Sponsor Your Family in Canada
Learn how to initiate the process of reuniting with your loved ones in Canada through Family Class Sponsorship.
Are you a Canadian permanent resident or citizen wishing to bring your loved ones to Canada? The Canadian immigration system prioritizes family unification. The Family Class Sponsorship Program can help make this reunion possible.
Overview of Family Class Sponsorship Program
Canada's Family Class stands as the second most significant immigration category, presenting a crucial avenue for newcomers. Citizens and permanent residents aged 18 or older possess the ability to sponsor specific family members for Canadian permanent residency, affording them the opportunity to reside, study, and work within the country.
Eligibility for Sponsorship
To be sponsored, the individual must either be:
- A spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner.
- A dependent child (including those under 22 without their own spouse or partner, and those over 22 with specific financial or health dependencies).
- A parent or grandparent.
- A sibling, nephew, niece, or grandchild under 18 years, unmarried, and orphaned.
The person seeking sponsorship typically resides outside Canada, though exceptions exist for those in Canada on legal temporary grounds such as work or study permits.
Sponsorship Requirements
A sponsor must:
- Be a Canadian permanent resident or citizen above 18 years.
- Reside in Canada or, if a citizen, intend to once the sponsored individual arrives.
However, one cannot sponsor if:
- Imprisoned.
- Under a removal order.
- Facing bankruptcy.
- Relying on social assistance, barring disability exceptions.
- Holding specific criminal records.
- Defaulting on financial or sponsorship obligations.
A sponsorship agreement entails a commitment to support the sponsored individual for a duration that varies based on the relation. This commitment remains binding regardless of any changes in the sponsor's or the sponsored individual's status or residence.
Additional Formalities
The sponsored person must undergo a medical exam and, if applicable, provide biometrics. Police certificates from significant residency locations are also required.
For Quebec residents, after meeting federal criteria, an additional step is required for the provincial government.
Categories for Spouse/Partner Sponsorship
- Spouse: Recognized by both the country of origin's legal standards and Canadian law.
- Common-law Partner: Cohabitation for at least a continuous year in a conjugal relationship.
- Conjugal Partner: A 12-month conjugal relationship, mirroring the commitment of a marriage or common-law partnership, faced with specific barriers to living together.
- Same-sex Relationships: Valid for immigration within the mentioned categories.
- Dependent Child Definition: A dependent child can be either a direct offspring of the sponsor or of the sponsor's partner. Criteria include age restrictions and financial dependencies. The child's own dependent offspring also have specific financial requirements for the sponsor.
Don't Know Where to Start?
Ask Kate Grinshpon - Licensed Canadian Immigration Consultant
Other Immigration Avenues
If Family Class Sponsorship isn't feasible, potential immigrants can consider the Express Entry system or Provincial Nominee Programs, offering various criteria and advantages. Adopted children have distinct processes, aligned with provincial and territorial requirements.
Book Your Appointment
With an Immigration Expert in Calgary
Our Family Sponsorship Immigration Consultation is dedicated to helping individuals reunite with their family members by guiding them through the process of sponsoring them to live in Canada. Schedule an online consultation with Immigration Consultant in Calgary to explore how you can bring your loved ones closer to you.
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