Eligibility
Who qualifies for Family Sponsorship?
- The sponsor must be at least 18, a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident living in Canada, or a person registered under the Indian Act. Citizens living abroad can sponsor a spouse or child only if they will live in Canada when the person becomes a permanent resident.
- The sponsor must not be receiving social assistance (other than for disability), must not be in default of a previous undertaking or immigration loan, and must not be bankrupt, in prison, or convicted of certain offences.
- Spouse, partner and dependent child sponsorships have no minimum income requirement unless the child has children of their own. Parent and grandparent sponsorships require the sponsor to have met the Minimum Necessary Income for each of the three tax years before applying.
- The relationship must be genuine. For spouses and partners, IRCC looks for a relationship that was not entered into primarily to gain status; for common-law partners, twelve continuous months of cohabitation.
- A dependent child must be under 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship, or older but dependent because of a physical or mental condition.
Documents
What you need to submit for Family Sponsorship
The core file. Visa offices may ask for country-specific extras; see the country guides below.
- Proof of relationship
- Marriage certificate or proof of common-law
- Birth certificates
- Sponsor financial documents
- Police certificates
- Medical examinations
- Photos together
- Communication history
Process
How Family Sponsorship works, step by step
- Confirm the sponsor's eligibility, including income for parent and grandparent cases and any previous undertakings.
- Choose the route. Spouses already in Canada with status can apply inland and may qualify for an open work permit while they wait; spouses abroad apply through the outland (family class) process.
- Gather relationship evidence: marriage or cohabitation documents, joint finances and leases, photographs across time, communication records, and statements from people who know you as a couple.
- Submit the sponsorship application and the permanent residence application together, with fees, biometrics and the sponsor's undertaking.
- Complete the medical exam and police certificates when IRCC requests them, and respond to any request for an interview.
- Receive the decision. Approved applicants abroad receive a visa to land; approved inland applicants complete landing in Canada.
Before you file
Common mistakes and what works
- Thin relationship evidence, especially for couples who married quickly or have lived apart for long periods.
- For parents and grandparents, relying on the wrong income figure: IRCC uses line 15000 of the Notice of Assessment plus a buffer, for three consecutive years.
- Not declaring a family member on an earlier application. An undeclared spouse or child usually cannot be sponsored later.
- Assuming the inland route is always better. Inland applicants who leave Canada during processing can lose the application if they are not allowed back in.
Refusal risks we see most
- Insufficient proof of relationship
- Missing sponsor income requirements
- Incomplete relationship timeline
- Poor quality or insufficient photos
- Missing required family member documents
What strengthens a file
- Demonstrate genuine relationship with substantial evidence
- Meet minimum income requirements consistently
- Provide detailed relationship history
- Include photos spanning the relationship
- Show ongoing communication if living apart
FAQ
Family Sponsorship questions we are asked most
- How long does spousal sponsorship take?
- IRCC publishes a processing standard that changes over time; the country pages on this site show the current figures for applicants from each country. Complete, well-documented applications avoid the delays caused by requests for more evidence.
- Can my spouse work while we wait?
- If your spouse is in Canada with valid status and you apply inland, they can usually apply for an open work permit at the same time as the sponsorship application.
- Can I sponsor my parents?
- Yes, through the Parents and Grandparents Program, which has run by invitation from a pool of interest forms in recent years. The Super Visa is the alternative for long visits while you wait or if you are not invited.
- What is the undertaking period?
- Three years for a spouse or partner, ten years for a dependent child (or until age 25, whichever comes first), and twenty years for a parent or grandparent.
- Can I sponsor a sibling?
- Only in narrow circumstances, for example an orphaned sibling under 18. A sibling in Canada does, however, add points to your own Express Entry score.
Explore
Family Sponsorship by destination city
Cost of living, job market and settlement services for each city, alongside this guide.
14 cities
Explore
Family Sponsorship from your country
Visa-office processing, biometrics and document specifics by country of application.
10 countries
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