IMMIGRATION TO CANADA THROUGH
Family Sponsorship
Relatives of people with Canadian citizenship or permanent residence can live, study and work in Canada if they receive permanent residence in Canada. If people are citizens or permanent residents of Canada and are at least 18 years old, they can sponsor their family members to come to Canada:
Sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or child
Sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child is a way for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to reunite with their family members in Canada. The sponsorship program is an important component of Canada's immigration system and is managed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
To be eligible to sponsor a family member, the sponsor must:
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
• Be able to prove that they can support the sponsored family member financially
• Not be receiving social assistance unless it is due to disability
• Not be in jail, in prison, or on parole
• Not have been convicted of a violent or sexual crime, or an offense against a family member
The sponsored family member must also meet certain eligibility requirements, such as passing medical and security checks, and not having a criminal record.
The processing time for sponsorship applications varies depending on the type of sponsorship and the location of the sponsored family member. The IRCC aims to process spousal sponsorship applications within 12 months, while processing times for child sponsorship can be shorter.
Sponsoring a family member is a significant commitment, both financially and emotionally. It is important to carefully consider the responsibilities and requirements of sponsorship before applying.
Spouse
Spouse refers to a legally married partner in a recognized marriage. In the context of Canadian immigration, sponsoring a spouse involves a Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsoring their foreign spouse to come and live with them in Canada.
Common-law partner
A common-law partner is someone who has lived with their partner in a conjugal relationship for at least one year continuously. The relationship must be ongoing and not sporadic. The couple must have combined their affairs and established a household together. They must also be able to provide evidence to show that they have been in a genuine and committed relationship for at least one year.
To sponsor a common-law partner, the sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and must be able to prove that they are in a genuine relationship with their partner. The sponsor must also demonstrate that they have the financial means to support their partner and any dependents. The sponsor will be required to provide various documents and information to support their application.
The common-law partner being sponsored must also meet certain requirements, such as passing medical and criminal checks, and providing evidence of their relationship with the sponsor. If the application is successful, the common-law partner will be granted permanent residence in Canada.
Conjugal partner
A conjugal partner is a person who is in a relationship with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, but is not able to live with them in their home country or marry them due to significant legal or immigration barriers. This could be due to issues such as sexual orientation, religious laws, or immigration restrictions in the partner's home country.
To sponsor a conjugal partner for Canadian immigration, the sponsor and the partner must prove that they have been in a committed and exclusive relationship for at least one year, have had significant interdependence, and have been unable to live together or marry due to the aforementioned legal or immigration barriers. The sponsor must also meet the other general requirements for sponsorship, such as being a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and meeting certain financial and other eligibility criteria.
Dependent children
Dependent children are individuals who are under the age of 22 and are not married or in a common-law relationship. Children who are over the age of 22 may still be considered dependent if they have depended on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22 due to a physical or mental condition.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are at least 18 years old and meet the financial requirements can sponsor their dependent children to become permanent residents of Canada. The sponsor must sign an undertaking to provide financial support to the dependent child for a period of three to ten years, depending on the age of the child and their relationship to the sponsor.
Dependent children can also be included in their parent's application for permanent residency if the parent is applying through a family sponsorship program or a skilled worker program. The dependent child must meet the eligibility requirements for the specific program.
In some cases, dependent children may be eligible to apply for permanent residency on their own if they have a work permit or are studying in Canada.
Sponsorship Parents and Grandparents
The Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents to come and live in Canada as permanent residents.
To be eligible to sponsor your parents and grandparents, you must meet the following requirements:
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Meet the income requirements to demonstrate that you can financially support the sponsored family members
• Agree to provide financial support for the sponsored family members for a period of time
• Agree to repay any provincial social assistance paid to the sponsored family members during the sponsorship period
• Provide a written commitment to support the sponsored family members and ensure they don't need to seek social assistance
The sponsorship process typically involves two stages: the sponsor's application and the sponsored person's application for permanent residence. The sponsor must submit a sponsorship application, while the sponsored person must submit an application for permanent residence.
The Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship program has a limited intake each year, and the number of applications accepted is subject to a cap. The application process typically opens in January and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. The application process for the program is highly competitive, and the demand for the program often exceeds the number of available spots.
Application Fees
| # | Application Type | Fee ( Canadian Dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Main Applicant Processing fee ($550) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) |
1050 |
| 2 | Spouse or partner Processing fee ($550) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) |
1050 |
| 3 | Dependent child | 150 |
| 4 | Biometrics – per person | 85 |
| 5 | Biometrics – per group (2 or more) | 170 |
Brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandson who are orphan
The applicant can only become a sponsor of an orphan brother, sister, nephew, niece or granddaughter who meets all of the following conditions:
• They are related by blood or adoption to the applicant
• Both their mother and father have died
• They are under 18 years old
• They are single (not married or in a marital relationship)
• The applicant cannot sponsor his or her brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandson if:
• One of their parents is still alive
• No one knows where their parents are
• Their parents left them
• As long as one or both of their parents are alive, someone other than their parents will take care of them
• Their parents are in prison or otherwise, detained
| # | Application Type | Fee ( Canadian Dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orphaned relative | 150 |
| 2 | Biometrics – per person | 85 |
Other Relatives sponsorship
If the applicant meets all of these conditions, he or she can sponsor a relative who has a blood relationship or adoption at any age:
• The applicant does not have a relative who can be sponsored at the moment, such as:
Spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, child, parents, grandparents, orphan brother or sister, orphan niece or nephew or grandchild
• The applicant (potential sponsor) has no family (aunt or uncle or any of the relatives mentioned above), who meets one of the following conditions:
• Is a Canadian citizen
• Permanently resides in Canada
• Registered as early residents in Canada
If a relative who wants to sponsor has a spouse, partner or dependent children with whom they come to Canada, they must include them in the same application.
| # | Application Type |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sponsor your relative (22 years or older) Sponsorship fee ($75), principal applicant processing fee ($475) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) |
| 2 | Sponsor your relative (under 22 years old and not your dependent child) Sponsorship fee ($75), principal applicant processing fee ($75) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) |
| 2 | Include the spouse or partner of your relative Processing fee ($550) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) |
| 2 | Biometrics – per person |
Other Relatives sponsorship
Who is not eligible to sponsor a family member?
The applicant may not be able to sponsor a relative if:
• He/she is in prison.
• He/she has not paid the family support expenses
• He/she has declared bankruptcy and has not been yet discharged.
• Receives social assistance for reasons other than a disability
• Has not repaid the immigration loan or has made late payments
• In the past, the sponsor has sponsored another relative and has not complied with the terms of the sponsorship
• Depending on the details of the case, he has been convicted of a violent crime or any crime against a relative or sexual offence.
• Depending on the type of offence, and the time it was committed, and whether a record suspension was issued (formerly called “forgiveness” in Canada) and other factors that are not on the list, the applicant may be barred from sponsoring a relative.
If you would like to know more, answer a few simple questions Free Canada Immigration Eligibility Assessment and we will tell you if you qualify for Immigration to Canada. You may Call / WhatsApp +1 (416) 834-6031 or email info@qaimmigration.com or message us using the Contact form.