Regulated Immigration Guidance
Immigration advice is provided through a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant accountable to Canada's professional regulator.
Family Sponsorship
Bring Your Family Together in Canada
Understand the main family sponsorship options for spouses, partners and dependent children, and check whether your circumstances may be worth a closer review.
How family sponsorship works
Eligible Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and persons registered under the Indian Act may sponsor qualifying family members for permanent residence, subject to sponsor eligibility and the sponsored person's own eligibility and admissibility.
Sponsors must generally be at least 18 years old. Residence rules differ by sponsor status: a citizen living abroad may potentially sponsor with an intention to live in Canada once the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident, while a permanent resident living abroad generally cannot sponsor. Every sponsor completes an undertaking and sponsorship agreement, and certain circumstances — such as an active sponsorship default or restriction — can prevent sponsorship.
Family sponsorship categories
Spouse sponsorship
For a legally married spouse, where the relationship is genuine and not entered into primarily for immigration purposes.
Common-law partner
For a partner you've generally lived with in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months.
Conjugal partner
A limited category for a qualifying partner outside Canada, where significant legal, immigration, social, cultural or religious barriers prevented marriage or cohabitation. This is not a convenience alternative to marriage or common-law status — it applies only where those barriers genuinely existed.
Dependent child
Generally a child under 22 who is not married or in a common-law relationship, or 22 or older where dependency requirements are met — continuous financial dependency since before turning 22, due to a mental or physical condition.
Sponsor responsibilities
Sponsoring a family member comes with specific legal responsibilities.
Undertaking and sponsorship agreement
Every sponsor signs an undertaking and sponsorship agreement committing to support the sponsored person.
Support for basic needs
Sponsors commit to supporting the sponsored person's basic needs, and may be responsible for repaying certain social assistance the sponsored person receives during the undertaking period.
Spouse or partner undertaking length
Generally 3 years outside Quebec, starting from the date the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.
Child undertaking length
Varies with the child's age and the applicable rules at the time of the application.
Applies to dependent-child sponsorship.
Quebec residents
Quebec runs its own separate sponsorship undertaking process alongside the federal application.
Applies only to sponsors residing in Quebec.
How It Works
How the sponsorship journey works
Every family's situation is different, but the shape of a sponsorship application generally looks like this.
Confirm eligibility
Confirm both the sponsor's and the family member's eligibility for the relevant category.
Prepare both applications
The sponsorship application and the sponsored person's permanent residence application are prepared together.
Submit sponsorship and PR applications
Both applications are submitted to IRCC as a package.
Complete IRCC requests and assessment
Respond to any requests for additional information, interviews, or checks during processing.
PR decision and settlement
IRCC issues a decision; an approved sponsored person becomes a permanent resident and settles in Canada.
Important things to know
Can I sponsor my spouse if I live outside Canada?
A Canadian citizen living abroad may potentially sponsor a spouse with an intention to live in Canada once the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident. A permanent resident living abroad generally cannot sponsor.
What's the difference between spouse, common-law and conjugal partner?
A spouse is legally married to the sponsor. A common-law partner has generally lived with the sponsor in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months. A conjugal partner is a limited category for a qualifying partner outside Canada where significant barriers prevented marriage or cohabitation — it is not a convenience alternative to the other two categories.
Is there a minimum income requirement to sponsor a spouse or partner?
Sponsor financial requirements can depend on your specific circumstances. We don't state a universal income threshold here — a consultation can confirm what applies to you.
How long am I financially responsible for the person I sponsor?
This depends on the undertaking length that applies to your category — generally 3 years for a spouse or partner outside Quebec, with a different length for a dependent child. Quebec has its own separate undertaking process.
Can a sponsored spouse or partner work in Canada while their PR application processes?
Eligible sponsored spouses or partners already in Canada may be able to apply for an open work permit under current IRCC rules. This isn't automatic for every applicant — eligibility depends on your specific circumstances.
Who qualifies as a dependent child?
Generally a child under 22 who is not married or in a common-law relationship, or 22 or older where they've been financially dependent since before turning 22 due to a mental or physical condition.
Can I sponsor my parents or grandparents right now?
New intake for the Parents and Grandparents Program is currently paused. If you're hoping to bring a parent or grandparent for a longer visit rather than permanent residence, the Super Visa on our Visit Canada page may be worth reviewing.
Family Sponsorship Eligibility
See whether family sponsorship may fit your circumstances
Answer a few questions about the sponsor and the family member you want to bring to Canada for an initial pathway review.
Your Family Sponsorship Assessment
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Ready to explore sponsoring a family member?
Book a consultation with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant to review your complete situation.