Family Sponsorship
Family Class Sponsorships
Canada’s Family Class Sponsorship program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their close family members to immigrate to Canada. This program aims to reunite families by granting sponsored individuals permanent residency, allowing them to live, work, and study in Canada. The process involves both the sponsor (the Canadian citizen or permanent resident) and the applicant (the family member being sponsored), and each party must meet specific eligibility requirements.
Who Can Be Sponsored Under Family Class?
Family members eligible for sponsorship under the Family Class include:
- Spouse, Common-Law Partner, or Conjugal Partner:
- A legally married spouse.
- A common-law partner who has lived with the sponsor for at least 12 consecutive months.
- A conjugal partner with whom the sponsor is in a committed relationship for at least 12 months but cannot live together due to legal or other barriers (e.g., immigration restrictions).
- Parents and Grandparents:
- Canadian citizens or permanent residents may sponsor their parents or grandparents through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
- Orphaned Relatives:
- Orphaned brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren under the age of 18, who are not married or in a common-law relationship.
- Other Relatives:
- In some cases, you can sponsor one relative of any age if you do not have any other eligible family members to sponsor in Canada or abroad.
To sponsor a family member under the Family Class, the sponsor must meet the following criteria:
Age:
- The sponsor must be at least 18 years old.
Status in Canada:
- The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Canadian citizens living abroad can sponsor a family member as long as they plan to live in Canada when the sponsored relative becomes a permanent resident.
- Permanent residents must be living in Canada at the time of submitting the sponsorship application.
Financial Requirements:
- The sponsor must demonstrate the ability to financially support the sponsored family member and ensure they do not require social assistance from the government.
- For parents and grandparents, sponsors must meet a Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) threshold for three consecutive years and sign an undertaking to provide financial support for 20 years.
Undertaking:
- The sponsor must agree to provide financial support for the sponsored family member for a set period, depending on their relationship:
- Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner: 3 years.
- Dependent children: 10 years or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first.
- Parents and grandparents: 20 years.
- Other relatives: 10 years.
Other Conditions:
- The sponsor must not be in default of a previous sponsorship agreement, alimony payments, or immigration loans.
- The sponsor cannot be an undischarged bankrupt or incarcerated.
- They must not have been convicted of violent or sexual offenses.
The person being sponsored must meet the following criteria:
Relationship Proof:
- The sponsor must be at least 18 years old.
Medical Examination:
- Sponsored family members must undergo a medical exam to ensure they do not pose a public health risk to Canadians.
Criminal Record Check:
- The sponsored individual must provide a police certificate from every country they have lived in for six months or more since the age of 18 to demonstrate they are not criminally inadmissible to Canada.
Admissibility:
- They must not be inadmissible to Canada for criminal, security, or medical reasons.
Application Process for Family Class Sponsorship
- Determine Eligibility:
- Ensure both the sponsor and the sponsored family member meet all the eligibility requirements.
- Submit Sponsorship and Permanent Residency Application:
- The application involves two parts:
- The sponsorship application: Submitted by the sponsor to confirm they are eligible to sponsor.
- The permanent residency application: Submitted by the person being sponsored.
- Application Review and Decision:
- The Canadian immigration authorities will review the application, conduct background and security checks, and assess the genuineness of the relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored person.
- Approval and Landing:
- If the sponsorship and permanent residency application is approved, the sponsored family member will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and must land in Canada within the specified time frame to officially become a permanent resident.
Canada’s Family Class Sponsorship program is a valuable pathway for reuniting families. Whether you’re sponsoring a spouse, child, or parent, understanding the eligibility criteria and requirements is key to a successful application. By meeting the financial, legal, and relationship requirements, you can help your loved ones join you in Canada and start their new life as permanent residents.
