Family Class Sponsorship

Spousal / Parent / Grandparent PR

Canada offers many programs to help people be reunited with their family and loved ones. In case of Family Class Sponsorship, the person sponsoring (Sponsor) and the person being sponsored (Principal Applicant) have separate eligibility criteria. The length of undertaking and the amount of income to sponsor are different from program to program.

If you meet the following requirements you may be eligible to sponsor your family to Canada.
  • 18 years of age and older
  • Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • Sign an undertaking promising to provide for the basic requirements of the sponsored person(s)
  • Sign an agreement with the sponsored person
  • Meet the LICO for the past 12 months, except to sponsor a dependent child who has no dependent child, an adopted person under age 18 or spouse, common-law partner or conjugal parter with no dependent child or with dependent child who has no dependent child
  • In case of Parent & Grandparent Program (PGP) meet the LICO + 30% for 3 previous taxation years (only Revenue Canada proof will be accepted)

Type of Family Class Sponsorship

Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship

1

Spousal/Common Law Partner Sponsorship ‘In Canada Class’

2

Spousal/Common Law Partner Sponsorship from Outside Canada

3

Dependent Child and Other Relatives Sponsorship

4

Parents / Grandparents Sponsorship

The Parents and Grandparents Program is a dedicated pathway for reuniting more families in Canada. Canadian government has strengthened the program by increasing the number of people who can apply, making the intake process more fair, and steadily increasing the number of families who will be able to reunite. Now, more than ever, family reunification is an important component of Canada’s immigration system. It plays a key role in attracting, retaining and integrating the best and the brightest from around the world. The launch of Parents and Grandparents Program builds on the government’s initiatives to prioritize the approval of 49,000 family sponsorship applications by December 31, 2020. IRCC has changed the program format (yet again), to a lottery system, from the first come first served model that was in place before.

A maximum of 10,000 applications will be accepted for processing as part of the 2020 PGP intake. However, in 2021, IRCC will open a new intake of interest to sponsor forms to accept a total of 30,000 new applications. The PGP allows eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents over the age of 18 to sponsor their parents and/or grandparents for Canadian permanent residence. All sponsors who wish to sponsor their parents or grandparents will have to confirm that they have the necessary income for the number of family members they will support financially.

Let us accurately assess your eligibility and show you how you can be reunited with your family in Canada.

Spousal / Common - Law Sponsorship

If you are looking to sponsor your Spouse, you will first need to determine whether you meet the requirements to be a sponsor.

If you want to be a sponsor to your loved-one, you must meet the following requirements:
  • 18 years of age and older
  • You must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian
  • You must be sponsoring a member of the Family Class, such as your spouse or common-law partner
  • You must live in Canada, or if you live outside of Canada, you must provide proof that you will live in Canada once the person you are sponsoring becomes a Permanent Resident of Canada
  • You and your spouse or common-law partner must sign an agreement that you understand your obligations and responsibilities
  • You must sign an undertaking that you will provide the basic requirements for your spouse or common-law partner and his or her dependent children
  • You must provide proof that you have sufficient funds to provide the basic requirements for your spouse or common-law partner and his or her dependent children.
You will not be able to sponsor your spouse or common-law partner in the following circumstances:
  • You signed an Undertaking for a previous spouse or common-law partner and three years have not passed since he or she became a Permanent Resident
  • You receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability

There are two types of applications for Spouse and Common-Law Sponsorship

Outland Spousal Sponsorship

Your application will be processed through the visa office in the sponsored spouse’s country of citizenship or where they legally reside (if outside Canada). If you and your Spouse/Common-law partner live together in Canada, you can still apply under this category.

Applying under this category will make you eligible to Appeal a refusal. You will not have rights to appeal for an Inland Spousal Application.

Inland Spousal Sponsorship

Spouse or Common-Law in-Canada category

Your application will be processed in Canada and you and your sponsor MUST live together. The person being sponsored MUST have temporary status in Canada as a worker, student, or visitor. The person being sponsored may be eligible for an Open Work Permit.

Even if someone does not have status in Canada, they are still able to be sponsored under the inland sponsorship process. This includes individuals who are in Canada illegally due to having overstayed a visa, or entered illegally. Once the inland sponsorship application is received, the applicant cannot be asked to leave Canada simply because they have no status in Canada. This does not apply to overseas sponsorship applications filed while the applicant is in Canada.

Dependent / Child Sponsorship

The definition of dependent child has been revised several times over the years. The current definition of dependent child applies when the child is in one of the following situations of dependency.

  • Is less than 22 and not a spouse
  • Is 22 years of age or older and has depended substantially on the financial support of the parent since before attaining the age of 22 years and is unable to be financially self supporting due to a physical or mental condition.

Dependent children may be eligible to come to Canada in order to reside with their parents. This includes provision for adopted children as well keeping with the “best interests of the child”.A dependent child who marries, even if he is under the age of dependency, will no longer meet the conditions of dependent child. An orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild may also be eligible under this category. In exceptional circumstances, other family members may also be eligible.

Applicants should make sure that they and their family members meet sponsorship requirements before submitting an application.

How we can help

When sponsoring a member of the Family Class, aside from the basic documentation like your identity documents or status documents, you will need to strongly demonstrate the genuineness of your relationship. There are specific financial requirements depending upon the type of sponsorship. You will need to be able to demonstrate that you have the funds necessary to comply with your Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking.

We will assist you:

  • Draft the necessary forms;
  • Draft appropriate supporting documentation like employment reference letters, personal statements, reference letters from friends and family;
  • Assist you with gathering important documentation that attests to the genuineness of your relationship;
  • Compile the strongest possible case as per your unique situation;
  • Prepare you for your for any interview should one be requested;
  • Follow up with Citizenship and Immigration Canada on your matter to ensure the fastest possible processing time; and
  • Of course, be with you every step of the way.
2015 to 2019

Total No of PRs admitted under Family Class

Year20152016201720182019
Spousal class49,67260,59061,97366,70468,809
Parents and grandparents15,48917,04120,49418,02622,011
Family – Other329375-449491
Total65,49078,00682,46785,17991,311