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Family Sponsorship
You can sponsor a relative in Canada (spouse, partner, relatives, etc.)
There are three family sponsorship categories: (i) spouse, partner, or dependent children, (ii) parents and grandparents, and (iii) adopted children and other relatives. Eligibility and application process differ from one another, this article will help you navigate through the main requirements and family members you can sponsor.
Eligibility to Sponsor your Family
The eligibility to sponsor depends on each category, either your (i) spouse, partner, or dependent children, (ii) parents and grandparents, or (iii) adopted children and other relatives. Click below on the category you are interested in:
Spouse, partner, or dependent children
You can become a sponsor if you are:
You cannot become a sponsor if you:
If you live in Quebec, you must satisfy the requirements of both governments. You can check here for the Quebec requirements.
- at least 18 years old,
- a Canadian citizen, a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act or a permanent resident living in Canada,
- able to prove that you are not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability, and
- have enough income to provide for basic needs of any grandchildren (dependent children of a dependent child) of the principal applicant.
You cannot become a sponsor if you:
- signed an undertaking for a previous spouse or partner and it hasn’t been three years since they became a permanent resident,
- receive social assistance for a reason other than disability,
- previously sponsored someone and did not pay back any social assistance that they received while the undertaking was in place,
- are in default on an immigration loan or a performance bond,
- did not pay court-ordered alimony or child support,
- have declared bankruptcy which has not been discharged,
- were convicted of an offence of a sexual nature, a violent crime, an offence against a relative that caused bodily harm or threatened or attempted to commit any of the above offences,
- were previously sponsored as a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner and became a permanent resident of Canada less than five years ago (even if you got your Canadian citizenship within those five years),
- are under a removal order,
- are in a penitentiary, jail, reformatory or prison, or
- have already applied to sponsor your current spouse or partner and haven’t received a decision.
If you live in Quebec, you must satisfy the requirements of both governments. You can check here for the Quebec requirements.
Parents and grandparents
You can become a sponsor if you:
You cannot become a sponsor if you:
If you live in Quebec, you must satisfy the requirements of both governments. You can check here for the Quebec requirements.
- are 18 years of age or older,
- are a Canadian citizen, Registered Indian or permanent resident,
- live in Canada,
- sign an undertaking promising to provide for the basic requirements of the person being sponsored,
- sign an agreement with the person you are sponsoring that confirms that each of you understands your mutual obligations and responsibilities, and
- prove that you have sufficient income to provide the basic requirements for your family members in Canada as well as the persons included in your sponsorship undertaking. You may also have a co-signer (spouse or common-law partner).
You cannot become a sponsor if you:
- are in receipt of social assistance for a reason other than disability,
- are in default of an undertaking, an immigration loan, a performance bond, or family support payments,
- are an undischarged bankrupt,
- were convicted of an offence of a sexual nature, a violent criminal offence, an offence against a relative that results in bodily harm or an attempt or threat to commit any such offences—depending on circumstances such as the nature of the offence, how long ago it occurred and whether a pardon was issued
- are under a removal order, or
- are detained in a penitentiary, jail, reformatory or prison.
If you live in Quebec, you must satisfy the requirements of both governments. You can check here for the Quebec requirements.
Adopted children and other relatives
You can become a sponsor if you:
You cannot become a sponsor if you:
If you live in Quebec, you must satisfy the requirements of both governments. You can check here for the Quebec requirements.
- are 18 years of age or older,
- are a Canadian citizen, Registered Indian or permanent resident,
- live in Canada.
You cannot become a sponsor if you:
- are in prison,
- have not paid your alimony or child support payments,
- have declared bankruptcy and haven’t been released from it yet,
- got social assistance for reasons other than being disabled,
- didn’t pay back an immigration loan, made late payments or missed payments,
- sponsored another relative in the past and didn’t meet the terms of the sponsorship agreement
- were convicted of a violent crime, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence, depending on details of the case, such as the type of offence, how long ago it was, and whether a record suspension was issued (formerly called “pardons” in Canada).
If you live in Quebec, you must satisfy the requirements of both governments. You can check here for the Quebec requirements.
Obligations as a Sponsor
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When you sponsor persons who are members of the family class, you must sign an undertaking with the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (or with the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Diversité et de l'Inclusion [MIDI] if you live in Quebec).
The undertaking is a promise to provide financial support and basic requirements for the family members you are sponsoring. Basic requirements are:
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The undertaking ensures that these persons and their family members do not have to apply for social assistance. The length of undertaking depends on their age and their relationship with the sponsor.
Your obligations as a sponsor begin as soon as the person(s) you are sponsoring arrive in Canada. Your spouse or common-law partner may help you meet the income requirement by co-signing the sponsorship application.
The undertaking is an unconditional promise of support. For example, the granting of Canadian citizenship, divorce, separation or relationship breakdown or moving to another province does not cancel the undertaking. The undertaking also remains in effect even if your financial situation deteriorates.
The length of the undertaking is:
The length of the undertaking for residents of Quebec is different. Check here for Quebec's own durations.
Your obligations as a sponsor begin as soon as the person(s) you are sponsoring arrive in Canada. Your spouse or common-law partner may help you meet the income requirement by co-signing the sponsorship application.
The undertaking is an unconditional promise of support. For example, the granting of Canadian citizenship, divorce, separation or relationship breakdown or moving to another province does not cancel the undertaking. The undertaking also remains in effect even if your financial situation deteriorates.
The length of the undertaking is:
- 3 years for your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner,
- 3 years for a dependent child over 22 years of age,
- 10 years for a dependent child under 22 years of age, or until the child becomes 22 years old, whichever comes first,
- 20 years for your parents and grandparents,
- 10 years for any other relative.
The length of the undertaking for residents of Quebec is different. Check here for Quebec's own durations.
Income Requirements
Spouse, partner, or dependent children
There are no income requirements for you to sponsor your spouse, common-law, partner, conjugal partner, or dependent children. However, you must not be receiving welfare benefits (excluding disability), or be in bankruptcy when you apply.
However, if your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner has a child, you must meet minimum income requirements. It's the same requirement if your dependent child has a child of their own.
However, if your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner has a child, you must meet minimum income requirements. It's the same requirement if your dependent child has a child of their own.
Parents and grandparents
For the parents and grandparents sponsorship category, there is a Minimum Necessary Income Requirement based upon the number of people in your family. You must include:
For each of the three consecutive taxation years preceding the date on which the application is submitted, the sponsor (and a co-signer, if applicable) must meet the Minimum Necessary Income Requirement, which is based on the Low Income Cut-offs plus 30%:
- Yourself and your family members, even if they do not live with you,
- The person you are sponsoring and his/her family members who will be living with you,
- Anyone you have sponsored in the past and their family members,
- Anyone you have co-signed a sponsorship financial obligation in the past and is still in effect, and
- Any person that you are sponsoring who has sponsored or has co-signed a sponsorship financial obligation for in the past and is still in effect.
For each of the three consecutive taxation years preceding the date on which the application is submitted, the sponsor (and a co-signer, if applicable) must meet the Minimum Necessary Income Requirement, which is based on the Low Income Cut-offs plus 30%:
Size of family |
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
2 |
$41,007 |
$40,379 |
$39,813 |
3 |
$50,414 |
$49,641 |
$48,945 |
4 |
$61,209 |
$60,271 |
$59,426 |
5 |
$69,423 |
$68,358 |
$67,400 |
6 |
$78,296 |
$77,095 |
$76,015 |
7 |
$87,172 |
$85,835 |
$84,631 |
For each additional person |
$8,876 |
$8,740 |
$8,616 |
If you are applying in 2019, you must provide proof of income from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the taxation years of 2018, 2017, and 2016.
Adopted children and other relatives
Your income must meet or exceed the Minimum Income Requirement, as identified annually in the Low-Income Cut-Offs (LICO), on the date which the sponsorship application is signed. You need to calculate the number of people in your family, including:
Low-Income Cut-Offs for 2017 are below:
- Yourself and your family members, even if they do not live with you,
- The person you are sponsoring and his/her family members who will be living with you,
- Anyone you have sponsored in the past and their family members,
- Anyone you have co-signed a sponsorship financial obligation in the past and is still in effect, and
- Any person that you are sponsoring who has sponsored or has co-signed a sponsorship financial obligation for in the past and is still in effect.
Low-Income Cut-Offs for 2017 are below:
Size of family |
LICO 2017 |
1 |
$24,949 |
2 |
$31,061 |
3 |
$38,185 |
4 |
$46,362 |
5 |
$52,583 |
6 |
$59,304 |
7 |
$66,027 |
For each additional person |
$6,723 |
Quebec residents should refer to MIDI’s Financial capacity evaluation webpage. The minimum financial requirements do not apply for spouses, partners, or dependent children.
Who Can You Sponsor?
Spouse, partner, or dependent children
You can sponsor your:
You can sponsor the dependent children of your spouse, partner or children. If you do not sponsor them, you are still liable as a sponsor since the undertaking of support concerns the sponsored person and their dependent children. Even if the dependent children of the sponsored person is not part of the sponsorship, they need to be clearly listed on the application regardless. You can still sponsor them later, as long as they remain dependent children.
- spouse, who is at least 18 years old, if your marriage is a legally valid civil marriage. Opposite and same-sex marriages will be recognized for immigration:
- if legally performed in Canada, or
- if performed outside of Canada, the marriage must be legally recognized in the country where it took place and in Canada.
- common-law partner (same or opposite sex), who is at least 18 years old, as long as you’ve been living or have lived with your partner for at least 12 consecutive months in a marriage-like relationship.
- conjugal partner, who is at least 18 years old, if
- there is a significant degree of attachment between the two of you, implying not just a physical relationship but a mutually interdependent relationship, and
- you’ve been in a genuine (real) relationship for at least 12 months where marriage or cohabitation (living together) hasn’t been possible because of barriers such as sexual orientation, religious faith, etc.
- dependent children if they’re under 22 years old and don’t have a spouse or common-law partner. Children 22 years old or older qualify as dependants if they:
- have depended on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22, and
- are unable to financially support themselves because of a mental or physical condition.
You can sponsor the dependent children of your spouse, partner or children. If you do not sponsor them, you are still liable as a sponsor since the undertaking of support concerns the sponsored person and their dependent children. Even if the dependent children of the sponsored person is not part of the sponsorship, they need to be clearly listed on the application regardless. You can still sponsor them later, as long as they remain dependent children.
Parents and grandparents
You can sponsor:
- Your parents and their dependents,
- Your grandparents and their dependents.
Adopted children and other relatives
You have two options:
Option 1 - You can sponsor your:
Option 2 - You can sponsor one relative, related by blood or adoption, of any age, if you satisfy to the two following conditions:
Option 1 - You can sponsor your:
- child adopted outside Canada,
- child who will be adopted in Canada, or
- brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild who is
- orphaned,
- related to you by blood or adoption,
- under 18 years old, and
- not married or in a common-law relationship.
Option 2 - You can sponsor one relative, related by blood or adoption, of any age, if you satisfy to the two following conditions:
- You don't have a living relative you could sponsor instead, such as a:
- spouse,
- common-law partner,
- conjugal partner,
- son or daughter,
- parent,
- grandparent,
- brother or sister,
- uncle or aunt, or
- nephew or niece.
- You don’t have any of the above-named relatives who is:
- a Canadian citizen,
- a permanent resident, or
- a registered Indian under the Indian Act.
Application Process
Spouse, partner, or dependent children
You can only apply on paper. After filling and signing the required forms, gathering your supporting documents, and paying your fees, you will need to mail your application package to this address.
If your application has all the required documents and fees, IRCC will tell you that they started processing your application through email or letter (if you don’t give us your email), and give you your file number and information about the next steps.
If you and the person you’re sponsoring both meet the eligibility requirements, IRCC will send you a request to link your application to an online account. Find out how to link your application here.
IRCC will send you requests to submit additional documents through your online account. Through your online account you can learn about the documents you need to send IRCC, such as police certificates or medical exam receipts.
If you do not link your paper application to an online account, you can check the status of your application with this online tool.
If your application has all the required documents and fees, IRCC will tell you that they started processing your application through email or letter (if you don’t give us your email), and give you your file number and information about the next steps.
If you and the person you’re sponsoring both meet the eligibility requirements, IRCC will send you a request to link your application to an online account. Find out how to link your application here.
IRCC will send you requests to submit additional documents through your online account. Through your online account you can learn about the documents you need to send IRCC, such as police certificates or medical exam receipts.
If you do not link your paper application to an online account, you can check the status of your application with this online tool.
Parents and grandparents
You first need to express your interest in applying by submitting an online interest to sponsor form. For the year 2020, the interest to sponsor form was available from October 13, 2020 at noon EDT until November 3, 2020 at noon EST. IRCC will randomly select and invite potential sponsors to apply to reach the annual cap of 10,000 applications.
To fill in the form, you will only need your name, date and place of birth, address, the number of family members in your family unit, the number of persons you are sponsoring (including their dependents), the names and dates of birth of the sponsored parents and/or grandparents. You will also need a digital or electronic copy of your identity document (one PDF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, WORD, or WORDX file, max 2.5Mb), and the ID number.
After being selected, you can only apply on paper. After filling and signing the required forms, gathering your supporting documents, and paying your fees, you will need to mail your application package to this address.
To fill in the form, you will only need your name, date and place of birth, address, the number of family members in your family unit, the number of persons you are sponsoring (including their dependents), the names and dates of birth of the sponsored parents and/or grandparents. You will also need a digital or electronic copy of your identity document (one PDF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, WORD, or WORDX file, max 2.5Mb), and the ID number.
After being selected, you can only apply on paper. After filling and signing the required forms, gathering your supporting documents, and paying your fees, you will need to mail your application package to this address.
Adopted children and other relatives
You can only apply on paper. After filling and signing the required forms, gathering your supporting documents, and paying your fees, you will need to mail your application package to this address.
If your application has all the required documents and fees, IRCC will:
If you and the person you’re sponsoring both meet the eligibility requirements, IRCC will send you a request to link your application to an online account. Find out how to link your application here.
IRCC will send you requests to submit additional documents through your online account. Through your online account you can learn about the documents you need to send IRCC, such as police certificates or medical exam receipts.
If you do not link your paper application to an online account, you can check the status of your application with this online tool.
If your application has all the required documents and fees, IRCC will:
- send you an acknowledgment of receipt letter with an application number,
- assess your eligibility as a sponsor, and
- assess if the person you are sponsoring meets the permanent residence requirements.
If you and the person you’re sponsoring both meet the eligibility requirements, IRCC will send you a request to link your application to an online account. Find out how to link your application here.
IRCC will send you requests to submit additional documents through your online account. Through your online account you can learn about the documents you need to send IRCC, such as police certificates or medical exam receipts.
If you do not link your paper application to an online account, you can check the status of your application with this online tool.
If you live in Quebec, you must:
- First submit your federal sponsorship application to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
- If you meet the federal requirements to apply for sponsorship, IRCC will send you an email or letter with instructions to download Quebec’s sponsorship kit.
- Ask the person you are sponsoring to complete certain procedures, namely, applying for a "Certificat de Selection du Québec" (CSQ) and permanent residence.
Supporting Documents
Spouse, partner, or dependent children
You can find here all forms that you and/or your spouse/partner and their dependents need to fill and sign, as well as a personal document checklist and country-specific requirements for documents.
Parents and grandparents
You can find here all forms that you and/or your parents/grandparents and their dependents need to fill and sign, as well as a personal document checklist.
Adopted children and other relatives
You can find here all forms that you and/or your other relative and their dependents need to fill and sign, as well as a personal document checklist.
Medical Exam Requirements
The sponsored person and their dependents will need to pass a Medical Exam with an IRCC approved doctor. Find out more in our medical exams article.
Application Fees
Spouse, partner, or dependent children
Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner: $1,080
Dependent children under 22 years old: $150
Dependent children over 22 years old: $155
- $75 Sponsorship fee,
- $490 Processing fee, and
- $515 Right of Permanent Residence fee.
Dependent children under 22 years old: $150
- $75 Sponsorship fee, and
- $75 Processing fee.
Dependent children over 22 years old: $155
Parents and grandparents
Parents or grandparents: $1,080
Spouse of your parent or grandparent: $1,085
Dependent child of your parent or grandparent: $155
- $75 Sponsorship fee,
- $490 Processing fee, and
- $515 Right of Permanent Residence fee.
Spouse of your parent or grandparent: $1,085
- $570 Processing fee, and
- $515 Right of Permanent Residence fee.
Dependent child of your parent or grandparent: $155
Adopted children and other relatives
Relative (over 22 years old): $1,080
Spouse or partner of your relative: $1,085
Relative (under 22 years old): $665
Dependent, adopted child or child to be adopted: $150
- $75 Sponsorship fee,
- $490 Processing fee, and
- $515 Right of Permanent Residence fee.
Spouse or partner of your relative: $1,085
- $570 Processing fee, and
- $515 Right of Permanent Residence fee.
Relative (under 22 years old): $665
- $75 Sponsorship fee,
- $75 Processing fee, and
- $515 Right of Permanent Residence fee.
Dependent, adopted child or child to be adopted: $150
- $75 Sponsorship fee, and
- $75 Processing fee.
If you live in Quebec, you will need pay fees for the "Certificat de Sélection du Québec" (CSQ). As of January 1st, 2022, the fees are $301 for the principal sponsored person, plus $120 for each additional sponsored person in the same application.
Processing Times
Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner living inside Canada
A spouse or partner sponsorship application from inside Canada is processed within approximatively 12 months.
You can check the processing times here. You need to select "Sponsor a family member", then "Spouse or Partner living inside of Canada".
You can check the processing times here. You need to select "Sponsor a family member", then "Spouse or Partner living inside of Canada".
Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner living outside Canada
A spouse or partner sponsorship application from outside Canada is processed within approximatively 12 months.
You can find out your country's processing times here. You need to select "Sponsor a family member", then "Spouse or Partner living outside of Canada", then choose the country they are living in.
You can find out your country's processing times here. You need to select "Sponsor a family member", then "Spouse or Partner living outside of Canada", then choose the country they are living in.
Dependent child
Processing times for a dependent child sponsorship application depend on the country from where your sponsored family member is living.
You can find out your country's processing times here. You need to select "Sponsor a family member", then "Dependent child", then choose the country they are living in.
You can find out your country's processing times here. You need to select "Sponsor a family member", then "Dependent child", then choose the country they are living in.
Parents or grandparents
A parent and grandparent sponsorship application is processed within approximatively 20 to 24 months.
You can check the processing times here. You need to select "Sponsor a family member", then "Parents and grandparents".
You can check the processing times here. You need to select "Sponsor a family member", then "Parents and grandparents".
Adopted child or other relative
Processing times for an adopted child and other relatives sponsorship application depend on the country from where your sponsored family member is living.
You can find out your country's processing times here. You need to select "Sponsor a family member", then "Adopted child and other relative", then choose the country they are living in.
You can find out your country's processing times here. You need to select "Sponsor a family member", then "Adopted child and other relative", then choose the country they are living in.
