The Canadian immigration service offers the Family class sponsorship program to reunite families and to enable them to live, work, and study in Canada as permanent residents. 

Family sponsorship programs are among the most popular Canadian immigration programs and have the shortest processing times. 

However, you must meet certain eligibility criteria to qualify for family sponsorship. Follow us closely as we would be exploring all there is to know about family sponsorship. 

Who Is Eligible To Be Sponsored Under The Family Sponsorship Program

As a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, the person you want to sponsor must fall into any of the following groups;

• Spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner
• Dependent child
• Parent
• Grandparent
• Sibling, nephew, niece, or grandchild under 18 years who is unmarried and whose parents are deceased

Note: The person you are sponsoring must reside outside of Canada unless they are a temporary resident in Canada with a work or study permit. 

Spouse, Common-law, or Conjugal Partner

The family class sponsorship program allows you (citizen or permanent resident) to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for Canadian permanent residence whether they are living in Canada or abroad. 

If the person you are sponsoring resides in Canada, they may also qualify for an open work permit that allows them to work in Canada while their application is being processed and help them reduce financial burdens. 

Common-law partnerships are also recognized by the Canadian government and you and your partner may be able to apply for spousal sponsorship. 

Parent or Grandparent Sponsorship

Canada also offers a special sponsorship program for parents and grandparents who wish to immigrate to Canada. 

To apply for the parent and grandparent sponsorship program, you will be required to prove that you are abler and willing to provide for their basic financial needs by meeting the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the size of your family unit.

If you are unable to provide financial support to your parent and grandparent, you may qualify for the Super Visa which is a long-term, multiple-entry visa for parents and grandparents of permanent residents and Canadian citizens. 

Child or Other Dependant Sponsorship

You can also include your children as your accompanying dependents on your permanent residence application. 

But if you decide not to include them in your application you can sponsor them later through Canada’s child sponsorship program that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to support their children( both biological and adopted) under the age of 22 for permanent residence. 

Your children, however, must be unmarried and have no children of their own for them to be sponsored.

You can sponsor your child that is over the age of 22 if he/she suffers from a physical or mental condition that prevents him/her from being able to provide support for him or herself.

Orphaned Brother, Sister, Nephew, Niece, Or Grandchild

As a Canadian citizen or permanent Resident, you may be eligible to sponsor an orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild to come to Canada. 

The condition for sponsoring an orphaned relative is that they must be unmarried, below 18 years, and related to you by blood or adoption. 

Other relatives (under exceptional circumstances as a “Lonely Canadian”)

In some exceptional cases, you may be eligible to sponsor one extended relative to come to Canada.  If you want to sponsor a relative that falls outside of Canada’s current Family Class definition, you would be considered a “Lonely Canadian” which means you have no spouse, common-law partner, child, parent, or grandparent.

Read More:

• Parent And Grandparent Sponsorship
• How To Apply For Permanent Residence In Canada

How Can I Be Eligible To Sponsor A Family Member?

Before you can sponsor a family member, you must meet the following criteria;

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Must be able and willing to meet the basic financial needs of your family for three years
• Must live in Canada or plan to return to Canada when your spouse or partner becomes a permanent resident

Who Isn’t Eligible To Sponsor A Family Member?

Even though you are a Canadian or permanent resident, there may be cases where you would not be allowed to sponsor relatives. If you fall under any of the situations listed below, you may be ineligible to sponsor. 

• If you are currently in prison
• If you have declared bankruptcy
• If you have not paid alimony or child sup[port
• If you have received social assistance for reasons other than a disability
• If you have been convicted of a violent crime, an offense against a relative, or any sexual crime
• If you failed to pay back an immigration loan, missed payments, or made late payments
• If you have previously sponsored a relative and failed to meet the terms of the agreement

How Much Does It Cost To Sponsor A Family Member In Canada? 

Below are the government processing fees to sponsor a relative in Canada. 

• Sponsorship fee – $75
•  Principal applicant processing fee – $475
• Right of permanent residence fee – $500
• Biometrics – $85

Total: $1135

If you would be sponsoring your adopted child or your dependent children in your application, a $150 payment will be charged for each child, and if you are including the spouse or partner of your relative an extra $1050 would be required.  

What Is The Income Requirement For Canadian Family Sponsorship?

Not all sponsorship programs have a minimum income requirement. If you wish to sponsor your parent, grandparent, or orphaned relatives or if you are eligible under the lonely Canadian policy, you will have to meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI). 

You must also provide Canada Revenue Agency-issued Notices of Assessment (NOA) as evidence that you have met the required MNI for at least 3 years. 

Spousal sponsorship, unlike other sponsorship programs, does not need you to meet any specific minimum requirement. But, in the application process, you would be required to sign an undertaking promising to support your spouse’s basic financial needs.  You will also sign a supplementary undertaking if you live in Quebec.

Do I Need A Job To Sponsor A Family Member?

A job is not necessarily required to sponsor a family member but as a sponsor, you must provide proof of sufficient income to sponsor their family members.

How Long Does Sponsorship Take?

Compared to other immigration programs, sponsorship0 programs take a relatively short time. A family sponsorship application takes approximately 12 months to process from start to finish. Your application may take a shorter or longer period depending on the complexity of your case. 

What Other Options Do I Have To Bring My Family Member To Canada?

If you are not eligible for any of the sponsorship programs, you can check to see if you are eligible for another immigration program.

How Many Relatives Can I Sponsor To Canada?

Family sponsorship programs do not limit the number of family members you include in your application. All you have to do is provide proof that you can support them financially for the period you would be responsible for them. 

Sponsoring A Family Member In Quebec

Permanent residents or Canadian citizens that live in Quebec must first apply to the Quebec Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) for approval to sponsor their eligible family member. 

Canadian Sponsorship Background Check

Persons applying for Canadian permanent residence are required to provide a police clearance certificate to prove that they are not criminally inadmissible. 

Applicants must obtain police certificates from the countries they lived in for 6 months or longer since they turned 18. 

Canadian Sponsorship Biometrics

Immigration applicants are required to provide biometrics. Once you’ve paid your biometric fee, you will receive a letter from IRCC with instructions on how to provide your biometrics.

Canadian Sponsorship Medical Exam

A medical examination is a process all applicants must undergo when applying for permanent residence to attest that they are not medically inadmissible.

Upon submission of your sponsorship application, IRCC will provide instructions on how to complete your medical exam which must be done with a doctor on IRCC’s list of panel physicians. 

How Do I Check The Status Of My Sponsorship Application?

To check the status of your sponsorship application, visit Canada’s Permanent Residence Application Tracker Portal. 

Is There A Deadline For Canadian Sponsorship Applications?

You can apply for any family sponsorship program at any time but if you are applying for a parent or grandp[arent sponsorship, you must apply within the deadline provided.

Can I sponsor my brother or sister to come to Canada?

Sp[onsoring your sibling to come to Canada as a permanent resident is always difficult. You may succeed if you meet the criteria for a ‘Lonely Canadian’ or if you include them as d3ependents on your parental sponsorship application. 

Can I Sponsor My Fiancé To Come To Canada?

There is no sponsorship program for fiances and fiancees. To be sponsored, Canadian citizens must be married and apply under the spousal sponsorship category. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Family sponsorship programs are provided by the Canadian immigration service to help the families of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who wish to immigrate to Canada as permanent citizens. 

These sponsorship programs also have short periods of processing so you do not have to bother about your application lingering for too long. 

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