Sponsoring a Family Member to Canada

If you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, over the age of 18, you can sponsor your husband or wife, common-law partner, conjugal partner, child (including adopted child), parent, grandparent or orphaned niece or nephew, to become a permanent resident.

Who is a member of the Family Class?

Immigration Canada refers to immigrants who are eligible to be sponsored as members of the Family Class. Specifically, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident may sponsor:

• spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner;
• parent;
• grandparent;
• dependent child;
• orphaned brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces or grandchildren under the age of 18 and unmarried;
• adopted children under the age of 18;
• any one relative, without restriction on relationship, as long as the sponsor does not have any relatives outlined above who are already Canadian citizens or permanent residents;

Who qualifies as a ‘Dependent Child’?

You are considered to be a dependent child if you are under 22 and unmarried on the date the application for sponsorship is submitted and continue to be unmarried on the date that you land in Canada;

ou are considered to be a dependent child if you are over the age of 22 but continuously enrolled in full-time studies and financially dependent on your parents since before the age of 22.

You are considered to be a dependent child if you have been financially dependent on your parents prior to reaching the age of 22 due to a disability.

(a child may take a break from full-time studies for period of less than one year at a time and still qualify as a ‘dependent child’ where he/she remains financially dependent upon his/her parents)

What are my obligations as a Sponsor?

As a Sponsor, your obligations begin as soon as the person you are sponsoring becomes a Canadian Permanent Resident.