This article will help you navigate through the main requirements to sponsor a spouse, a common-law partner or conjugal partner, and dependent children 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 are:
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 10,400 applications will be accepted for the sponsorship of a spouse, common-law spouse, conjugal partner or dependent child aged 18 or over.
- 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,
- 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.
- are a Canadian citizen who lives abroad and
- plan to return to Canada when your relatives immigrate.
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. 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 10,400 applications will be accepted for the sponsorship of a spouse, common-law spouse, conjugal partner or dependent child aged 18 or over.
- The cap does not apply to dependent children (per definition below in the "Who can you sponsor?" section).
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.
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.
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:
- 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.
The length of the undertaking for residents of Quebec is:
- 3 years for your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner,
- 3 years minimum for a dependent child over 16 years of age, or until the child becomes 25 years old, whichever is the longest,
- 10 years minimum for a dependent child under 16 years of age, or until the child becomes 18 years old, whichever is the longest.
Who Can You Sponsor?
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.
Income Requirements
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, you must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) (i) if you are sponsoring a dependent child that has 1 or more dependent children of their own, or (ii) if you are sponsoring a spouse or partner that has a dependent child, and their dependent child has 1 or more children of their own.
The same applies if you are a Quebec resident.
However, you must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) (i) if you are sponsoring a dependent child that has 1 or more dependent children of their own, or (ii) if you are sponsoring a spouse or partner that has a dependent child, and their dependent child has 1 or more children of their own.
The same applies if you are a Quebec resident.
Income requirements for residents outside Quebec
Your income must meet or exceed the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI), on the date which the sponsorship application is signed.
You need to calculate the number of people in your family, including:
You need to calculate the number of people in your family, including:
- 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.
Family Size | MNI - 2024 |
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2 | $36,576 |
3 | $44,966 |
4 | $54,594 |
5 | $61,920 |
6 | $69,834 |
7 | $77,750 |
For each additional person | $7,916 |