Family Sponsorship Canada: How to Bring Your Loved Ones Closer

Canada’s immigration system is built on many principles, but perhaps none is more fundamental than the belief that families belong together. Through the Family Sponsorship Canada program, Canadian citizens and permanent residents have the privilege and responsibility of reuniting with their loved ones, helping them build new lives as permanent residents in one of the world’s most welcoming countries. I will walk you through eligibility requirements, application procedures, processing times, financial obligations, and practical tips to ensure your family reunification journey is as smooth as possible.

Understanding Family Sponsorship Canada

Family Sponsorship Canada represents one of the most compassionate immigration pathways available, recognizing that family reunification strengthens communities and supports successful immigrant integration. Unlike economic immigration programs that prioritize work experience, education, and language proficiency, family sponsorship focuses on the genuine relationships between sponsors and applicants.

The program operates on a straightforward premise: Canadian citizens and permanent residents commit to supporting their sponsored family members financially and emotionally, ensuring they won’t require social assistance. In return, sponsored individuals gain the opportunity to live, work, and build futures in Canada alongside their loved ones.

Each year, Canada welcomes tens of thousands of new permanent residents through family sponsorship programs, making it one of the largest immigration categories, alongside economic programs such as Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs. The government’s commitment to family reunification remains strong, with continued investment in processing capacity and program improvements.

Who Can You Sponsor Through Family Sponsorship Canada?

Under Canada’s Family Class Immigration Program, you can sponsor several categories of close relatives, each with specific eligibility criteria:

1. Spouse, Common-Law Partner, or Conjugal Partner

The spousal and partner sponsorship category is the most frequently used pathway, allowing you to sponsor:

Spouse: Your legally married partner, regardless of where the marriage took place, provided it’s recognized as valid under Canadian law and the law of the country where it occurred.

Common-law partner: Someone you’ve lived with in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months without significant periods of separation. You must provide evidence of cohabitation and shared life.

Conjugal partner: Someone with whom you’re in a genuine, committed relationship but cannot live together or marry due to valid circumstances such as immigration barriers, cultural restrictions, or legal obstacles in your home countries.

Spousal sponsorship doesn’t require sponsors to meet minimum income requirements (unless sponsoring a dependent child who has their own dependents), making it accessible regardless of financial circumstances. However, sponsors must demonstrate they can meet basic needs without relying on social assistance.

2. Dependent Children

You can sponsor your dependent children, including biological children, adopted children, and stepchildren, provided they meet dependency criteria:

Children under 22 years old who are not married or in common-law relationships automatically qualify as dependents.

Children 22 years or older may still qualify if they’ve been financially dependent on parents since before age 22 due to physical or mental conditions preventing self-support.

Children can be sponsored either as principal applicants or as accompanying dependents when sponsoring a spouse or partner. The sponsorship ensures families can remain together, supporting children’s development in stable, united family environments.

3. Parents and Grandparents

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) allows you to sponsor your parents and grandparents, though this pathway involves more stringent requirements and operates differently from spousal sponsorship.

Key considerations:

• The program opens periodically for new submissions through an interest-to-sponsor process
• Sponsors must meet Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) thresholds for the three consecutive tax years preceding application
• Income requirements are calculated based on family size and must exceed the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) by specific percentages
• Processing times are significantly longer than spousal sponsorship, typically 24-36 months

Due to high demand and limited annual allocations, PGP sponsorship is highly competitive. Many sponsors alternatively use the Super Visa program, which allows parents and grandparents to visit Canada for extended periods (up to five years per entry) while awaiting permanent residence opportunities.

4. Other Relatives (Special Circumstances)

In rare situations where you have no other close family members who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or registered Indians under the Indian Act, you might be eligible to sponsor other relatives, including:

• Orphaned siblings, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren under 18
• Any relative, regardless of age, if you have no spouse, partner, child, parent, grandparent, or sibling living in Canada

These special circumstance sponsorships require thorough documentation proving the absence of other eligible relatives and the genuine need for family reunification.

Who Can Be a Sponsor? Eligibility Requirements

To qualify as a sponsor for Family Sponsorship Canada, you must meet several mandatory requirements:

Age requirement: You must be at least 18 years old to sponsor family members.

Status requirement: You must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act. If you’re a permanent resident, you must physically reside in Canada during the sponsorship process. Canadian citizens living abroad can sponsor, but must demonstrate concrete plans to return to Canada when their sponsored family member becomes a permanent resident.

No criminal prohibitions: You cannot be in prison, charged with a serious criminal offense, or convicted of certain crimes involving violence, family violence, or sexual offenses.

Financial responsibility: You cannot be bankrupt, in receipt of social assistance (except for disability), or in default of previous immigration loans, court-ordered support payments, or previous sponsorship undertakings.

No removal orders: You must not be under a removal order or subject to ongoing immigration proceedings that could result in your removal from Canada.

Financial capacity: For parents and grandparents sponsorship specifically, you must demonstrate sufficient income meeting or exceeding the Minimum Necessary Income thresholds for the past three consecutive tax years.

These requirements protect both sponsors and applicants, ensuring sponsors can fulfill their commitments and sponsored individuals will have adequate support upon arrival.

Financial Requirements for Canada Family Sponsorship

Understanding financial obligations is crucial to the success of Canada family sponsorship. Requirements vary significantly depending on whom you’re sponsoring:

Spousal and Dependent Children Sponsorship

For spouse, partner, and dependent children sponsorship (without their own dependents), there’s no minimum income requirement. However, you must still demonstrate the ability to meet basic needs without relying on social assistance for reasons other than disability.

The sponsorship undertaking commits you to providing financial support for your sponsored family member for a specific period:

• 3 years for spouses, partners, and dependent children 22 years or older
• 10 years or until age 25 (whichever comes first) for dependent children under 22

During this undertaking period, you’re legally responsible for repaying any social assistance your sponsored family member receives, even if your relationship ends.

Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship

Parents and grandparents’ sponsorship requires meeting stringent income thresholds. You must demonstrate income exceeding the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for three consecutive tax years immediately preceding your application.

Approximate 2025 Minimum Income Requirements:

Income is verified through Notice of Assessment (NOA) documents from the Canada Revenue Agency. Acceptable income sources include employment income, self-employment income, interest and dividends, rental income, pension income, and specific other sources. Social assistance, employment insurance (except special benefits), and provincial training allowances don’t count toward MNI calculations.

The undertaking period for parents and grandparents is 20 years, reflecting the long-term commitment required to sponsor older family members who may need more support.

Step-by-Step Application Process for Family Sponsorship Canada

Successfully navigating Family Sponsorship Canada requires systematic preparation and attention to detail. Here’s the complete process:

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility and Relationship

Before beginning your application, thoroughly review IRCC eligibility requirements for your specific relationship category. Ensure that both you, as the sponsor, and your family member, as the applicant, meet all criteria. Gather preliminary documentation proving your relationship genuinely exists and meets program definitions.

Step 2: Gather Required Forms and Documents

Download the appropriate Family Sponsorship Application Package from the Government of Canada website. Each relationship category requires specific forms and documents.

Common forms include:

• Document Checklist (IMM 5533 for spouses/partners, IMM 5771 for parents/grandparents)
• Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement, and Undertaking (IMM 1344)
• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008) for the person being sponsored
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
• Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
• Relationship-specific questionnaires providing details about your relationship history

Supporting documents required:

• Valid passports for the sponsor and applicant
• Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, or death certificates, as applicable
• Proof of relationship, such as wedding photos, communication records, joint accounts, property ownership, or travel together
• Police certificates from all countries where the applicant lived for six months or more since age 18
• Medical examination results from panel physicians
• Proof of sponsor’s Canadian status (citizenship certificate, permanent resident card, or Indian Status card)
• Financial documents, including Notice of Assessments for parents/grandparents sponsorship

If you would like detailed guidance on family sponsorship, you can visit the official IRCC Family Sponsorship page.

Step 3: Pay Application Fees

Application fees must be paid online through the IRCC payment portal before submission. Required fees typically include:

• Sponsorship fee: $75 CAD
• Principal applicant processing fee: $490 CAD
• Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF): $515 CAD (can be paid later, but required before visa issuance)
• Biometrics fee: $85 CAD per person or $170 CAD for families
• Third-party fees: Additional costs for medical examinations ($200-400 per person), police certificates, translations, and document certification

Please keep all payment receipts, as you’ll need to include them with your application package.

Step 4: Submit Your Complete Application

Most Canada family sponsorship applications can now be submitted online through the IRCC Permanent Residence Portal, though paper applications remain acceptable for some categories.

Online submission advantages:

• Faster processing times
• Immediate confirmation of receipt
• Easier document uploads and application tracking
• Reduced risk of loss or damage during mailing

Before submitting, triple-check that all forms are completed accurately, that all required documents are included, that all forms are signed where needed, and that all fees are paid. Incomplete applications are returned without processing, causing significant delays.

Step 5: Biometrics and Medical Examinations

After submitting your application, your sponsored family member will receive instructions for completing mandatory requirements:

Biometrics: Your family member must provide fingerprints and a photograph at a designated Visa Application Centre (VAC) or Application Support Center (ASC). This must be completed within 30 days of receiving the Biometrics Instruction Letter.

Medical examination: The applicant must undergo medical examinations with an IRCC-approved panel physician. These examinations verify that the applicant doesn’t have health conditions that would pose a public health or safety risk or place an excessive demand on Canadian health services.

Completing these requirements promptly prevents processing delays. Keep all receipts and confirmation documents, uploading proof to your IRCC account as requested.

Step 6: Application Processing and Waiting

Processing times vary significantly by relationship category and individual case circumstances:

Spouse/Common-law Partner Sponsorship: Approximately 9-12 months from submission to final decision

Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship: Typically 24-36 months due to higher complexity and application volumes

During processing, IRCC may request additional information, updated documents, or clarification regarding your relationship. Respond promptly to all requests to avoid delays. Track your application status through your IRCC online account, which provides real-time updates as your application progresses through various stages.

Step 7: Decision and Landing

Once approved, your sponsored family member receives a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document and, if applicable, a permanent resident visa in their passport. They can then travel to Canada (if abroad) or complete their landing formalities (if already in Canada) to officially become permanent residents.

As a permanent resident, your sponsored family member can:

• Live, work, and study anywhere in Canada
• Access most social benefits available to Canadian citizens
• Apply for Canadian citizenship after meeting residency requirements
• Travel freely in and out of Canada with proper documentation

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Family Sponsorship Canada

Many sponsorship applications face delays or refusals due to preventable errors. Avoid these common mistakes:

Incomplete or outdated forms: Always use the most current form versions available on the IRCC website. Could you check version dates carefully, as outdated forms are not accepted?

Missing signatures or barcodes: Every form requiring signatures must be signed in the designated spaces. Generated barcode pages must be included with form submissions.

Insufficient proof of relationship: For spousal and partner sponsorships, primarily, provide comprehensive evidence demonstrating your relationship is genuine and ongoing. Include various types of evidence across different time periods.

Ignoring IRCC communications: Check your email regularly (including spam folders) for messages from IRCC requesting additional information or documents. Missing deadlines for responses can result in the application being refused.

Late biometrics or medical examinations: Complete these requirements within specified timeframes. Delays often result in processing slowdowns or application returns.

Inconsistent information: Ensure all information provided across different forms and documents is consistent. Discrepancies raise red flags and may trigger additional scrutiny or verification.

Insufficient translations: All documents not in English or French must be accompanied by certified translations along with copies of the original documents.

Pro Tip: Always create complete digital copies of your entire application package before submission. This protects you if documents are lost and provides reference materials for future questions.

Processing Tips from Immigration Experts

At Dalitzo Services, we’ve helped countless families successfully navigate Family Sponsorship Canada. Here are our top recommendations:

Be transparent and honest: Honesty in all declarations is paramount. Misrepresentation—even unintentional—can result in application refusal, bans from future applications, and potential revocation of permanent residence status.

Stay meticulously organized: Label documents clearly, organize them according to checklist requirements, and maintain systematic filing systems. The organization demonstrates professionalism and makes officer reviews more efficient.

Monitor communications regularly: IRCC primarily communicates through email. Check your inbox daily, respond promptly to all requests, and keep records of all correspondence.

Use comprehensive checklists: Don’t rely solely on IRCC checklists. Create detailed personal checklists tracking every requirement, deadline, and submission item.

Provide context for complex situations: If your relationship or circumstances involve complexities (previous marriages, children from other relationships, unusual living arrangements), provide clear explanations and comprehensive supporting documentation.

Your Family Reunification Journey Begins Here

Family Sponsorship Canada offers a compassionate, accessible pathway for bringing your loved ones closer. While the process involves detailed documentation, financial commitments, and patience during processing, thousands of families successfully reunite each year through this program.

Whether you’re sponsoring your spouse to begin your married life together in Canada, bringing your children to provide them with Canadian opportunities, or reuniting with parents and grandparents to care for them in their later years, family sponsorship makes it possible.

By understanding eligibility requirements, preparing comprehensive applications, avoiding common mistakes, and seeking professional guidance when needed, you can navigate the Canada family sponsorship process successfully.