Canada is a land of opportunity, and many people around the world dream of moving to this great nation to start a new life. If you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you can bring your loved ones to Canada through sponsorship.
For ConsultationLicensed Immigration Consultant
Years of Industry of Experience
Thousands of Satisfied Clients
Expert and Trained Staff
Sponsorship that unites your family
What is Sponsorship?
Sponsorship is a process that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their loved ones to Canada to live with them. This process is a way for families to reunite and stay together in Canada. Sponsorship can be used for spouses, common-law partners, dependent children, parents, and grandparents.
Who Can Sponsor?
To sponsor a family member, you must meet certain requirements set out by the Canadian government. You must:
Who Can Be Sponsored?
The following family members can be sponsored through the family sponsorship program:
Spouses and common-law partners must prove their relationship is genuine and was not entered into for the purpose of obtaining immigration status. Dependent children must be under the age of 22, unmarried, and not have children of their own. Parents and grandparents must be financially dependent on their Canadian sponsor.
How to Apply for Sponsorship
The sponsorship process involves two applications:
Here are the general steps to apply
-
Step 1: Check your eligibility
Before you start the application process, make sure you meet the requirements for sponsorship.
-
Step 2: Gather documents
Both the sponsor and sponsored person will need to provide documents to support their application. These documents may include passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, police certificates, etc.
-
Step 3: Submit applications
The sponsor must submit their application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Once the sponsor’s application is approved, the sponsored person can apply for permanent residence in Canada.
-
Step 4: Wait for processing
The processing time for sponsorship applications varies depending on the relationship and the country the sponsored person is applying from.
-
Step 5: Medical exams and background checks
Once the application is received, the sponsored person will need to complete a medical exam and a background check.
-
Step 6: Receive a decision
If the application is approved, the sponsored person will receive confirmation of permanent residence. They can then travel to Canada and become a permanent resident.
Sponsorship is an excellent way for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their loved ones to Canada to live with them. With the right information and support, it can be successful. If you’re considering sponsorship, it’s important to start the process as soon as possible and ensure you meet all the requirements.
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) regarding sponsorship to Canada
Family class sponsorship is a process through which Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their eligible family members to come and live with them in Canada. To be eligible, the sponsor must be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada, and able to demonstrate that they can financially support their sponsored family members for a certain period. The sponsored family member must also meet certain eligibility criteria, such as passing medical and criminal checks, and demonstrating that they are not inadmissible to Canada. Once the sponsorship application is approved, the sponsored family member can come to Canada as a permanent resident and has the right to work and study in Canada. Family class sponsorship is an important component of Canada’s immigration policy, as it helps to reunite families and strengthen social ties within Canadian communities.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are at least 18 years old and living in Canada can sponsor eligible family members. They must be able and willing to provide for the basic financial needs of the person they are sponsoring.
- Spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, dependent children, parents, and grandparents can be sponsored for immigration to Canada.
- Also in some specific circumstances, Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents may be qualified to sponsor the immigration to Canada of their orphaned sibling, niece, nephew, or grandchild. They must be unmarried, under 18, and your relative by blood or adoption to sponsor them.
- Rarely, Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents may be permitted to sponsor one distant relative’s immigration to Canada. Sponsors must be categorized as “Lonely Canadian” to sponsor a relative who does not fit the present criteria of the “Family Class” in Canada. The sponsor is thus not a spouse, common-law partner, parent, grandparent, kid, or child of another person. The Lonely Canadian rule is that the Canadian who is sponsoring does not have and relative in the “Family class” such as a spouse, parents, or child that he can sponsor thus making him a ‘Lonely Canadian’.
- They are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
- They are under the age of 18;
- They do not live in Canada;
- They have not fulfilled a previous sponsorship agreement;
- They are in default of a court order for child support or alimony;
- They are in default on a debt owed to the Canadian government;
- They have been convicted of certain criminal offenses or immigration-related offenses;
- They have declared bankruptcy and have not been released from it;
- They have been sponsored by someone else in the past and have not met their obligations.
Sponsors must demonstrate that they meet certain income requirements and can financially support their sponsored family members for a certain period. They must also not be in default of any previous sponsorship undertakings or have certain criminal convictions.
Sponsors must meet the minimum necessary income requirements, which vary depending on the number of people in the household and their location in Canada.
Sponsored family members must pass medical and criminal checks and demonstrate that they meet certain eligibility criteria.
The sponsorship process involves two applications: the sponsor’s application and the sponsored person’s application. The sponsor must first apply to become a sponsor, and once approved, the sponsored person can apply for permanent residence in Canada. The process can take several months to complete.
The processing time varies depending on the type of sponsorship and the country of origin of the sponsored person. It can take several months to a few years.
Yes, under certain circumstances. For example, spouses or common-law partners who are already in Canada may be eligible for inland sponsorship, which allows them to stay in Canada while their application is being processed.
Yes, sponsored family members can bring their dependents, such as their own children, to Canada as part of their application.
If the application is approved, the sponsored person will receive a confirmation of permanent residence and can then travel to Canada to become a permanent resident. They will be eligible for healthcare, education, and other benefits available to permanent residents.
It depends on the nature and severity of the offense. In some cases, individuals with criminal records may be deemed inadmissible to Canada and unable to be sponsored.
Yes, a sponsor can withdraw their sponsorship at any time before the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident. However, this can have significant consequences for the sponsored person and should not be done without careful consideration.
Providing the minimum required income (MNI) standards are reached for the total number of people involved, when relevant, a sponsor may submit more than one application for sponsorship at once for various family class members.
Yes, sponsored family members can lose their status if they fail to meet certain requirements, such as failing to meet residency obligations or committing certain criminal offenses.