You may be eligible for the Canadian family visa if you are the common-law partner, spouse, or conjugal partner of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

However, for your partner to sponsor you, they must be at least 18 years old, demonstrate their ability to provide for you and demonstrate a real relationship between you two.

Can I fund a friend’s trip to Canada?

No program in Canada allows a permanent resident or citizen to sponsor a buddy.

If your buddy wishes to immigrate to Canada, he or she may be qualified via another immigration program.

Can I support my fiancé’s visit to Canada?

Canada does not allow Canadian permanent residents or citizens to sponsor their fiancée’s entry into the country. To qualify under the spousal sponsorship category, Canadian citizens and permanent residents must marry.

Alternatively, if your fiancé qualifies as a common-law partner, you may be able to sponsor them to come to Canada.

Conclusion

As a country committed to family reunification and keeping loved ones together, Canada has several immigration schemes that allow Canadians to sponsor family members to come to Canada.