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🇨🇦 Canada · Family Sponsor
2 mandatory requirements, 2 supporting factors, and 6 core documents — here is exactly what Canada expects.
Missing any of these disqualifies an application outright — confirm them before investing in fees or document preparation.
The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is at least 18 years of age and residing in Canada.
The person being sponsored must be a spouse, common-law/conjugal partner, dependent child, parent, grandparent, or other eligible relative as defined by IRPR.
Not strictly required, but each strengthens your case — the weight shown reflects how heavily our scoring engine (and in practice, adjudicators) value it.
Sponsor must not be in default of a previous sponsorship undertaking, must not be receiving social assistance (except for disability), and must meet the Minimum Necessary Income for parents/grandparents.
For spousal/partner sponsorships, the relationship must be genuine and not entered into primarily for immigration purposes.
Sponsor's Proof of Status
Sponsor's Canadian passport, citizenship certificate, or PR card.
Sponsored Person's Passport
Current valid passport of the person being sponsored.
Proof of Relationship
Marriage certificate, common-law statutory declaration, photos together, communication records, birth certificate (for children), or other evidence of genuine relationship.
Sponsor's Tax Returns (NOAs)
CRA Notice of Assessment for the most recent tax year to establish sponsor's income.
Police Certificate
Police clearance for the sponsored person from every country lived in for 6+ months since age 18.
Digital Photographs
Passport-style digital photos meeting IRCC specifications for all applicants.
Official source: government website. See also: costs & fees and processing time.
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