Sponsorship Canada: Everything You Need to Know

Canada is known to be one of the most immigrant-friendly countries. It believes in bringing families together, so to further support this purpose, the country has introduced several family-friendly immigration programs, one of which is the family sponsorship program. Canada focuses on reuniting citizens or PR holders with their family members to promote the country's productivity and economic growth.

The Family sponsorship program allows Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their family to immigrate to Canada. Family members like spouses, dependent children, Orphaned sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews or grandchildren, parents or grandparents, etc., can be sponsored via Sponsorship Canada. Sponsored families can reside, work, or study in the country as permanent residents without needing a letter of invitation or having to apply for visitor visas. The Family class sponsorship program is one of the top immigration pathways offered by Canada. As per the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan, the country aims to invite 114,000 candidates by the end of 2024. The sponsorship program comes with its own set of eligibility requirements that should be fulfilled by the sponsor, including specific income requirements to support the sponsored family member.

 

What is Family Class Sponsorship?

The Family Class Sponsorship program is one of the second-largest immigration programs in Canada. PR status holders or Canadian citizens over 18 can sponsor their family to come live in Canada via Family class sponsorship. The IRCC administers and oversees the family class program, which includes setting the criteria for the program, reviewing and approving applications, and offering temporary and permanent resident visas. The program is one of the most convenient options for family members to immigrate to the country and apply for PR. 

 

Benefits of sponsoring a family member

The Family sponsorship program is one of the best pathways for family members of PR status holders or those with citizenship to move to Canada and get permanent residence. Some of the reasons that make Canada Family Class one of the biggest immigration categories are as follows:

• Allows Canadian citizens or PR holders to sponsor eligible families to Canada
• Can sponsor your spouse/common-law partner, dependent children, parents, or grandparents to immigrate to Canada
• Family members can live, work, or study and become permanent residents in the country.
• Those with an ineligible sponsor can apply through the Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) consideration.
• More family members can be added to the application based on eligibility and criteria for requirements.

 

Who Can I Sponsor to Come to Canada?

With certain exceptions, you can sponsor your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, parents and grandparents, dependent children, adopted children, orphaned sister, brother, niece, nephew or grandchild, or other qualifying relatives like aunts, uncles, or other cousins.

 

Spouse, Common-law, or Conjugal Partner

You can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for PR via the family class sponsorship. The family can be sponsored irrespective of whether they reside outside Canada or in the country as temporary resident visa holders. Spouses in this category who are already living in the country may also be eligible to qualify for an open work permit. A spousal open work permit allows sponsored applicants to work in Canada while the sponsorship application is processed. You may also be eligible to apply for a spousal sponsorship if the sponsor and the spouse are not legally wedded but have lived together for at least 12 months.

 

Parents and Grandparent Sponsorship

The parents and grandparents (PGP) sponsorship program allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or PR holders to immigrate to the country. The IRCC recently opened the PGP intake with a target of issuing 35,700 invitations to qualifying sponsors and approving 20,500 PR applications. PR holders or citizens of Canada must fulfill the minimum financial and income requirements by meeting the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI), which depends on the family unit size. The sponsor must also be willing to support their parents or grandparents if required financially. Another alternative for parents or grandparents to migrate to Canada is with a Canada Super visa, which is a long-term, multi-entry visa.

 

Child or other dependant sponsorship

As an immigrant applying for Canada PR, you can include your child or dependent children in your application. However, if you cannot do so or do not include them in your application, you can choose the child sponsorship program. The child sponsorship program allows PR holders or citizens to offer sponsorship to their biological children or adopted children under 22 to apply for Canada permanent residence, provided they are unmarried and do not have a child. The only way for a child over 22 years to be considered as a dependent is if they are suffering from a mental or physical condition that prevents them from taking care of them.

 

Orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild

Canadian citizens or permanent residents can sponsor their orphaned siblings (brother or sister), nieces, nephews, or grandchildren to come to Canada under certain circumstances. To be eligible to sponsor an orphaned relative, they must be under 18 years of age, unmarried, and related to you by adoption or blood.

 

Other relatives (under exceptional circumstances as a “Lonely Canadian”)

PR holders or citizens can also sponsor their extended relatives to come to Canada, but only under certain rare conditions. To be able to offer sponsorship to a relative that does not fall under the current “Family class sponsorship” program, the sponsor must be considered as or meet the “lonely Canadian” criteria. To qualify as a lonely Canadian, the sponsor must not have a spouse or common-law partner, children, parents, or grandparents. 

 

Eligibility requirements for Sponsorship

Given below is a complete list of eligibility requirements for the Canada Sponsorship program:

General eligibility criteria for sponsors

The general checklists of eligibility criteria for sponsors are as follows:

• Must have Canadian citizenship or Permanent residence status
• Must be above 18 years
• Must currently be living in Canada or plans to return to the country once the spouse or partner receives Canada permanent residency
• Must be able to provide financially for the sponsored family member for three years

 

Who isn't eligible to sponsor a relative?

In certain circumstances, the Canada PR holder or citizen may not be eligible to sponsor a relative. You may be ineligible to sponsor if: 

• Are currently behind bars or in prison
• Have not paid for child support or alimony 
• Have been declared bankrupt and have not been released yet
• Have received social assistance for reasons that do not include disability
• Failed to repay an immigration loan, missed payments, or have made late payments
• Have a history of sponsoring a relative before but failed to keep up with the sponsorship agreement
• Have been involved in a crime or any criminal offense against a relative that includes sexual immorality)
• Have sponsored a spouse before who has not been a PR holder for at least three years
• Were sponsored and became permanent residents in less than five years

 

Specific requirements for different types of sponsorships

Given below is the checklist of requirements for each type of sponsorship:

Spouse, Common-law, or Conjugal Partner Requirements

The list of documents required while submitting a spousal, conjugal, or common-law sponsorship application is as follows:

• Completed application forms
• Proof of Canadian status
• Proof of identity (list of documents)
• Marriage certificate (For spouses)
• PCC (Police clearance certificate)
• Medical certificate
• Proof of fee payment
• IMM 5532 E (Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation)
• Proof of marriage registration
• Birth certificates or records of adoption (For children you have with your spouse)

 

Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship (PGP) Requirements

The list of requirements while submitting a parents and grandparents application is as follows:

• Be 18 years of age
• Have completed the Interest to Sponsor Form
• Proof of physical presence in Canada
• Documents of civil status
• Police clearance certificate
• Medical certificate
• Photocopies
• Must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MIN)
• Sign an undertaking:

• To support the sponsored family financially for the next 20 years
• To repay the social assistance amount paid to the sponsored family member

 

Child or Other Dependent Sponsorship Requirements

The list of requirements while submitting a child or other dependent sponsorship application is as follows:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a Canadian citizen or PR holder
• Not be in prison for committing a crime, offense or, bankruptcy

The child or other dependents can qualify for this type of sponsorship if:

• They are below 22 years of age
• Do not have a spouse or partner

The child or dependents that are over the age of 22 can qualify for this type of sponsorship if:

• They have been depending on the sponsor even before 22 years of age
• They cannot support themselves financially due to a mental or physical illness/condition.

 

Orphaned Brother, Sister, Nephew, Niece, or Grandchild Requirements

The list of requirements while submitting an application for an orphaned brother, sister, niece, nephew, or grandchild is as follows:

• They must have a blood relationship or an adopted connection with the sponsor
• Both the parents are departed or deceased
• They are under 18 years of age
• They do not have a spouse

 

Other Relatives (under exceptional circumstances as a “Lonely Canadian”) Requirements

The list of requirements while submitting an application for other relatives is as follows:

• Proof that you have Canadian citizenship or permanent residence status
• They must be above 18 years of age.
• The sponsor must be residing in Canada.
• Proof that the sponsor does not have a spouse, child, parent, or grandparents who are neither citizens nor permanent residents or are foreign nationals who do not qualify for a sponsorship.

 

Canada Sponsorship Visa Cost

Given below is a detailed list of Canada sponsorship visa costs for different types of sponsorship programs:

 

Spouse, partner or children (from outside Canada)

Fees	$CAN
Sponsor your spouse or partner	1,205.00
Sponsorship fee ($85), principal applicant processing fee ($545) and right of permanent residence fee ($575)
Sponsor your spouse or partner without right of permanent residence fee	630
Sponsorship fee ($85) and principal applicant processing fee ($545)
Include any dependent child	175.00(per child)
Include any dependent child on an application with your spouse or partner ($175)
Independently sponsor a dependent child	170.00(per child)
Sponsorship fee ($85) and processing fee ($85)

 

Spouse, partner or children (from within Canada)

Fees	$CAN
Sponsor your spouse or partner	1,205.00
Sponsorship fee ($85), principal applicant processing fee ($545) and right of permanent residence fee ($575)
Sponsor your spouse or partner without right of permanent residence fee	630
Sponsorship fee ($85) and principal applicant processing fee ($545)
Include any dependent child	175.00(per child)
Include any dependent child on an application with your spouse or partner ($175)

 

Parents and Grandparents

Fees	$CAN
Sponsor your parent or grandparent	1,205.00
Sponsorship fee ($85), principal applicant processing fee ($545) and right of permanent residence fee ($575)
Sponsor your parent or grandparent (without the right of permanent residence fee)	630
Sponsorship fee ($85) and principal applicant processing fee ($545)
Include the spouse or partner of your parent or grandparent	1,210.00
Processing fee ($635) and right of permanent residence fee ($575)
Include the spouse or partner of your parent or grandparent (without the right of permanent residence fee)	635
Include a dependent child of your parent or grandparent	175.00(per child)

 

Adopted children and other relatives

Fees	$CAN
Sponsor your relative (22 years or older)	1,205.00
Sponsorship fee ($85), principal applicant processing fee ($545) and right of permanent residence fee ($575)
Sponsor your relative (22 years or older without right of permanent residence fee)	630
Sponsorship fee ($85) and principal applicant processing fee ($545)
Sponsor a dependent child, adopted child (or child to be adopted) or orphaned relative	170.00(per child)
Sponsor only a dependent child ($85 sponsorship fee and $85 processing fee)
Include a dependant, adopted child (or child to be adopted) or orphaned relative on an application with your relative	175.00(per child)
The fee for including a dependent child in your family member's sponsorship application ($175)
Sponsor your relative (under 22 years old and not your dependent child)	745
Sponsorship fee ($85), principal applicant processing fee ($85) and right of permanent residence fee ($575)
Sponsor your relative (under 22 years old and not your dependent child, without right of permanent residence fee)	170
Sponsorship fee ($85) and principal applicant processing fee ($85)
Include the spouse or partner of your relative	1,210.00
Processing fee ($635) and right of permanent residence fee ($575)
Include the spouse or partner of your relative (without right of permanent residence fee)	635

 

Income Requirement for Canadian Family Sponsorship

Some family sponsorship programs, including those for parents and grandparents, orphaned relatives, and eligible "Lonely Canadians, "must meet specific minimum income requirements. Canadian citizens or PR status holders looking to sponsor their family must fulfill the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) that depends on the size of the family, along with Notices of Assessment (NOA) that the revenue agency grants. Both reports prove that the sponsor has met the MNI criteria for at least three continuous years. PR status holders or citizens sponsoring their families must sign an undertaking instead of demonstrating or submitting a minimum proof of income. Sponsors must sign an undertaking agreeing to support and provide for the sponsored family members financially. Sponsorship applications of all types require an undertaking as they act as proof that the sponsor promises to pay back the social assistance paid to the sponsor and the family members over 20 years. The total duration of the undertaking, however, is based on the sponsorship category.

Note: If you are currently living in Quebec, you must sign a supplementary undertaking.

Individuals sponsoring their dependent children to Canada need not meet the MNI (Minimum Necessary Income) only if they do not have children. 

 

Minimum Necessary Income (MNI)

Based on the place of residence and the type of sponsorship program that one is applying for, Canadian citizens or PR holders sponsoring their family are eligible to sponsor one or more family members only if they meet the MNI criteria for the given family unit size. The family unit size includes the family the sponsor currently supports in Canada and the family they want to sponsor. Sponsors must submit a Notice of Assessment that the Canada Revenue Agency issues as proof of meeting the given income requirements. For the parents and grandparents sponsorship program, the sponsor must prove that they have surpassed the low-income cut-off for three continuous years and sign an undertaking to repay social assistance offered to the family members.

 

Proof of income and financial stability

Citizens or PR holders residing in any part of Canada except Quebec must fulfill or surpass the minimum income requirements depending on the size of the family. The Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) is updated annually for all suitable sponsorship programs. For sponsorship applications, both the sponsors and their co-signers must show sufficient financial capability to support all the family members they hold responsibility for. This also proves their ability to fulfill the income requirements for the three years prior to the date of applying for the 2024 intake.

Proof of income required for the 3 tax years prior to the date you apply:

Size of Family Unit	Minimum Income 2023	Minimum Income 2022	Minimum Income 2021
2 persons	44,530.00	$43,082	$32,898
3 persons	$54,743	$52,965	$40,444
4 persons	$66,466	$64,306	$49,106
5 persons	75,384.00	$72,935	$55,694
6 persons	85,020.00	$82,259	$62,814
7 persons	$94,658	$91,582	$69,934
If more than 7 persons, for each additional person, add	$9,636	$9,324	$7,120

 

Quebec Minimum Necessary Income for Sponsorship

The minimum income requirement for those living in Quebec differs as the sponsor must calculate the basic income required for the sponsor’s own family and the needs of the sponsored individuals and their family members, even if they are not accompanying the sponsored people. 

 

Total number of members in your family unit	Basic annual income required
1	$28,242
2	$38,124
3	$47,068
4	$54,135
5	$60,250
Each additional dependent	$6,115

 

The table below shows the number of persons and the annual income required by the sponsor.

Number of persons 18 years of age or over	Number of persons under 18 years of age	Gross annual income required of the sponsor
0	1	$9,776
0	2	$15,493
Each additional person under 18 years of age		$5,166
1	0	$20,657
1	1	$27,755
1	2	$31,341
Each additional person under 18 years of age		$3,582
2	0	$30,294
2	1	$33,935
2	2	$36,634
Each additional person 18 years of age or over		$9,630
Each additional person under 18 years of age		$2,689

 

Job Requirements for Sponsorship

Citizens of PR holders in Canada who are looking to sponsor their family apart from a spouse or partner are required to fulfill the MNI criteria. A job to sponsor is not mandatory; however, they must provide proof of adequate income for the last three years to support their sponsored family members.

 

Canada Sponsorship Visa Process

The process of sponsoring eligible family members to Canada happens in two stages:

Step 1: Apply to sponsor your relatives

Step 2: Your family can apply for Canada PR

Both the PR and sponsorship applications must be sent and submitted at the same time.

You can follow the steps given below to complete the sponsorship visa process:

Step 1: Apply for sponsorship

As a first step, you must complete the IMM 5287.

Step 2: Arrange the required documents

You must arrange the requirements for the Spousal sponsorship program. You can refer to the (Eligibility Requirements for Sponsorship section) for further details.

Step 3: Apply for PR

You can then create an online PR application via the Permanent residence portal. You will also be required to fill out three online forms:  the generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008), Schedule A—Background/Declaration (IMM 5669), and Additional Family Information (IMM 5406).

Step 4: Pay the application fee

You can then pay your application cost as per the updated fees.

Step 5: Submit the application

The last step would be to apply online. Ensure you answer all the questions given during the application process, sign the online application correctly, include the paid fee receipt, and upload the required documents before applying. This helps avoid any delays in the application processing.

 

Processing Time for Sponsorship Applications

The processing time for sponsorship applications usually takes around 12 months. The minimum processing time is one year, but applications can also take longer depending on the type and nature of the application. If the submitted application is complex and requires additional proof of relationship, the processing time may be further extended.

Factors that can affect processing times:

Some of the factors that can affect the processing time of your application are as follows:

• The type of sponsorship application that is submitted
• The processing time of applications that the government has already received
• The rate at which the officials take to verify and process your application
• The time you take to respond to the officials for any additional documents or information
• Submitting incorrect or incomplete applications
• Not providing the required documents or attachments

 

Sponsoring a Family Member in Quebec

Quebec's immigration system is unique as it prioritizes the Francophone community. Family reunification plays a significant role in the city of Quebec, as they are committed to nurturing strong family ties within the different communities. Quebec has a different set of requirements and processes compared to the other Canadian provinces. Citizens or Canada PR holders in Quebec who wish to have their family join them in Canada can sponsor them via the Sponsorship program in Quebec. The first step in this process would be to apply for the apply to the Quebec Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) and get an approval for sponsorship.

 

Eligibility to sponsor family members to Quebec

You can sponsor your family members to Quebec if:

• Be 18 years of age
• Must be a PR holder or citizen
• Must not receive social assistance except for a disability or age
• Must fulfill the income requirements [Check the below section]

 

Income Requirements for Quebec Family Sponsorship

Income requirements for the sponsor’s own family:

Application	Processing fee in $ CAD
Spousal and dependent child sponsorship
Spouse or common-law partner (with sponsorship fee, principal applicant fee, and right to permanent residence fee)	$1,080
Dependent child	Add $155 per child
Parent or grandparent sponsorship
Parent or grandparent (with sponsorship fee, principal applicant fee, and right to permanent residence fee)	$1,080
Spouse or common-law partner of your parent or grandparent	$1,080
Dependent children of your parent or grandparent	$155

 

Income requirements for the sponsored family members:

Children only
Sponsored people aged 18 or over	Sponsored people under 18	Additional income required
0	1	$8,515
0	2	$13,496
0	More than 2	Add $4,500 per person
One adult with children
Sponsored people aged 18 or over	Sponsored people under 18	Additional income required
1		$17,994
1	1	$24,177
1	2	$27,300
1	More than 2	Add $3,121 per person
Multiple adults with children
Sponsored people aged 18 or over	Sponsored people under 18	Additional income required
2		$26,388
2	1	$29,560
2	2	$31,912
More than 2	More than 2	Add $2,342 for each person under 18 and $8,389 for each person 18 or over

 

Roles and Responsibilities of the Sponsor

The sponsor must fulfill specific roles and responsibilities towards both the family and the government, some of which are mentioned below:

Responsibilities towards the family:

• Provide for the basic needs of the candidate, including (food, clothes, housing, and other personal necessities) for the duration of the undertaking.
• Provide the sponsored family with the required information to settle in the province.
• Make sure that the sponsored family is not a burden to the province.

 

Responsibilities towards the government:

• Must repay any special allowances or social assistance that the sponsored family availed
• Repay any housing costs that the sponsored family availed during their stay at a public housing stay in Quebec

 

Which family members can be sponsored to immigrate to Quebec?

The family members who can be sponsored to immigrate to Quebec are as follows:

• Spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner

To sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, the sponsor must be at least 16 years old. Any previous sponsorship for a spouse/common-law partner must also come to an end.

• Dependent Child

If the sponsored dependent child has children, the sponsors must submit proof of financial capability.

• Parent or Grandparent

To sponsor a parent or grandparent, you must provide proof of sufficient funds to support the sponsored candidate and their family, even if they are not accompanying the candidate. 

• Orphaned Sibling, Nephew, Niece or Grandchild

Under this category, the sponsored family member (Orphaned sibling, nephew, niece, or grandchild) must be below 18 years of age and not have a spouse or common-law partner. The sponsor in Quebec must provide proof of sufficient funds and undergo a psychosocial evaluation to determine their ability to care for the sponsored child.

• Adopted Children

 

Duration of undertaking 

The sponsor in Quebec must sign an undertaking to prove that they are financially capable for the following duration of time:

Candidate	Duration of undertaking	More information
Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner	3 years	None
Child under 16	Minimum 10 years	10 years or until age 18, whichever is longer
Child 16 or older	Minimum 3 years	3 years or until age 25, whichever is longer
Other relatives	10 years	None

 

Differences between Quebec and other provinces

The sponsorship process is mostly similar to the Federal and Quebec Sponsorship programs. However, some of the major differences are found in the spousal sponsorship program. The table below shows some of the differences between Federal Spousal sponsorship and Quebec spousal sponsorship.

Federal Spousal sponsorship	Quebec spousal sponsorship
Apply to be a sponsor (Canadian government)	Apply to be a sponsor (Canadian government)
Apply to be sponsored	Pay the application federal fee
Pay your application federal fee	Submit an undertaking application to the Quebec government
Send additional information or documents during the processing	Pay the undertaking fees and send any additional information during the application process

 

Canadian Sponsorship Background Check

A background check is mandatory as it verifies the sponsored family member’s criminal record and physical wellbeing, among other factors.

The two-step process for a background check usually involves the following:

• Criminal record check: This step involves a complete background check, including past criminal activities or registration in any criminal organization.
• Health check: The officials check your medical and health wellbeing

Candidates above the age of 18 and are applying for Canada PR must provide a PCC (Police clearance certificate) as proof that they are not involved in any criminal offense. Applicants must acquire police clearance certificates from all the countries they have lived in in the past six months or more since the age of 18 years.

 

Canadian Sponsorship Biometrics

Most immigrants looking to immigrate to Canada must provide biometrics. After paying the application fee and submitting your application, the IRCC will send you guidelines with instructions on how to submit your biometrics.

How to submit biometrics?

You can follow the steps given below to submit biometrics:

Step 1: Pay the biometric fee

The first step is to pay the biometric fee while applying.

Step 2: Receive the biometric instruction letter from IRCC

You will then receive a Biometric instruction Letter (BIL) with details of the confirmation of your biometrics and where to submit it. 

Step 3: Schedule an appointment for the biometric submission 

The biometrics must be submitted in person, and are required to schedule an appointment.   

 

Canadian Sponsorship Medical Exam

Individuals applying for Canada PR must undergo a medical exam to ensure they are not medically inadmissible to Canada. The medical report must be submitted after submitting your application to the IRCC. As a step, the IRCC will send you instructions on how to complete the medical examination.

You can visit a panel physician in your country, region, or territory for a medical examination. Panel physicians are qualified doctors who are approved by the IRCC.