Canadian Family Sponsorship Program

Sponsor Your Eligible Family Members

Through the Family Sponsorship Program, eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor certain family members to immigrate to Canada and become permanent residents.

As a sponsor, you accept a legal commitment to provide financial support for your sponsored family member for a specified period, helping them meet their basic needs after arriving in Canada.

Who Can Sponsor?

To become a sponsor, you generally must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a Canadian citizen or Canadian permanent resident
• Demonstrate the ability to financially support the sponsored family member
• Meet all sponsorship obligations required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Eligibility requirements may vary depending on the sponsorship category.

Who Can Be Sponsored?

Eligible sponsors may be able to sponsor:

• Spouse
• Common-law partner
• Conjugal partner (where applicable)
• Dependent children
• Parents
• Grandparents

Our consultants assess your eligibility and recommend the most suitable sponsorship pathway.

Family Sponsorship Application Process

The sponsorship process generally involves the following steps:

Step 1 – Sponsor Eligibility Assessment
Confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements to become a sponsor.

Step 2 – Verify Family Member Eligibility
Determine whether the family member you wish to sponsor qualifies under Canadian immigration regulations.

Step 3 – Submit Sponsorship and Permanent Residence Applications
The sponsor and the sponsored family member submit the required sponsorship and Permanent Residence (PR) applications to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Once sponsorship eligibility is approved, the sponsored person’s Permanent Residence application proceeds for further assessment.

Step 4 – Pay Government Fees
Pay the applicable sponsorship and immigration processing fees.

Step 5 – Application Processing
IRCC reviews the application and may request additional documents, medical examinations, biometrics, or other supporting information before making a final decision.

Spousal Sponsorship

Bring Your Husband, Wife, or Partner to Canada

Canada’s Spousal Sponsorship Program allows eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouse or eligible partner for Permanent Residency.

The Canadian government places significant importance on family reunification, making spousal sponsorship one of the country’s most common immigration pathways.

If the sponsored spouse is already living in Canada and meets eligibility requirements, they may also qualify to apply for an Open Work Permit while their Permanent Residence application is being processed.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

To sponsor your spouse or partner, you generally must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident residing in Canada (subject to applicable rules)
• Demonstrate the financial ability to support your spouse or partner
• Provide evidence that your relationship is genuine
• Meet all applicable sponsorship requirements

Supporting documentation such as photographs, communication records, marriage certificates, and other relationship evidence may be required.

Dependent Child Sponsorship

Reunite with Your Children

Canadian citizens and permanent residents may also sponsor eligible dependent children to become Permanent Residents of Canada.

This includes biological and legally adopted children who meet Canadian immigration eligibility requirements.

Who Qualifies as a Dependent Child?

Generally, a dependent child is:

• Under 22 years of age
• Not married or in a common-law relationship

A child over 22 years of age may still qualify if they have a physical or mental condition that has made them financially dependent on their parents.

Applicants must also provide documents proving the parent-child relationship, such as:

• Birth certificates
• Adoption documents
• Other supporting legal records