Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Canada, 18 years of age or older, may sponsor close relatives or family members including spouses, common-law/same-sex partners, conjugal partners who cannot live together and dependent children applying outside of Canada who want to become permanent residents of Canada.

There are three ways of sponsoring your relatives in Canada.

  •  Sponsoring your Spouse, Conjugal partner/Common law and or dependent children.
  •  Sponsoring your Parents and Grandparents
  •  Sponsoring Other Eligible Relative

Family Sponsorship

Sponsoring your Spouse, Conjugal partner/common law /same-sex partners or
dependent children.

You can sponsor your spouse, partner or dependent child if:

  • You’re at least 18 years old.
  • you’re a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian 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.

Sponsor Your Parents and Grandparents
Canada prioritizes the invaluable bond of family reunification, exemplified by its
sponsorship program enabling Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents. This commitment underscores the nation’s dedication to fostering strong familial ties and supporting the well-being of its residents.

You can sponsor your own parents and grandparents if

  •  you’re invited to apply
  •  you’re a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act


Sponsoring Other Eligible Relative

You can sponsor one relative regardless of age or relationship only if you do not have a living spouse or common-law partner, conjugal partner, a son or daughter, parent, grandparent, sibling, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece who could be sponsored as a member of the family class, and you do not have any relative who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident or registered as an Indian under the Indian Act.

The relatives that you can sponsor are:

Parents, grandparents, brothers or sisters, nephews or nieces, granddaughters or grandsons who are orphaned, under 18 years of age and not married or in a common-law relationship, another relative of any age or relationship, accompanying relatives of the above (for example, spouse, partner, and dependent children).