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Family Class Sponsorship

Canada’s Family Class Sponsorship program is designed to reunite Canadian citizens and permanent residents with their loved ones by enabling them to sponsor eligible family members for permanent residency. This program covers a range of sponsorship categories:

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner to become a permanent resident. This category allows for both inland and overseas processing:

  • Inland Sponsorship: Ideal for couples already living together in Canada, where the sponsored person may apply for an open work permit while their application is being processed. Inland applications can provide the advantage of staying in Canada while waiting for the sponsorship decision, but they require the sponsored person to maintain legal status in Canada.

  • Overseas Sponsorship: Suitable for couples who are not currently living together in Canada. This option allows the sponsored person to remain in their home country during the application process. Overseas applications may be faster in some cases, and the sponsored person can travel to Canada as a visitor during the process, although they must return to their country of residence if an interview or further processing is required.

This category allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency. This process involves:

  • Eligibility and Financial Requirements: Sponsors must demonstrate that they can financially support the sponsored relatives and meet the minimum necessary income (MNI) for the past three years. The sponsor must commit to providing financial support for the sponsored family member for 20 years and ensure that the sponsored individuals will not require social assistance from the government.

  • Lottery System: Due to high demand, the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship program operates on a lottery system. Potential sponsors must submit an Interest to Sponsor form when the program opens, and those selected will receive an invitation to apply.

This category allows sponsors to bring dependent children, orphaned siblings, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren under the age of 18 to Canada. The process includes:

  • Dependent Children: Biological or adopted children under 22 years of age who are not married or in a common-law relationship can be sponsored. If the child is over 22 but has depended on their parents financially due to a physical or mental condition, they may still qualify as a dependent.

  • Orphaned Relatives: Canadian citizens and permanent residents may also sponsor an orphaned brother, sister, niece, nephew, or grandchild under the age of 18 who is unmarried and without parents.

  • Lonely Canadian Sponsorship: In some rare cases, Canadian citizens or permanent residents who do not have a spouse, common-law partner, child, parent, or grandparent who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident may be able to sponsor one relative of any age or relationship.

General Sponsorship Requirements

To sponsor a family member, the sponsor must:

  • Be at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
  • Sign an agreement with the sponsored person that outlines the sponsor’s commitment to providing financial support.
  • Demonstrate the ability to meet basic needs, including food, shelter, and clothing, for themselves and the sponsored family member.
  • Prove that they have not received social assistance (other than disability support) for the past three years.

Sponsorship provides a pathway for families to be together in Canada, with the assurance of support and care from their Canadian relatives. The process can be complex, so it is advisable to seek professional assistance to navigate the requirements and ensure a successful application.