Canada’s immigration system places family reunification at its heart, recognizing that strong family connections help newcomers build successful lives here. Canadian citizens and permanent residents can bring spouses, children, parents, and other relatives to Canada through family class sponsorship programs.
The application process involves strict eligibility requirements, extensive documentation, and complex legal procedures. Understanding these requirements and preparing your application correctly can mean the difference between approval and refusal.
Our immigration lawyers guide you through each step of bringing your loved one to Canada. Contact us today.
What Is Family Sponsorship in Canada?
Family sponsorship allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to help eligible family members obtain permanent residence. Sponsors commit to supporting their relatives financially and ensuring they don’t need social assistance.
The Government of Canada determines sponsor qualifications based on age, residency status, and financial capacity. Sponsors must demonstrate they can meet the basic needs of the person they’re sponsoring for a specified period, which varies by relationship.
Family members who can be sponsored include:
- Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner: Your legally married spouse, a partner you’ve lived with for at least 12 consecutive months, or a partner with whom you’ve maintained a committed relationship but cannot live together due to circumstances beyond your control
- Dependent children: Biological or adopted children under 22 years old who don’t have a spouse or common-law partner, or children over 22 who have depended on their parents’ financial support since before age 22 due to a physical or mental condition
- Parents and grandparents: Your biological or adoptive parents and grandparents, subject to annual intake limits and a lottery system
- Other relatives: In specific circumstances, you may sponsor one relative of any age if you have no other family members you could sponsor and no family in Canada
Unsure if your relative qualifies? Contact a sponsorship lawyer to discuss your specific situation.
Eligibility Requirements for Sponsors and Applicants
Who Can Sponsor a Family Member?
To sponsor a family member to Canada, you must meet requirements that demonstrate your ability to support your relative upon arrival. IRCC evaluates sponsors carefully to ensure sponsored individuals won’t require government assistance.
You can act as a sponsor if you:
- Are at least 18 years old
- Hold Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status (if you’re a permanent resident, you must be living in Canada)
- Can prove you’re not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability
- Can demonstrate you can provide for the basic needs of any person you sponsor
- Have no outstanding immigration loans or unpaid court-ordered support payments
- Are not in prison, charged with a serious criminal offence, or convicted of certain offences
- Are not subject to a removal order
- Did not sponsor a previous spouse or partner who then became a permanent resident less than five years ago
- Have not been sponsored yourself as a spouse or partner less than five years ago
For parent and grandparent sponsorships, you must meet minimum necessary income requirements for three consecutive taxation years before your application. These income thresholds, updated annually, increase based on the number of people you’re supporting.
Who Can Be Sponsored?
The person you’re sponsoring must fall into an eligible family relationship category recognized by IRCC. They must also pass medical examinations, security screenings, and criminal background checks. If your relative has a criminal record or medical condition, additional documentation or legal arguments may be necessary.
Each relationship category has distinct requirements. Spouses must prove their marriage is genuine and not entered into primarily for immigration purposes. Dependent children must meet age and dependency criteria. Parents and grandparents must wait for invitation through the annual intake process.
Types of Family Sponsorship Programs
Spousal Sponsorship in Canada
Spousal sponsorship allows you to bring your married spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner to Canada. You can apply through inland sponsorship (if your spouse is in Canada) or outland sponsorship (if your spouse is outside Canada).
Inland sponsorship allows couples to stay together in Canada during processing. Your spouse may apply for an open work permit after IRCC approves you as a sponsor, typically within several months. However, inland applicants cannot appeal if refused and should not leave Canada during processing.
Outland sponsorship typically processes faster and allows appeals to the Immigration Appeal Division if refused. Your spouse can continue working or studying abroad during processing and may visit Canada, though visitor visa rules still apply.
Common requirements for spousal sponsorship include proof of your relationship’s genuineness through photographs, correspondence, joint financial documents, and sworn statements from people who know you as a couple.
IRCC scrutinizes applications carefully, particularly for relationships that developed quickly, involve significant age differences, or where previous sponsorship attempts occurred.
For detailed guidance on spousal sponsorship applications, processing times, and documentation requirements, contact our team for a consultation.
Sponsorship of Dependent Children
Parents can sponsor their biological or adopted children to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents. To qualify as a dependent child, your son or daughter must be under 22 years old without a spouse or common-law partner, or be 22 years or older but have depended substantially on parental financial support since before turning 22 due to a mental or physical condition.
Adopted children can be sponsored if the adoption meets specific requirements. The adoption must have been completed in accordance with the laws of the country where it occurred and must have created a genuine parent-child relationship. You cannot sponsor a child if the adoption’s purpose was primarily to help the child immigrate to Canada.
If you’re sponsoring a child over 22 who remains dependent due to a medical condition, you’ll need comprehensive medical documentation demonstrating their ongoing dependency and inability to provide for themselves.
Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship
The Parent and Grandparent Program operates through an invitation system with annual intake limits. IRCC announces when they’ll accept interest to sponsor forms, and invitations to apply are issued randomly from the submitted pool.
This sponsorship category requires sponsors to meet minimum necessary income thresholds for three consecutive taxation years before the application date. The income requirement is 30% higher than other sponsorship categories, reflecting the longer undertaking period (20 years for parents and grandparents, or 10 years in Quebec).
As an alternative to permanent residence sponsorship, the Super Visa allows parents and grandparents to visit Canada for up to five years at a time without renewing their status. This option is faster and doesn’t require meeting the higher income threshold, though it doesn’t provide permanent status or work authorization. The visa itself is valid for up to 10 years with multiple entries.
Other Relatives
In limited circumstances, you may sponsor other relatives who don’t fall into standard categories. You can sponsor one relative of any age or relationship if you have no living spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, child, parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, registered Indian under the Indian Act, or whom you could sponsor.
You may also sponsor orphaned relatives under 18 years old who are your sibling, niece, nephew, or grandchild if both their parents are deceased.
These provisions prevent Canadian citizens and permanent residents from being completely separated from family support, but apply only in specific situations.
Step-by-Step: How to Sponsor a Family Member to Canada
Preparing a family sponsorship application requires careful attention to documentation and procedure. Follow these steps to submit a complete application:
1. Confirm eligibility: Verify that both you and your family member meet all eligibility requirements for your relationship category. Review income requirements if applicable, and identify any potential inadmissibility concerns that may require additional documentation.
2. Collect required documents: Gather all necessary forms, supporting documents, and evidence. Requirements vary by relationship category but typically include identity documents, proof of relationship, police certificates, medical examination results, photographs, and financial documentation.
3. Submit application package: Complete all forms accurately and submit your application online or by mail depending on your category. Include all required documents, correct fees, and supporting evidence.
4. Biometrics and medical exams: Your family member will receive instructions to provide biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) and undergo medical examinations by IRCC-approved panel physicians.
5. Application assessment by IRCC: Officers review your application to ensure you meet sponsorship requirements and your family member meets admissibility requirements. IRCC may request additional information during this stage. Respond promptly to any requests.
6. Decision and next steps: If approved, your family member receives confirmation of permanent residence and instructions for completing their immigration. If refused, you may have appeal rights depending on your application type and refusal reasons.
Our immigration lawyers can help ensure your application is complete and accurate. Contact us today for assistance with your family sponsorship case.
How Long Does Family Sponsorship Take in Canada?
Processing times for family sponsorship applications vary significantly depending on the relationship category, where your family member applies from, and case complexity. Current processing times as of 2024-2025 include:
- Spousal sponsorship (inland): Approximately 12 months
- Spousal sponsorship (outland): Approximately 10-12 months, though some visa offices process applications faster or slower
- Dependent child sponsorship: Approximately 12 months
- Parent and grandparent sponsorship: Approximately 24 months outside Quebec, approximately 48 months for Quebec applicants
Several factors affect processing speed. Incomplete applications, missing documents, or unclear relationship evidence can result in delays. Applications involving inadmissibility concerns (criminal records, medical conditions, previous immigration violations) require more extensive review and may take significantly longer.
Responding promptly to IRCC requests helps prevent unnecessary delays. Ensuring your application is complete, accurate, and well-organized from the start gives you the best chance of straightforward processing.
Delays can be avoided with professional legal help. Reach out to our team today for assistance preparing your family sponsorship application.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Sponsoring a Family Member
Family sponsorship applications fail for preventable reasons more often than applicants realize. Understanding common pitfalls helps you avoid refusals and delays.
Missing documents or incorrect forms: Using outdated forms, failing to include required supporting documents, or submitting incomplete packages are the most common reasons IRCC returns applications. Always verify you’re using the most current version of each form from the IRCC website, and carefully review document checklists for your relationship category.
Insufficient proof of relationship: This issue particularly affects spousal sponsorship applications. IRCC needs substantial evidence that your relationship is genuine. Providing only a few photographs and minimal correspondence raises questions. Include various evidence types spanning your relationship’s duration: photographs together at different times and places, correspondence (emails, messages, letters), evidence of cohabitation if applicable, and joint financial records.
Failing financial requirements or not submitting updated forms: For parent and grandparent sponsorships, failing to meet minimum income requirements for any of the three required taxation years will result in refusal. Verify your income meets thresholds before applying. If your personal situation changes during processing (address change, birth of a child, marriage), notify IRCC promptly.
Not disclosing medical issues or criminal records: Failing to disclose medical conditions, criminal history, or previous immigration refusals can lead to findings of misrepresentation, which carry serious consequences including five-year bans on reapplying. Full disclosure allows you to address issues proactively.
Why Work with an Immigration Lawyer?
Family sponsorship applications involve substantial documentation, strict requirements, and significant consequences if refused. Working with an immigration lawyer provides several advantages.
Our lawyers ensure your application complies with current IRCC requirements and policies, which change frequently. We help you gather appropriate supporting evidence, organize your application effectively, and present your case clearly to maximize approval chances.
If your application involves complications—previous refusals, inadmissibility concerns, complex relationship circumstances, or unclear eligibility—legal guidance becomes particularly valuable. We can prepare legal submissions addressing concerns, respond to procedural fairness letters, and represent you in appeals if necessary.
For cases involving potential inadmissibility due to criminal records, medical conditions, or misrepresentation concerns, having legal representation helps you navigate these issues with strategies tailored to your situation. Our Federal Court litigation experience provides an additional level of support if your case requires judicial review.
Get personalized guidance from a spousal sponsorship lawyer in Toronto. We’ll assess your eligibility, prepare your application, and advocate for your family’s reunification.
Contact a Canadian Family Sponsorship Lawyer Today
Family sponsorship applications represent significant opportunities to reunite with loved ones and build your lives together in Canada. However, the complexity of these applications, the extensive documentation required, and the serious consequences of errors make professional legal guidance valuable for most applicants.
Starting your sponsorship application with proper legal support helps ensure you submit complete, well-organized applications that demonstrate eligibility clearly and address any potential concerns proactively. Whether you’re sponsoring a spouse, child, parent, or other relative, early consultation allows us to assess your situation, identify the best approach, and guide you through each step.
Don’t navigate the Canadian immigration system alone. Contact our immigration law team today to discuss your family sponsorship goals.
FAQs About Family Sponsorship in Canada
Can I sponsor my brother or sister to Canada?
Generally, you cannot sponsor siblings unless they’re orphaned, under 18, and both parents are deceased. The only other circumstance is if you have no other living family members (spouse, children, parents, grandparents) who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or whom you could sponsor anywhere in the world.
How much income do I need to sponsor my parents?
Parent and grandparent sponsors must meet minimum income requirements that are 30% higher than the standard Low Income Cut-Off (LICO). The specific amount depends on the size of your family unit (including yourself, your dependents, and the relatives you’re sponsoring). You must have met this income threshold for three consecutive taxation years before your application date.
Do I need a job to sponsor my spouse?
Spousal sponsorship doesn’t require you to meet specific income thresholds unless you’re sponsoring a spouse who has dependent children who have dependent children of their own. However, you must not be receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability, and you must demonstrate you can provide for basic needs. If you’re unemployed but have savings or other means of support, you may still qualify.
How do I check my sponsorship application status?
You can check your application status online through your IRCC account if you applied electronically, or by linking your paper application to an online account. The online portal shows application progress, any requests for additional information, and decisions. Applications may show limited updates during assessment periods.
Can I sponsor my fiancé(e) to Canada?
Canada doesn’t have a specific fiancé visa category. If you and your fiancé haven’t yet married, you should either marry first and then apply for spousal sponsorship, or your fiancé can visit Canada temporarily, you can marry here, and then apply for inland spousal sponsorship. Alternatively, if you’ve been in a relationship for at least one year but cannot marry or live together due to circumstances beyond your control, you may qualify for conjugal partner sponsorship.