Family Sponsorship Immigration

shimjoongs
Sep 29
2 min read

Canada places great importance on family values, which is why it offers the Family Sponsorship Program. This program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouse, children, parents, or other close relatives to come to Canada and live together.

It is one of Canada’s core humanitarian immigration categories, designed to reunite families and help them build a new life together in Canada.

📌 Who Can Be a Sponsor?

To sponsor a family member, the applicant must:

Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (PR)
Be at least 18 years old
Reside in Canada (citizens temporarily abroad may still sponsor if they plan to return with the family)
Commit to providing financial support for the sponsored person so they will not rely on social assistance

📌 Who Can Be Sponsored?

Common categories include:

Spouse / Common-law Partner / Conjugal Partner

Must be legally married or have lived together for at least 1 year

Must prove the relationship is genuine and not solely for immigration purposes

Children
Biological or adopted children
Must be under 22 years old and unmarried

Parents and Grandparents
Must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirement
Applications are subject to annual quotas and lottery invitations (Interest to Sponsor)

Other Relatives (less common)
If the sponsor has no immediate family members in Canada, they may sponsor one close relative (e.g., sibling, niece/nephew, orphaned relative)

📃 Application Process

Step 1: Submit sponsorship application with required documents (relationship proof, IDs, etc.)
Step 2: IRCC reviews sponsor eligibility (e.g., debts, past sponsorship compliance)
Step 3: IRCC reviews the applicant’s admissibility (health, criminal record, background)
Step 4: If approved, the applicant receives COPR (Confirmation of Permanent Residence)

💰 Processing Time & Fees

Spousal sponsorship: about 12 months
Parents/grandparents sponsorship: 20–30+ months depending on quota and policy
Government fee: approx. CAD $1,080 (spousal), higher for parents

💡Common Questions (Q&A)

Q: Can spousal sponsorship be applied from inside or outside Canada?

A: Both are possible. Inland applicants may apply for an open work permit, but outland applicants cannot work in Canada during processing.

Q: I just got PR, can I sponsor family right away?

A: Yes, but you must prove that you currently reside in Canada and meet eligibility requirements.

Q: Can my spouse’s children be included?

A: Yes, dependent children of the spouse can be included in the application.

📌 Reminders

Submit genuine relationship proof (photos, chat records, joint accounts, household registrations, etc.)
Applications suspected of “marriage of convenience” or “fake adoption” may be refused
Policies may change yearly based on government immigration targets, so check IRCC updates regularly