Family Class
Spouse, Common-Law, and Conjugal Partner Sponsorship
This program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for permanent residence. Sponsorship may be processed under the Family Class or the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class, depending on the applicant's circumstances and the chosen application process. Sponsors must meet eligibility requirements and commit to providing financial support for their partner's basic needs for three years after permanent residence is granted. The relationship must be genuine and meet the legal definition under Canadian immigration law.
Sponsor: A Canadian citizen or permanent resident who meets sponsorship requirements and agrees to a three-year financial undertaking. Sponsored Person: • Spouse: legally married to the sponsor (both must be at least 18). • Common-law partner: not married, but has lived with the sponsor in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months (short, temporary absences may be acceptable). • Conjugal partner: not married and not common-law, but in an exclusive relationship for at least 1 year and living outside Canada, where marriage or 12 months of cohabitation is not possible due to significant legal or social barriers.
Applications require detailed evidence demonstrating that the relationship is genuine and meets the legal requirements under Canadian immigration law.
Other Family Sponsorship Categories
Parents and Grandparent Sponsorship
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their biological or adopted parents and grandparents for permanent residence. The program operates through an invitation-based intake process, and sponsors must first be invited to apply. Sponsors must meet specific eligibility requirements, including minimum income thresholds for the three tax years preceding the application. Sponsors must also sign a long-term undertaking to financially support the sponsored family members after they become permanent residents.
Dependent Child Sponsorship
Dependent Child Sponsorship allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor an eligible dependent child for permanent residence. The child must qualify as a dependant under Canadian immigration rules and must not be inadmissible to Canada. In some cases, a child may qualify as a dependant due to a physical or mental condition that prevents them from being financially self-supporting. If you are sponsoring only your child (without sponsoring a spouse or partner), your child will be the principal applicant and you may need to provide proof that the other parent or legal guardian agrees to the child immigrating to Canada.
Other Relative Sponsorship
In limited and exceptional circumstances, Canadian citizens and permanent residents may sponsor certain relatives for permanent residence. Sponsors must be at least 18 years old, live in Canada, meet applicable income requirements, and sign an undertaking to financially support the sponsored person (and any accompanying family members) for up to 20 years, depending on the relationship. This category may apply to an orphaned sibling, nephew, niece, or grandchild who is under 18 and meets strict eligibility criteria. In rare cases, a sponsor may also be able to sponsor one other relative of any age if they have no other close family members they could sponsor and no other eligible relatives in Canada. All sponsored individuals must not be inadmissible to Canada.