This article will help you navigate through the main requirements to sponsor your parents and grandparents to become permanent residents of Canada. This includes your obligations as a sponsor, your income requirements, and other the eligibility requirements.
Eligibility to Sponsor
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. The requirements of Quebec are similar to those of the federal government.
On June 26, 2024, the Quebec government announced the introduction of a cap on family sponsorship:
From June 26, 2024 to June 25, 2026, a maximum of 2,600 applications will be accepted for the sponsorship of a father, mother, grandfather, grandmother or other relative.
- 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. The requirements of Quebec are similar to those of the federal government.
On June 26, 2024, the Quebec government announced the introduction of a cap on family sponsorship:
From June 26, 2024 to June 25, 2026, a maximum of 2,600 applications will be accepted for the sponsorship of a father, mother, grandfather, grandmother or other relative.
Obligations as a Sponsor
When you sponsor persons who are members of the family class, you must sign an undertaking with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or with the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI) 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 for residents of provinces and territories outside Quebec is:
The length of the undertaking for residents of Quebec is:
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 for residents of provinces and territories outside Quebec is:
- 20 years for your parents and grandparents.
The length of the undertaking for residents of Quebec is:
- 10 years for your parents and grandparents.
Who Can You Sponsor?
You can sponsor:
For example, an application can include:
In case of divorced parents, an application cannot include both divorced parents. Each parent must be sponsored on a separate application.
If you want to sponsor both your grandparents and parents, each couple must be sponsored on a separate application.
Dependent children must be 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:
- Your parents (related by blood or adoption) and their dependents.
- Your grandparents (related by blood or adoption) and their dependents.
For example, an application can include:
- your mother and father
- your mother and her spouse (your stepmother/stepfather)
- your father and his spouse (your stepmother/stepfather)
- your mother and their dependent child
- your grandmother and grandfather
- Etc.
In case of divorced parents, an application cannot include both divorced parents. Each parent must be sponsored on a separate application.
If you want to sponsor both your grandparents and parents, each couple must be sponsored on a separate application.
Dependent children must be 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.
Income Requirements
For the parents and grandparents sponsorship category, there is an 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 required income. For example, if you are applying in 2024, you must provide proof of income from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the taxation years of 2023, 2022, and 2021
- 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 required income. For example, if you are applying in 2024, you must provide proof of income from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the taxation years of 2023, 2022, and 2021
Family Size | Required Income - 2023 | Required Income - 2022 | Required Income - 2021 |
---|---|---|---|
2 | $44,530 | $43,082 | $32,898 |
3 | $54,743 | $52,965 | $40,444 |
4 | $66,466 | $64,036 | $49,106 |
5 | $75,384 | $72,935 | $55,694 |
6 | $85,020 | $82,259 | $62,814 |
7 | $94,658 | $91,582 | $69,934 |
For each additional person | $9,636 | $9,234 | $7,120 |