Citizens and permanent residents (landed immigrants) may sponsor someone to Canada provided they are eligible to apply for sponsorship. Many Canadian citizens and landed immigrants want to bring their spouses or siblings to Canada. If the partner or siblings or family member wants to live in Canada the Canadian Citizen or permanent resident has the chance to sponsor them.
Family sponsorship is one of the easiest ways to have a loved one obtain a Canadian Permanent Residence. It is a new way to help your family members and relatives to get permanent residence in Canada.
India and China have been the biggest beneficiaries of this program with about 28,125 immigrants coming to Canada from both countries in 2019. With the Family sponsorship program, you can sponsor any member of your family to Canada.
There are several criteria for someone who wants to sponsor and the sibling being sponsored. The good news is that being a sister or a brother of a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident can be a great path to immigration to Canada.
Who Can Sponsor Someone to Canada?
You can sponsor someone to Canada if
- you are at least 18 years
- you are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or you are registered as an Indian according to Canada India Act.
- You’re able to prove that you’re not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability
- you can provide for the basic needs of any persons you want to sponsor
Who Cannot Sponsor Someone To Canada?
You can not sponsor someone to Canada if
- you are not at least 18 years
- you are not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or registered as an Indian.
- you’re a temporary resident, that is you’re visiting, studying, or working in Canada on a visa or permit
- your permanent residence application is still in the process
- you don’t have enough money to support the persons you want to sponsor
- were sponsored by a spouse or partner and you became a permanent resident less than 5 years ago
- are still financially responsible for a previous spouse or partner that you sponsored.
Who Can You Sponsor To Canada?
As a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian you can sponsor any member of your family members that you registered when you submitted your applicants for permanent residence in Canada. You can sponsor them to come and visit, live or work in Canada. You can also sponsor them to become permanent residents in Canada once you are eligible.
As a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a registered Indian, you can sponsor the following family members that are registered.
Your spouse
Your spouse can either be a male or female that is
- at least 18 years
- legally married to you
Your common-law partner
Your common-law partner is a person not legally married to you but has stayed with you for at least 12 months. Your common-law partner
- must be at least 18 years
- can be either sex
- must be living with you for at least 12 consecutive months with only short or temporary time apart from you.
Your conjugal partner
Your conjugal partner:
- isn’t legally married to you or in a common-law relationship with you
- can be either sex
- is at least 18 years old
- has been in a relationship with you for at least 1 year
- lives outside Canada
- can’t live with you in their country of residence or marry you because of significant legal and immigration reasons.
Dependent children
Your dependent children are your children who don’t have a spouse or common-law partners and are less than 22 years. Any child above the age of 22 years or who is below 22 but has a spouse or common-law partner is no longer your dependant and you can not sponsor that person.
Children above 22 years can qualify as your dependent children if
- they are unable to financially support themselves because of a mental or physical condition
- they have depended on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22
Your dependent children include the following:
- your own child
- your spouse or partner and their child
Who Is Eligible To Be Sponsored
In order to show that they need the requirements for sponsorship, your spouse, partner or dependent child including their dependent children must submit
- all required forms and documents with their application
- any additional information we request during processing, including medical exams, biometrics.
How To Sponsor Family Members To Canada
Apart from your spouse, partner, or dependent children, you can sponsor other relatives and family members. The relatives you can sponsor include: parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, granddaughter and grandson who is orphaned, and other relatives who qualify.
How To Sponsor Parents and Grandparents To Canada
You can sponsor your parents or grandparents to Canada if you meet the requirements. You must
- be at least 18 years
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or a registered Indian
- have enough money to take care of them in Canada.
You cannot sponsor a parent or grandparent if you
- are less than 18 years
- don’t live in Canada
- you don’t have enough money to take care of them
You can only sponsor your own parents and grandparents related by blood and adoption who meet the eligibility requirements. To show that they meet the requirements, the parent or grandparent must submit
- all required forms and documents with their application
- any additional information we request during processing, including:
- medical exams
- police certificates
- biometrics
How To Sponsor A Brother Or Sister And Other Relatives To Canada
You can sponsor relatives such as your brother, sister, uncle, or aunt if
- you are at least 18 years
- you are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a registered Indian
- you must also live in Canada to be able to sponsor a relative.
- you must take care of the relative.
You may be ineligible to sponsor a relative like your brother or sister to Canada if you
- are in jail
- you are less than 18 years
- if you are declared bankrupt
You can only sponsor relatives like a brother, sister, uncle, and aunt. These relatives can qualify under two criteria.
Orphaned Brother, Sister, Nephew, Niece or Grandchild
You can sponsor an orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild only if they meet all of these conditions:
- they’re related to you by blood or adoption
- both their mother and father passed away
- they’re under 18 years of age
- they’re single
You cannot sponsor relatives if
- one of their parents is still alive
- no one knows where their parents are
- their parents abandoned them
- someone else other than their parents is taking care of them while one or both their parents are alive
- their parent is in jail or otherwise detained.
Other Relatives
You can sponsor one relative related by blood or adoption if you meet the following requirements
- you don’t have a living relative you could sponsor instead, such as a: spouse; common-law partner; conjugal partner; son or daughter; parent; grandparent; orphaned brother, or sister; orphaned nephew or niece; orphaned grandchild.
- you don’t have any relatives (aunt or uncle or any of the relatives listed above), who is a: Canadian citizen; permanent resident or registered Indian.
How To Apply To Sponsor Someone To Canada
If you want to sponsor someone to Canada including your spouse, common-law partner, dependent child, or relatives, you will have to follow four simple steps.
Before you start the process, there are two applications
- You must apply to become a sponsor.
- Your spouse, partner, child, parent, grandparent, or relatives must apply for permanent residence.
When you have filled the form then you can follow this process.
Get The Application Package
You will have to get an application package that contains
- document checklist for you and the persons you want to sponsor
- forms you and the persons you want to sponsor need to fill out
- instruction guide to help you and your family members fill out the forms correctly.
Read the guide very well and make sure
- you’re eligible to sponsor before you apply
- you list all your family members
- all the information on your application is true
- your application is complete
Pay Your Application Fees
After you have filled your application form, you make sure to pay your application fees. Your fees and include
- processing fees for you, the persons you’re sponsoring, and their dependants
- the right of permanent residence fee
- the biometrics fee
The fees must be paid online
Submit Your Sponsorship Application
After filling the forms and you are sure the information is complete and true, then you have to submit the application.
You can choose to use either courier service or regular mail to submit your application. If you choose to use a courier service, courier services will help you to track your application. If your application is not complete or your fees are missing, your application will be returned to you.
Send Additional Information During Processing
During processing, the person you are sponsoring will be asked to send additional information like biometrics, medical test, and police report.
It is necessary to keep them ready because they will have limited time to submit them. If any of these documents are missing, your application may not be processed in time or it may be refused or rejected.
Income Required To Sponsor Someone To Canada
There is no minimum income required before you can sponsor someone to Canada, all you have to do is show that you can take care of the person you are sponsoring for a particular time in your agreement.
But you must show that you can take care of those depending on the person you are sponsors before you can sponsor the person.
Processing Fee For Sponsoring Someone To Canada
The processing fee depends on the person you are sponsoring. The processing fee for a child begins from $150, but it can exceed that amount.
For spouse, common-law part-time, parents, grandparents and older relatives, it is from $1,050.
Processing Time For Sponsoring Someone To Canada
The processing time for sponsoring someone to Canada varies from country to country. It depends on your country, but for children, it can be done in 12 months and for parents and grandparents, expect it to be done within 24 months.
FAQ About How to sponsor someone to Canada
- Who can sponsor an immigrant to Canada?
- Anyone who meets the eligibility requirements can sponsor immigrants to Canada. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years; must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or a registered Indian and you must live in Canada.
- How long does it take to sponsor parents to Canada?
- It takes about 20 to 24 months to sponsor your parents to Canada. The time can vary depending on your country of residence. The processing time includes the time you have to submit your biometrics.
- How to sponsor family members to Canada?
- You must send both your sponsorship application and the permanent residence application for your relatives at the same time.
To qualify as a sponsor, you must be at least 18 years, be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident or a registered Indian; or must live in Canada.
- How to sponsor a spouse outside Canada?
- If you want to sponsor your spouse, you may sponsor them under the Family Class or under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class. Then you will fill two forms, one for the sponsor and the other for your spouse. You must make sure that the information is true and complete to avoid your application being refused or rejected. You must also make sure that both you and your spouse meet the requirements.
- Can I sponsor my friend to Canada?
- No, you can not sponsor a friend to Canada. A friend does not fall under the family class. Those eligible under the family class include a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner; and dependent children. You can also sponsor your brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles.
- Can I sponsor my cousin to Canada?
- Yes, you can sponsor your cousin to Canada as your relative on the following conditions: you don’t have a living relative you could sponsor instead, such as a: spouse; common-law partner; conjugal partner; son or daughter; parent; grandparent; orphaned brother or sister; orphaned nephew or niece; orphaned grandchild.
You don’t have any relatives (aunt or uncle or any of the relatives listed above), who is a: Canadian citizen; permanent resident, or registered Indian.
