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Family Class Sponsorship

Overview

The Family Class Sponsorship program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor family members, such as spouses, partners, or dependent children, to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents. This program is designed to support family reunification, one of the three main pillars of Canadian immigration.

Key Aspects of the Program:

Who can sponsor?

To sponsor your family member for Canadian Immigration through the Family Class Sponsorship, a sponsor must:

Sponsors must be at least 18 years old.

Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a person registered under the Canadian Indian Act.

Must not be receiving social assistance, unless it’s for a disability, and must demonstrate the ability to financially support the sponsored individual(s).

Who can be sponsored?

The Family Class broadly consists of the following three categories of sponsorship:

Spouse

You may sponsor your legally married spouse, who must be at least 18 years old. The marriage must be legally recognized in the country where it took place and in Canada.

Common-Law Partner

You can sponsor a partner of either sex with whom you have lived continuously in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months. Periods of separation must have been short and temporary.

Conjugal Partner

For partners who have been in a committed relationship for at least one year but cannot live together or marry due to legal, immigration, or social barriers, such as same-sex marriage being illegal in their country of residence.

Dependent Children

You can sponsor a child under 22 years of age who is not married or in a common-law relationship. Children 22 or older may qualify if they have a physical or mental condition that makes them dependent on their parents for financial support.

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Financial Requirements:

  • Most sponsorships for spouses, partners, and dependent children don’t require an income assessment unless the dependent child has children of their own or other special circumstances.

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Sponsorship Process:

Step 1: Apply to sponsor. Download and complete the application forms, including signing an undertaking (a financial support commitment)

Step 2: The person being sponsored applies for permanent residence. The sponsor and applicant must submit all required forms and documents online.

Step 3: Pay the application fees, which may include processing fees, right of permanent residence fee, biometrics, and potentially third-party fees for medical exams or police certificates.

Step 4: During the processing period, the sponsor and the applicant may be asked to submit additional documents such as medical exams, police certificates, and biometrics.

Step 5: Link your application to an online account to track updates.

Canada offers the opportunity to sponsor your parents and grandparents for permanent residency through the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program. Below, you will find detailed information about eligibility, income requirements, and the  application process.

Who Can Sponsor Their Parents and Grandparents:

To sponsor your biological or adopted parents and grandparents, you must : 
  • Be invited to apply.
  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Reside in Canada (your primary residence must be in Canada from the time you submit your application until a decision is made).
  • Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered under the Canadian Indian Act.
  • Have enough income to support the people you sponsor (with proof of income and possibly a co-signer like your spouse or common-law partner).
  • Meet all requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations.
You must also agree to sign an undertaking to support the people you’re sponsoring.
Quebec Applicants:
If you live in Quebec, after approval of your sponsorship application, you’ll need to submit an undertaking application to Quebec’s immigration ministry. Ensure you wait for confirmation from federal immigration authorities before submitting this to Quebec.

Who You Can Sponsor:

Eligible people you can sponsor include:
  • Your parents and grandparents.
  • Their dependent children (e.g., siblings or step-siblings).
  • Divorced or separated parents’ current spouses or common-law partners (must submit separate applications for each).
Income Requirements for Sponsors:
  • To sponsor, you must prove that you meet income requirements based on family size, for the last three tax years before your application. You can combine incomes with a co-signer (spouse or common-law partner) if needed.
  • For 2024 intake, the income thresholds for sponsors are as follows (based on family size):
Family Size2023 Income2022 Income2021 Income (COVID-19 exception year)
2 people$44,530$43,082$32,898
3 people$54,743$52,965$40,444
4 people$66,466$64,306$49,106
5 people$75,384$72,935$55,694
6 people$85,020$82,259$62,814
7 people$94,658$91,582$69,934
Each additional personAdd $9,636Add $9,324Add $7,120

 

How to Calculate Your Family Size
To calculate your family size, include: 1. Yourself (the sponsor)
  • Include them for all three years if they are co-signing your application.
  • If they are not co-signing, include them only for the years they meet the definition of a spouse or common-law partner.
2. Your spouse or common-law partner
  • Include them for all three years if they are co-signing your application.
  • If they are not co-signing, include them only for the years they meet the definition of a spouse or common-law partner.
3. Your dependent children, if applicable. 4. Any individuals you have previously sponsored or co-signed for, as long as the undertaking is still in effect. Additionally, include all family members of the individuals you are sponsoring, even if:
  • They do not intend to come to Canada.
  • They are already Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Sponsoring Process Overview

1. Invitation to Apply

To begin the process, you must receive an invitation to apply. Only individuals who submitted an interest to
sponsor form in 2020 were considered for the 2024 intake. Approximately 35,700 invitations were sent out, with the goal of
accepting up to 20,500 completed applications. Please note that the 2024 intake is now closed.

2. Submit Your Application

Once invited, the sponsor and the individuals being sponsored must complete two applications:

  • The sponsorship application, and
  • The permanent residence application.

Both applications must be submitted online through the Permanent Residence (PR) Portal. If you are using a paid representative,
they will use the Representative PR Portal.

3. Fees and Additional Costs

  • Processing Fees: These fees cover the application processing for the sponsor, the people being sponsored, and their dependents.

  • Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF): These fees cover the application processing for the sponsor, the people being sponsored, and their dependents.

  • Biometrics Fees: A biometric fee may apply, covering the cost of fingerprinting and digital photographs.

  • Third-party Fees: Additional costs may include medical exams, police certificates, and other third-party services.

3. Supporting Documents

Ensure you submit all required supporting documents, including:

  • Notice of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the past three years, or
  • Consent to allow the government to access your tax information directly from CRA.
Post-Submission Process

Once your application has been submitted, we will provide updates and may request additional information, such as medical exams, police certificates, and biometrics. It is important to respond to these requests promptly to avoid delays in processing.

Special Notes:

Sponsorship rules differ for residents of Quebec, who must meet additional requirements set by the provincial government.

As of September 2022, applications must be submitted online. Accommodations for disabilities are available.

The Family Class Sponsorship process offers a straightforward pathway for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to reunite with family members and help them settle as permanent residents of Canada.

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