What is family sponsorship in Canada?
The family sponsorship program in Canada is a way for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor certain relatives from other countries to come to Canada as permanent residents. The program is designed to reunite families who have been separated by distance and to help new immigrants settle into their new lives in Canada.
The family sponsorship program in Canada is a way for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor certain relatives from other countries to come to Canada as permanent residents. The program is designed to reunite families who have been separated by distance and to help new immigrants settle into their new lives in Canada.
Many Canadians with families and loved ones living outside of Canada and aiming to immigrate to Canada. A Canada family sponsorship application is intended to help you sponsor your family members and loved ones to live permanently in the country.
In 2023, with Canadian Family Reunification programs, the government of Canada offers several ways to make a dream come true with Family Class Sponsorship. Therefore, experts assert that Canada offers the most generous sponsorship application programs among developed countries. Canadian government values family togetherness and makes some relationships, including parents and grandparents, common-law partners and spouses, and dependent kids, eligible for the Family Class immigration category. Some provincial family class applications deal with other potential relationships.
How to apply for family sponsorship in Canada?
Canada family reunification requirements:
Generally, to be eligible for the family sponsorship program in Canada, candidates need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Make sure you meet the requirements to sponsor your family.
- Make sure the relatives you want to sponsor match the qualifying criteria.
You must apply to the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on the federal level and, if you are a Quebec resident, to the Ministry of Immigration, Francization, and Integration on the provincial level (MIFI).
You must file your sponsorship application along with the applications for permanent residence (PR) status of your family members or relatives all at the same time. Your PR application will be assessed once you have been determined to be eligible to sponsor.
You will be needed to pay the application cost for family sponsorship application.
Make sure you send your application to the correct address. This information can be found in the sponsorship guide, downloaded from the government website.
How much does family class sponsorship cost?
A $150 payment will be needed for every child included in the Canadian family sponsorship application if you are sponsoring your spouse and they have dependent children (or if you are sponsoring your adopted child). An additional $1,050 is necessary if your relative’s spouse or partner is included. The following is a list of government processing fees for sponsoring a relative in Canada.
- Sponsorship fee $75
- The principal applicant processing fee is $475
- Right of permanent residence fee $500
- Biometrics: $85
Total: $1135
A charge of $289 must be paid in addition to the costs listed above if the sponsor resides in or wants to remain in Quebec upon permanent residency.
Parents sponsorship Canada 2023 income requirements:
According to the Canadian Government, the income required for the 3 tax years right before the day you apply is shown below. Income required for the 3 tax years right before the day you apply (sponsors applying in 2023)
| Total number of people you’ll be responsible for | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 people | $32898 | $32270 | $41007 |
| 3 people | $40444 | $39672 | $50414 |
| 4 people | $49106 | $48167 | $61209 |
| 5 people | $55694 | $54630 | $69423 |
| 6 people | $62814 | $61613 | $78296 |
| 7 people | $69934 | $68598 | $87172 |
| If more than 7 people, for each additional person, add: | $7120 | $6985 | $8876 |
Canada family reunification requirements:
As per the current border measures in Canada, all foreign nationals entering the country must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. However, there are some exemptions for certain unvaccinated travellers. Immediate and extended family members of Canadian citizens, permanent residents, temporary residents, persons registered under the Indian Act, and protected persons who are fully vaccinated are allowed to enter Canada. On the other hand, unvaccinated family members of the aforementioned groups are not permitted to enter the country, unless they qualify for the remaining exemptions.
One such exemption that supports family reunification is for minors under the age of 18. These minors are eligible to enter Canada if:
- They are accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent, step-parent, guardian, or tutor who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act.
- They are seeking to join an immediate family member who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act.
- They are seeking to join an extended family member who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act.
Please note that minors who are eligible to enter Canada under these provisions do not need to apply for approval from IRCC. IRCC no longer pre-approves exemptions for family members as per the Orders in Council.
Who can you include in your family sponsorship application?
Parents and grandparents
Canada’s commitment to family reunion extends to the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents via the parent and grandparent sponsorship program. To sponsor their parents or grandparents, citizens and permanent residents will have to prove that they can financially support their families. Sponsors need to meet the Minimum Necessary Income Requirement (MNI) for their family size.
Additionally, they must accept to provide financial assistance to their sponsored family members if necessary. Sponsors who cannot support their parent or grandparent permanently may qualify for a Super Visa, a long-term, multiple-entry visa available to parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Family Sponsorship Application Processing Time:
How long does it take to sponsor parents to Canada?
According to the information provided by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canadian parent’s sponsorship processing time takes between 20 and 24 months on average. If you’re applying for spousal sponsorship, however, it’s important to know the processing times – read our blog post on spouse sponsorship Canada processing times for more information.
What are the benefits for sponsored parents in Canada?
Parents and grandparents who are sponsored become permanent residents of Canada, with all its benefits. This involves the freedom to live and work anywhere in Canada, regardless of time, place, or industry, and access to publicly financed health care and other services.
Spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner
Whether your husband, common-law partner or conjugal partner is in Canada on a valid temporary visa or living overseas, you may be able to sponsor them to get PR in Canada. Candidates currently residing in Canada may be eligible for an open work permit, which allows couples to ease some of their financial obligations.
While their sponsorship application is being handled, sponsored individuals can work legally in Canada with the help of a spouse’s open work permit. Since Canada accepts common-law partnerships, if you and your partner are not married but have lived together for a minimum of 12 months, you may be qualified for spousal sponsorship.
Child or another dependant
You may include your children as accompanying dependent family members on your application for Canadian permanent residency if you’re moving to Canada from another country. Even if you do not include them or are otherwise unable to do so, they may still be allowed to join you in Canada later.
As long as they are single and have no children, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can become sponsors for their biological or adopted children under the age of 22 for permanent residence in Canada. If a child above the age of 22 has a medical or mental issue that prevents them from supporting themselves, they may be dependent.
Sponsoring relatives
In certain situations, you may be eligible to sponsor your relative under the “last remaining relative” exception program. This program authorizes any relative (blood or adoption) of a permanent resident or citizen of Canada to sponsor them, regardless of age.
In this scenario, the sponsoring individual must not have any permanent residents or citizens in Canada: spouse/common-law partner, child, parent(s)/grandparent(s), sibling, niece/nephew, aunt/uncle. Furthermore, the sponsor should not have any family members (who could be sponsored) living outside of Canada. If a sponsored relative wants to become a permanent resident of Canada, you must provide financial support to that relative.
Orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild
Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents may be able to become a sponsor for their orphaned sibling, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild to come to Canada in certain circumstances. To sponsor an orphaned relative, they must be unmarried, under 18, and related to you by blood or adoption.
Other relatives (under exceptional circumstances as a “Lonely Canadian”)
Under special circumstances, one distant relative may be sponsored by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Sponsors must be “Lonely Canadians” to sponsor a relative who does not fit into Canada’s current Family Class definition. This means there is no spouse, common-law partner, child, parent, or grandparent living with the sponsor.
Who is not eligible to become a sponsor?
A permanent resident or citizen may not be able to sponsor in particular circumstances. If a sponsor falls into one of the following categories, they may be ineligible:
- Are now detained.
- I haven’t paid alimony or child support.
- Have filed for bankruptcy but have not yet been released.
- I got social assistance other than for a handicap.
- Failed to repay an immigration loan, making late or missing installments.
- Had previously sponsored a relative and failed to comply with the sponsorship agreement’s requirements.
- Having been convicted of a violent crime, a relative offense, or a sexual offense, depending on the facts of the case.
Other useful information: