What Is Family Class Sponsorship?
Family reunification is a priority and commitment of the Canadian government. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada pursues this commitment by Family Class Sponsorship program.
Permanent residents, Canadian citizens, or people registered under the Canadian Indian Act can sponsor their relatives and family members if eligible. Sponsors can bring their eligible family members to Canada as a permanent resident through this program.
As soon as the sponsored person’s application is approved, they gain the same rights of a Canadian permanent resident, such as access to healthcare and social services. Additionally, they are able to apply for Canadian citizenship.
The family sponsorship class ensures families are staying together and the sponsor is financially stable and capable of supporting the basic needs of the sponsored family member such as housing and food.
Through this, the Canadian government ensures that the newcomer (the sponsored person) would not pose an excessive burden on social services.
How to Get Family Sponsorship in Canada?
To sponsor a family member, you need to meet a few key requirements. You must be at least 18 years old and either a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered under the Canadian Indian Act. If you’re living outside Canada, you must prove that you’ll move back once your sponsored family members become permanent residents.
The sponsorship process involves two applications. First, you apply to sponsor your relative. For instance, if you’re considering Common-Law Sponsorship, you’ll need to meet specific eligibility criteria. At the same time, the family member you’re sponsoring applies for permanent residence. Both applications must be submitted online. Afterward, there are a few steps that involve submitting biometrics, medical exams, and police certificates, as required.
You’ll also need to sign an undertaking, committing to financially support your family member for a specific period—ranging from 3 to 20 years, depending on the relationship. Processing times may vary, so ensuring all forms and documents are accurate can speed up the process.
Sponsor your Wife, Husband, or Common-law Partner
If you are a permanent resident, Canadian citizen, or registered under the Canadian Indian Act, you can bring your wife, husband, common-law partner, or conjugal partner to Canada through the Family Class Sponsorship program. This program ensures that couples can reunite and build their life together in Canada.
You can sponsor your spouse or partner under the following circumstances:
- Your husband or wife if you are legally married
- Your common-law partner if you have lived together for at least 12 consecutive months in a marriage-like relationship.
- Your conjugal partner if you have been in a marriage-like relationship for at least one year, but unable to live together
Unlike other family members, there is no minimum income limit to sponsor your spouse or common-law partner. However, you need to prove that you can financially support your spouse without relying on social services assistance.
You must agree that you will financially support your spouse or partner for three years, no matter if your relationship changes.
If your spouse is outside Canada, your request will be processed by the visa office of Canada in your spouse’s residing country.
But if your spouse is already in Canada, they may be eligible for an open work permit while the request is being processed.
Sponsor your Dependent Children
As a permanent resident or Canadian citizen you can sponsor your dependent children and reunite with them by bringing them to Canada.
This program is a part of the Canadian government to support reunification of families and ensures that sponsor parents can financially support their children and provide them with housing, healthcare, education, etc.
Dependent children will become permanent residents of Canada and gain all the rights of permanent residents such as access to healthcare and social services. Also, they can apply for citizenship and become a Canadian.
Children under 21 years old who are not married or in a common-law relationship can be sponsored as dependent children. Also, you can sponsor your children if they are older than 21, but they are unable to support themselves financially due to mental or physical disability.
When sponsoring your dependent children, you should make a commitment that you will provide them with their basic needs such as housing, food, and education for 10 years or till they turn 22 (whichever comes first).
You must provide proof of parent-child relationship while applying for sponsorship. This includes documents such as birth certificates, ID cards, etc.
Also, adopted children are included in this program, so you can sponsor your adopted child. You need to take a few steps to ensure compliance to both Canadian immigration laws and international adoption regulations.
Sponsor your Parents or Grandparents
If you are planning to bring your parents or grandparents to Canada for the long term, you can apply through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
Your parents or grandparents will become a permanent resident and will gain all the rights of a permanent resident of Canada, such as access to healthcare and social services. Also, they will be able to request Canadian citizenship.
However, sponsoring parents or grandparents is slightly different from sponsoring your children or spouse.
You can sponsor your parents and grandparents if you meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the past three consecutive tax years. Also, you must agree that you will financially support your parents or grandparents for 20 years.
This means you are responsible for your parents basic needs such as housing, food, and healthcare during the period.
The Canadian government determines the Minimum Necessary Income and it depends on the size of your family unit.
For 2024 intake, if you have submitted your interest to sponsor in 2020, you should prove meeting income requirements for 2021, 2022, and 2023 according to the following table:
| Size of Family Unit | MNI 2023 | MNI 2022 | MNI 2021 |
| 2 persons | $44,530 | $43,082 | $32,898 |
| 3 persons | $54,743 | $52,965 | $40,444 |
| 4 persons | $66,466 | $64,306 | $49,106 |
| 5 persons | $75,384 | $72,935 | $55,694 |
| 6 persons | $85,020 | $82,259 | $62,814 |
| 7 persons | $94,658 | $91,582 | $69,934 |
| For each additional person If more than 7 | $9,636 | $9,324 | $7,120 |
Your family members include:
- Yourself
- Your spouse or common-law partner
- Your dependent children
- Number of family members you want to sponsor
After you submit your interest to be a sponsor, you must wait to receive an invitation. If you apply without having an invitation, your request will be rejected.
The Canadian government will invite people interested in PGP sponsorship randomly to submit their application. You may have to wait for a few years to receive an invitation. Your sponsored people can apply online as soon as you receive an invitation to apply.
According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the application process can take between 20 to 24 months.
If the Parents and Grandparents program is not applicable, you can consider a super visa. Super visa is a long-term, multiple-entry visa designed for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
This visa allows your parents or grandparents to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time, without the need to renew their status. You need to provide proof of financial support for your parents. Also, your parents are required to have valid medical insurance for at least one year.
Who can I sponsor to come to Canada?
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you can sponsor for your family and close relatives. Also, you sponsor some other individuals under certain circumstances. Here is the list of people you can sponsor:
Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner: You spouse or partner must be 18 years old or older. Also, your relationship must be genuine.
Dependent children: Your children must be under 22 years old and not married or in a common-law relationship. No minimum income is required, but you must agree to financially support your children for 10 years or until they turn 22.
Exception: You can sponsor your children above 22 years old only if they are financially dependent on you due to mental or physical disabilities.
Parents and grandparents: You can sponsor your parents or grandparents through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) if you meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) and agree to financially support your parents for 20 years.
Orphaned relatives: You can sponsor your orphaned brothers, sisters, nephew, nieces, or grandchildren if:
- They are under 18.
- Both their parents are deceased.
- They are not married or in a common-law relationship.
If one parent is still alive but has abandoned the child, the child does not qualify as an orphan.
You must agree to financially support the child for 10 years or until they turn 25.
How can I be eligible to sponsor a family member?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada sets the eligibility requirements for being a sponsor. Below, we will discuss the eligibility criteria for sponsorship. Note that the criteria may be slightly different depending on who you are sponsoring.
Age: You must be at least 18 years old or above to be a sponsor.
Status in Canada: You must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or a person registered under the Indian Act.
If you are a permanent resident, you must reside in Canada during the sponsorship process. If you are a citizen and are abroad, you must prove that you will move back to Canada with your sponsored family members once their application of permanent residency is approved.
Financial ability: You must prove that you are able to financially support your sponsored family members. The financial ability requirements depend on the type of sponsorship and the person you are interested in sponsoring.
You need to meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) set by the Canadian government for certain sponsorships such as sponsoring your parents or grandparents through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
Also, you must sign an undertaking agreement. By doing this, you agree to support the sponsored person for a certain period.
The duration depends on the type of sponsorship, for example, it is 20 years for your parents or grandparents and 10 years for your dependent children.
No social assistance: You can not sponsor someone if you are receiving social assistance for a reason other than disability.
This means you can not sponsor someone if you are unemployed or having financial hardship that makes you dependent on the social assistance provided by the government including financial or other support such as income support, housing assistance, etc.
Legal status or Conduct: You must meet certain criteria financially and legally to be able to sponsor your family members or eligible relatives.
For instance, you can not sponsor if you have defaulted on your previous sponsorship, declared bankruptcy or convicted of specific crimes such as violent or sexual assault, or are in prison.
Note that if you live in Quebec, you must meet additional provincial requirements.
Who isn’t eligible to sponsor a relative?
You cannot sponsor your family members or relatives under certain circumstances including:
- If you are under 18 years old.
- If you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident or registered under the Indian Act.
- You are receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability.
- You have been convicted of serious crimes such as violent or sexual offenses.
- You have failed to financially support a previous sponsored person
- You are currently in prison or deported from Canada.
- You can not provide the required financial ability proofs.
Do I need a job to sponsor a family member
If you are sponsoring your spouse or dependent children, you do not need to meet the Minimum Necessary Income.
However, you must prove that you have financial stability and are able to support the sponsored person financially without relying on social assistance. This included providing them with the basic needs to live such as housing and food.
Nevertheless, you are required to prove that your income meets the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) if you are sponsoring your parents or grandparents through the Parents and Grandparents program.
Still you do not need to have a job since you can prove your income meets the MNI by showing your indirect incomes such as savings, investments, or even your spousal income if applicable.
How Long Does It Take to Sponsor a Family Member in Canada?
The time it takes to sponsor a family member depends on the type of relative and the complexity of the case. Generally, it can take anywhere between 12 to 24 months for a family sponsorship application to process.
Applications like Dependent Sponsorship might have different processing times. This time frame includes the time needed for the sponsored person to provide biometrics, undergo a medical exam, and submit police certificates.
If any additional documents are needed, this could delay the process. It’s important to keep up with the application and respond to any requests promptly.
What Are the Requirements for a Family Visa in Canada?
There are specific requirements for both the sponsor and the sponsored family member. As the sponsor, you must prove that you are financially capable of supporting the person you’re sponsoring.
However, for spouses, partners, and dependent children, there usually isn’t a strict income requirement unless they have dependents themselves. For instance, Parents Sponsorship has its own set of income requirements and documentation.
The sponsored person must submit various documents, including forms, biometrics, and medical exams, to prove they meet eligibility criteria. Additionally, they must not be inadmissible to Canada due to criminal records or other issues.
How Much Income Do You Need to Sponsor Your Family in Canada?
Income requirements vary depending on the number of people you’re sponsoring and your family size. For 2023, the minimum income for sponsoring two people is $44,530. This amount increases with each additional family member. For example, if you’re sponsoring five people, your minimum income must be at least $75,384. These income levels are adjusted yearly.
If you live in Quebec, different rules apply. The process might differ slightly if you’re considering Relative Sponsorship Canada, as provincial regulations can vary. The Quebec government assesses your financial capacity after the federal government approves your sponsorship. You must also submit three years’ worth of tax assessments to meet income requirements, unless special conditions (like COVID-19 benefits in 2021) apply.
Why wait any longer to reunite with your loved ones? At SEP Immigration, we’re here to help you through every step of the family sponsorship process. Let us guide you through the forms, requirements, and everything else you need to successfully bring your family to Canada. Reach out to us today and get started!
Faq
Can I Sponsor My Extended Family Such as Cousins or Friends?
Generally, you can not sponsor your extended relatives. Still you may be able to sponsor one relative, no matter of their age or relationship if you have no close family who is a permanent resident or citizen of Canada and you do not have one.
What Should I Do if My Financial Situation Changes During the Sponsorship Process?
Your financial situation may change while the sponsorship is in progress, for example, you may lose your job or there might be a change in your income. In this case, you must inform Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada immediately.
The government may decide to reevaluate your eligibility. You may still need to prove that you meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for some types of sponsorship (PGP for example).
You do not need to meet the MNI if you are sponsoring your spouse or dependent children. Nevertheless, you need to prove you can financially support their basic needs.
Can I Sponsor My Family Members if I Am Receiving Social Assistance?
You can only sponsor your family members if you are receiving social assistance due to mental or physical disability.
If you are receiving social assistance for any other reason than disability, for instance, because of unemployment or financial hardship, you are not eligible to sponsor another person.
What Should I Do if My Application is Denied?
If your case has been denied due to lack of enough documents, you can reapply with a stronger application. Ensure to provide all the necessary documents showing your eligibility and the genuineness of your relationship.
If you think your case is denied by mistake, you can submit an appeal; within 30 days of receiving the refusal letter.
The Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) will review your case and determine whether the decision should be overturned.
Do I Need to Meet the Minimum Necessary Income to Sponsor a Family Member?
It depends on the type of sponsorship and the relationship of the sponsored person. You need to meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) if you are sponsoring your parents or grandparents through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
However, meeting the MNI is not necessary if you are sponsoring your spouse or dependent children. Still you need to prove that you can financially support the sponsored person for their basic needs.
Who Is Eligible for Relative Sponsorship?
To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You can sponsor your spouse, partner, dependent children, and in some cases, other relatives like parents or grandparents.
Can a Friend Sponsor Me to Canada?
No, only certain family members such as a spouse, partner, or dependent child can be sponsored. Friends are not eligible to sponsor each other under Canada’s family sponsorship program.
How Much Is the Canadian Family Visa Fee?
The fees for sponsoring a spouse or partner start at $1,205. If you’re sponsoring a dependent child, the fee begins at $170. Additional costs may apply for biometrics, medical exams, and police certificates.
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