Family Sponsorship

A woman holds a child on a beach. Photo from the back.
A woman holds a child on a beach. Photo from the back.
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Overview

As a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may be able to sponsor certain family members for permanent residency — bringing the people you love closest to you in Canada for good.

Whether you want to sponsor a dependent child or reunite with your parents, the process requires careful preparation and thorough documentation.

We help you build a case that gives your family the best possible chance of being approved.

Is it for you?

You are a Canadian citizen or PR and want to sponsor your spouse or common-law partner for permanent residency.

You want to sponsor a dependent child to join you in Canada.

Your relationship is genuine but you're not sure how to prove it sufficiently for immigration purposes.

Your previous sponsorship application was refused and you want to try again with a stronger case.

Outside Canada

In Canada

Immigration Consultation

Family Sponsorship

Permanent Residence

Out of Status

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who qualifies as a dependent child?

    A dependent child must be under 22 years of age and not married or in a common-law relationship. Children 22 or older may still qualify if they have depended on a parent for financial support due to a physical or mental condition since before turning 22.

  • Can I sponsor my parents right now?

    Unfortunately no — the Parents and Grandparents Program has been closed to new applicants since 2020 and no new intake is expected in the near future. If you want your parents in Canada in the meantime, a Super Visa — which allows extended stays of up to 5 years — is currently the most practical alternative.

  • How does the Parents and Grandparents Program actually work?

    When the program is open, it operates similarly to a lottery. IRCC announces an intake period during which eligible sponsors can submit an interest to sponsor. Applications are then randomly selected from the pool — not on a first-come-first-served basis. The number of spots available each year is limited, which means even eligible sponsors may not be selected in a given year. Once selected, you are invited to submit a full sponsorship application. Given that the program has been closed since 2020 with no confirmed reopening date, monitoring IRCC announcements closely is important so you can act quickly when it does reopen.

  • What are my obligations as a sponsor?

    Sponsoring a family member means signing a legal undertaking to financially support them after they become a permanent resident. For dependent children the undertaking period is 10 years or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first. For parents and grandparents it is 20 years. These obligations exist regardless of changes in your circumstances.

  • Who qualifies as a dependent child?

    A dependent child must be under 22 years of age and not married or in a common-law relationship. Children 22 or older may still qualify if they have depended on a parent for financial support due to a physical or mental condition since before turning 22.

  • Can I sponsor my parents right now?

    Unfortunately no — the Parents and Grandparents Program has been closed to new applicants since 2020 and no new intake is expected in the near future. If you want your parents in Canada in the meantime, a Super Visa — which allows extended stays of up to 5 years — is currently the most practical alternative.

  • How does the Parents and Grandparents Program actually work?

    When the program is open, it operates similarly to a lottery. IRCC announces an intake period during which eligible sponsors can submit an interest to sponsor. Applications are then randomly selected from the pool — not on a first-come-first-served basis. The number of spots available each year is limited, which means even eligible sponsors may not be selected in a given year. Once selected, you are invited to submit a full sponsorship application. Given that the program has been closed since 2020 with no confirmed reopening date, monitoring IRCC announcements closely is important so you can act quickly when it does reopen.

  • What are my obligations as a sponsor?

    Sponsoring a family member means signing a legal undertaking to financially support them after they become a permanent resident. For dependent children the undertaking period is 10 years or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first. For parents and grandparents it is 20 years. These obligations exist regardless of changes in your circumstances.

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