Family Sponsorship

Family Sponsorship — Canada

Canada's Family Sponsorship program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents (PRs) to sponsor eligible family members for permanent residence. It is one of the most important pillars of Canada's immigration system, reflecting the country's commitment to family reunification.

Who Can Sponsor

You must be a Canadian citizen or PR who is at least 18 years old and living in Canada (citizens living abroad may sponsor a spouse or partner). Sponsors must sign an undertaking — a legally binding promise to financially support the sponsored person for a set period and repay any social assistance they receive.

Who Can Be Sponsored

• Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner — processing target ~12 months; sponsors must prove a genuine relationship
• Dependent children — children under 22 who are not married/in a common-law relationship; children over 22 who are full-time students or have a physical/mental condition
• Parents and grandparents — processed through an annual intake cap; waiting periods of 20–24+ months; sponsor income must meet LICO (Low-Income Cut-Off) thresholds
• Other relatives — in limited circumstances (e.g., orphaned siblings, nephews/nieces)

Financial Undertaking

Sponsors of spouses/partners must meet minimum necessary income (MNI) requirements. For parents and grandparents, income must be at or above 30% above the LICO threshold for the 3 tax years before the application, for the family size (sponsor + members in household + sponsored persons).

Two-Application Process

The sponsorship process involves two simultaneous applications: (1) the sponsor's application submitted to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga, and (2) the sponsored person's permanent residence application. Both are typically submitted together as a combined application package.