Family Sponsorship
Canada welcomes more than 100,000 immigrants through family sponsorship each year. This comprehensive Nihang Law page provides an overview on how to sponsor your family for immigration to Canada.
Family reunification is one of the pillars of Canada's immigration system. Canadian family sponsorship allows your family member to immigrate to Canada and get permanent residence (PR). It requires you, as an individual, to make a commitment to provide for basic needs and to support that person financially.
Canada is pursuing the highest levels of immigration in its history to support its post-COVID economic recovery. As such, Canada aims to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants per year, of which, over 100,000 immigrants per year fall under the family class.
Can I be a sponsor?
To sponsor a family member, you are required to meet several requirements such as being:
- A Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
- 18 years of age or older
- Able to support the sponsored person for several years
Who can I sponsor?
- Parents
- Spouses
Sponsorship Undertaking
You will be required to sign an "undertaking" making you legally responsible for the family member you are sponsoring. If that family member should need government social assistance, you will have to repay this money. The undertaking will stay in effect for a period based on the family member you are sponsoring and will not be cancelled even if circumstances change (i.e., if the person you are sponsoring becomes a Canadian citizen, if you divorce or separate, if you have financial problems). The length of the undertaking you will be required to sign will depend on the family member you are sponsoring and, in the case of children, their age:
| SPONSORED PERSON | LENGTH OF UNDERTAKING (Excluding Quebec) |
|---|---|
| Spouse | 3 Years |
| Dependent Child | 10 years, or until age 25, whichever comes first |
| Dependent Child 22 years of age or older | 3 Years |
| Parent | 20 Years |
Quebec
For Quebec residents, the length of the undertaking also depends on the family member you are sponsoring and, in the case of children, their age:
| SPONSORED PERSON | LENGTH OF UNDERTAKING (Excluding Quebec) |
|---|---|
| Spouse | 3 Years |
| Dependent child under 16 years of age | Minimum 10 years (or until age 18), whichever is longer |
| Dependent child 16 years of age and older | Minimum 3 years (or until age 25), whichever is longer |
Sponsoring Your Parents
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their parents to immigrate to Canada. Your parents can enjoy the full benefits of Canadian permanent residence including being able to work in Canada, obtain health care, get full protection under Canadian law and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and apply to become a Canadian citizen once they meet the eligibility criteria.
To be eligible to sponsor your parents you must:
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada,
- be at least 18 years of age,
- be the child person(s) you are sponsoring,
- meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) required for the size of their family unit and provide Canada Revenue Agency issued notices of assessment as proof.
- sign a sponsorship agreement that acknowledges your promise to provide for the basic needs of family member(s) for a period of 20 years,
- sign an additional agreement if you live in Quebec.