Family Sponsorship

You must be eligible to sponsor your spouse, partner or/and child:

• Be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident;
• Be at least 18 years of age;
• Reside in Canada, or if you are a citizen living abroad, demonstrate an intention to return and live in Canada when your sponsored relative becomes a Permanent Resident;
• Demonstrate sufficient income, in certain cases, to support the basic needs of the individual(s) you are sponsoring.

You cannot be a sponsor if you:

• Were sponsored by a spouse or partner and became a Permanent Resident less than five years ago;
• Were previously sponsored by a spouse or partner and less than three years have passed since you became a Permanent Resident;
• Are in default of a previous sponsorship undertaking;
• Are currently subject to bankruptcy proceedings;
• Receive social assistance for reasons other than a disability;
• Have been convicted of a violent or sexual offence, or are currently incarcerated; and
• Are subject to a removal order.

If you are sponsoring a spouse or partner, the relationship must be genuine, and the sponsored individual must be at least 18 years of age.

If you are sponsoring a child, the child must be under 22 years of age and not married or in a common-law relationship. A child over 22 years of age may still qualify if they are financially dependent on a parent due to a physical or mental condition.

Once the sponsorship application is in process, sponsored family members over the age of 18 must provide police certificates, and all applicants must undergo a medical examination.

There are two separate streams for spousal or partner sponsorship applications:

• Overseas Sponsorship Application– for spouses or partners residing outside of Canada.
• In-Canada Sponsorship Application– for spouses or partners residing in Canada. Applicants under this category may also be eligible to apply for a work permit once the sponsorship application is submitted.