Family Sponsorship

If you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, you may be able to sponsor your spouse, conjugal or common-law partner, child (including an adopted child) or other eligible relative to become a permanent resident under one of the family classes. Permanent resident status will allow your family member to live, study and work in Canada.

SPONSOR SPOUSE, PARTNER OR DEPENDENT CHILD

You can sponsor a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, or dependent child to immigrate to Canada whether they live inside or outside Canada.

To be a sponsor, you must be 18 years or older Canadian citizen or permanent resident and must live in Canada (of outside Canada, if you meet certain conditions).You must be able to prove that you are not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability and must also undertake to provide for your family member’s basic needs. The spouse or partner must be at least 18 years old and your relationship must be genuine. The spouse, partner or dependents children must not be inadmissible to Canada.

If you are applying to sponsor your spouse or common-law partner and they are already living with you in Canada, then you may have a choice to apply within Canada.

SPONSORING OTHER ELIGIBLE RELATIVES

You may also be able to sponsor:

• Brothers or sisters, nephews or nieces, granddaughters or grandsons who are orphaned, under 18 years of age and not married or in a common-law relationship
• Another relative of any age or relationship but only if the sponsor is alone in Canada and there is nobody else that could be sponsored.
• Accompanying dependents of the above (for example, spouse, partner and dependent children).