Who Can Be Sponsored to Come to Canada?
The Government of Canada facilitates family reunification, especially for close relatives. Below is a list of family members you may be able to sponsor to Canada:
- Spouse: Your legally married partner.
- Common-law Partner: A partner you have been living with in a marriage-like relationship for at least one year.
- Dependent Child: A child under 22 years of age who is not married or in a common-law relationship. Children 22 or older may qualify if they have a physical or mental condition that prevents them from being self-supporting.
- Adopted Child: A child under 18 whom you have legally adopted and who is unmarried.
- Parents and Grandparents: Your biological or adoptive parents and grandparents.
- Orphaned Sibling, Nephew, Niece, or Grandchild: A relative who is under 18, unmarried, and whose parents have both passed away.
- Other Relatives: In very specific and rare circumstances, you may be able to sponsor another relative (like an aunt, uncle, or cousin) if you do not have any of the relatives listed above to sponsor.
Please note that each category has specific eligibility criteria, such as age, marital status, and financial dependency. It’s essential to carefully review the regulations from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to ensure your relative qualifies for sponsorship.
Eligibility Requirements for Sponsoring a Relative to Canada
To sponsor a family member, both the sponsor (you) and the person being sponsored must meet certain conditions. Here are the detailed requirements:
Requirements for the Sponsor
- Age: You must be 18 years of age or older.
- Status in Canada: You must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
- Residency: You must be living in Canada (with some exceptions for citizens living abroad who plan to return).
- Financial Capacity: You must prove that you have sufficient income to support the relative(s) you are sponsoring, ensuring they will not need social assistance from the government.
- Criminal Record: You must not have a serious criminal record or be in prison.
- Immigration Loans/Support Payments: You must not have defaulted on an immigration loan or failed to make court-ordered support payments.
- Social Assistance: You cannot be receiving social assistance for a reason other than a disability.
The minimum necessary income you need to prove depends on the size of your family unit. For example, if you are sponsoring a spouse and one child, you must demonstrate an income that meets the minimum threshold for a family of three. You can find the income requirement tables on the IRCC website.
Important Note: You are not required to meet the minimum income requirement when sponsoring your spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children (under 22 years of age).
Requirements for the Sponsored Person
- Health: They must pass a medical exam to show they are not inadmissible on health grounds. The exam must be done by a panel physician approved by IRCC.
- Criminal Record: They must not have a serious criminal record or be inadmissible for security reasons.
- Proof of Relationship: They must prove their relationship to the sponsor is genuine and legal (e.g., with birth certificates, marriage certificates, photos, correspondence, etc.).
- Clean Background: They must provide police certificates from their country of origin and any country where they have lived for six months or more since the age of 18.
The A-Z Process for Sponsoring a Relative to Canada
The family sponsorship process involves several steps and requires careful and accurate preparation. Here is a detailed guide:
- Step 1: Prepare Documents and Complete Forms
Gather all the necessary documents for both yourself (the sponsor) and the person you are sponsoring. A detailed list of documents is provided in the next section. After gathering the documents, you must accurately fill out all the required application forms provided by IRCC. You can find these forms and instruction guides on the official IRCC website: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html - Step 2: Submit the Application
Submit the complete application package according to IRCC’s instructions. The submission method (online or by mail) and address depend on the sponsorship category and your residency status. Double-check the IRCC website to ensure you are submitting it correctly. - Step 3: Await Application Processing
Processing times vary depending on the sponsorship category and the volume of applications being processed. You can check the status of your application online through your IRCC account. Typically, processing can take anywhere from several months to a couple of years. - Step 4: Medical Exam and Biometrics
If the application is deemed complete, IRCC will instruct the person being sponsored to complete a medical exam and provide their biometrics (fingerprints and a photo). You will receive detailed instructions from IRCC on how to complete this step. - Step 5: Interview (if required)
In some cases, IRCC may request an interview with either the sponsor or the person being sponsored. Prepare for the interview by reviewing common questions and be ready to answer honestly and clearly. - Step 6: Receive Visa and Arrive in Canada
If all steps are successful, the sponsored relative will receive their permanent resident visa and can travel to Canada. It’s a good idea to prepare for their arrival by researching life in Canada to help them settle in quickly.
Note: The sponsorship process may be affected by global events or new government regulations. Always check for the latest updates from IRCC to ensure you are following the current procedures.
Costs of Sponsoring a Relative to Canada
The cost of sponsoring a relative to Canada includes several different fees. Here are some of the main expenses:
- Application Fees: This includes a sponsorship fee and a principal applicant processing fee, which vary by application type. You can find the latest fee schedule on the IRCC website.
- Medical Exam Fee: This fee is paid directly to the designated medical facility.
- Police Certificate Fee: The cost of obtaining police certificates from the sponsored person’s home country.
- Translation and Notarization Fees: The cost to translate and notarize any documents that are not in English or French.
- Biometrics Fee: The fee for collecting fingerprints and a photo.
- Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF): This fee must be paid before the sponsored person can become a permanent resident.
The total estimated cost for sponsoring a relative can range from a few thousand to several thousand Canadian dollars, depending on the specifics of the application. It is important to plan your finances carefully to ensure you can cover all associated costs.
Documents Needed to Sponsor a Relative to Canada
Preparing a complete and accurate set of documents is key to a smooth sponsorship process. Here is a general checklist for the sponsor and the sponsored person:
Sponsor’s Documents
- Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking forms.
- Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residence (e.g., copy of passport, PR card).
- Financial documents to prove income (e.g., Notice of Assessment from the CRA, bank statements).
- Documents proving your relationship to the sponsored person (e.g., your birth certificate, marriage certificate).
- Passport-style photos.
- Other documents as required by IRCC for your specific case.
Sponsored Person’s Documents
- Application for Permanent Residence forms.
- Valid passport.
- Birth certificate.
- Marriage certificate (if applicable).
- Police certificates.
- Medical examination results.
- Passport-style photos.
- Proof of relationship to the sponsor (e.g., photos together, letters, emails, chat logs).
Important Note: All documents that are not in English or French must be accompanied by a certified translation from a recognized translation service.
Popular Sponsorship Categories and Important Considerations
Each sponsorship category has its own specific requirements and processes. Here are some details on the most common ones:
Sponsoring a Spouse or Partner
This is the most common sponsorship category. To sponsor a spouse or partner, you must prove that your relationship is genuine and was not entered into for immigration purposes. From our experience, IRCC closely examines the evidence you provide, including photos together over time, correspondence, and proof of cohabitation. You may also be called for an interview to verify the authenticity of your relationship.
Sponsoring Parents or Grandparents
To sponsor parents or grandparents, you must meet a higher income requirement set by IRCC. This program often operates on a lottery or first-come, first-served basis with limited spots each year. As an alternative, Canada offers the Super Visa, which allows parents and grandparents to visit for extended periods (up to five years at a time) without applying for permanent residence.
Sponsoring a Child
You can sponsor your biological or adopted child if they are under 22 years old and single. If your child is over 22, they may still qualify as a dependent if they have a physical or mental condition that has prevented them from being self-supporting.
Sponsoring a Sibling
Sponsoring a sibling is only possible under very specific and rare circumstances: they must be orphaned (both parents deceased), under 18 years old, and single. In some other exceptional cases, you may be able to sponsor a sibling if you have no other living relatives you could sponsor instead.
Conclusion
Immigrating to Canada through family sponsorship is a wonderful opportunity to reunite with your loved ones and build a new life in a prosperous country.
However, the process requires careful preparation and strict adherence to IRCC regulations. We hope this article has provided you with helpful information to begin your journey of sponsoring a relative to Canada. We wish you success!
If you have any questions or need more detailed advice on the family sponsorship process, please do not hesitate to contact Yes Study. We are always here to help!
