How to move to Canada through the Family Sponsorship Program?
If you have family living in Canada, then you are eligible to be sponsored for a Canada PR Visa through Family Sponsorship Program. "Family Reunification" is considered as one of the pillars of Canadian immigration.
What is Family Class Sponsorship?
Your relatives can live, work or study in Canada as permanent residents. You can sponsor them if you are at least 18 years old and:
- Canadian citizen; OR
- Permanent resident of Canada; OR
- A person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act;
If you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, aged 18 or over, you can sponsor certain members of your family to become permanent residents of Canada. If you become a permanent resident, you can live, study and work in Canada. If you are sponsoring a relative to come to Canada as a permanent resident, you are responsible for financially supporting your relative upon arrival.
Following are the benefits of Canada family sponsorship programs:
- Family members sponsored under this category are not required to clear any points cut-offs to be eligible.
- Family members who get a PR Visa through a family sponsorship program have the right to live, work or study in Canada.
- Access to government-funded healthcare, free education till 18 years of age, Canada Pension Plan benefits, Old age security, and Guaranteed Income Supplement.
- Parents living in Canada on a dependent visa as permanent residents can apply for Canadian citizenship after three years.
Other than family class immigration, there are other Canada immigration programs like the Express Entry program, Provincial Nominee Program, etc. that provide you with a pathway to Canada PR Visa. IRCC issues ITAs to express entry candidates through frequently held express entry draws.
To be a sponsor, the Canadian citizen or permanent resident must:
- Sign a sponsorship agreement with the parent to be sponsored that commits the sponsor to provide financial support to the parent, if necessary. This agreement also stipulates that the person who becomes a permanent resident will do everything possible to support himself;
- Provide financial support to a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for three years from the date they become a permanent resident, and;
- Provide financial support to a dependent child for 10 years or until the child turns 25, whichever occurs first.
Family members who you can sponsor are:
- spouse (with some restrictions)
- common-law partner (with some restrictions)
- conjugal partner (with some restrictions)
- dependent children
- parents - (with some additional conditions)
- grandparents - (with additional conditions)
- brothers or sisters, nephews or nieces, orphaned granddaughters or grandsons, under the age of 18 and not married or living in a common-law relationship
- another parent of any age or relationship, but only under specific conditions
- accompanying parents of the above-mentioned persons (e.g. spouse, partner, and dependent children).
The sponsor must agree to financially support the member of his family if the latter cannot meet his own needs. This is to ensure that the new permanent resident will not need government assistance. This agreement is termed a Sponsorship Agreement. The duration of this financial obligation depends on the sponsored person:
- Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner: 3 years;
- Dependent children: 10 years OR when the child reaches the age of 22 years (whichever comes first); 3 years for a dependent child over 22 years of age;
- Parent or Grandparent: 20 years;
The Canadian government requires payment of sponsorship and family class application processing fees. The following table shows the fees for the family sponsorship program:
Adopted children and other relatives
| Fees | In CAD |
|---|---|
| Sponsor your relative (22 years or older) Sponsorship fee ($75), principal applicant processing fee ($475), and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | 1,050 |
| Sponsor your relative (22 years or older without right of permanent residence fee) Sponsorship fee ($75) and principal applicant processing fee ($475) | 550 |
| Sponsor or include a dependent, adopted child (or child to be adopted) or orphaned relative Sponsor only a dependent child ($75 sponsorship fee and $75 processing fee) or include one on an application with your relative ($150) | 150 (per child) |
| Sponsor your relative (under 22 years old and not your dependent child) Sponsorship fee ($75), principal applicant processing fee ($75), and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | 650 |
| Sponsor your relative (under 22 years old and not your dependent child, without right of permanent residence fee) Sponsorship fee ($75) and principal applicant processing fee ($75) | 150 |
| Include the spouse or partner of your relative Processing fee ($550) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | 1,050 |
Parents Sponsorship Canada and grandparents
| Fees | In CAD |
|---|---|
| Sponsor your parent or grandparent Sponsorship fee ($75), principal applicant processing fee ($475), and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | 1,050 |
| Sponsor your parent or grandparent (without the right of permanent residence fee) Sponsorship fee ($75) and principal applicant processing fee ($475) | 550 |
| Include the spouse or partner of your parent or grandparent Processing fee ($550) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | 1050 |
| Include the spouse or partner of your parent or grandparent (without the right of permanent residence fee) Processing fee ($550) | 550 |
| Sponsor your relative (under 22 years old and not your dependent child, without right of permanent residence fee) Sponsorship fee ($75) and principal applicant processing fee ($75) | 150 |
| Include a dependent child of your parent or grandparent | 150 (per child) |
Parents Sponsorship Canada and grandparents
| Fees | In CAD |
|---|---|
| Sponsor your spouse or partner Sponsorship fee ($75), principal applicant processing fee ($475), and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | 1,050 |
| Sponsor your spouse or partner without the right of permanent residence fee Sponsorship fee ($75) and principal applicant processing fee ($475) | 550 |
| Sponsor a dependent child Sponsorship fee ($75) and processing fee ($75) | 150 (per child) |
| Include any dependent child Include any dependent child on an application with your spouse or partner ($150) | 150 (per child) |
