Family sponsorship in Canada:
reunite your family with permanent residence
Spouse, children, parents or grandparents: family sponsorship is one of Canada's main permanent residence pathways. No points, no draw for a spouse - but a legally binding undertaking you need to understand before signing.
Free In English No commitment
Family sponsorship is the most human route to Canada: a citizen or permanent resident sponsors their spouse, children, parents or grandparents for permanent residence. The sponsored person has no points to score and no language test to pass. In exchange, the sponsor signs a serious financial undertaking, and the file must prove - document by document - that the relationship is genuine. This guide explains who can sponsor, who qualifies, how long it takes and what you commit to.
Who can sponsor?
Be 18 years of age or older
Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian
Live in Canada (a Canadian citizen sponsoring a spouse may live abroad)
Not be under a removal order or imprisoned
Have no convictions for serious offences against a person
Be up to date on prior financial obligations (support payments, government debts)
Who can be sponsored?
Spouse or partner
Married spouse, common-law partner (12 months of cohabitation) or conjugal partner
Dependent children
Biological or adopted, under 22 and unmarried
Parents
Biological or adoptive father and mother, through the PGP program
Grandparents
Grandparents of the sponsor or their spouse, through the PGP program
Siblings, nephews, nieces (specific cases)
Only orphaned, under 18 and unmarried
Other relative (specific cases)
If you have no other eligible family member in Canada or abroad
Spousal sponsorship: the most common
Outland stream (from abroad)
Your spouse lives outside Canada and applies for permanent residence from their country. The right fit when you do not yet have authorization to live together in Canada.
Inland stream (inside Canada)
Your spouse is already in Canada with valid temporary status. They can apply for an open work permit while the file is processed - working legally through the entire wait.
No minimum income
Unlike sponsoring parents, there is no income threshold to sponsor a spouse or a dependent child. The undertaking lasts 3 years. What decides the file is the proof that the relationship is genuine.
Parents and grandparents: PGP and Super Visa
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) runs on an annual lottery: IRCC opens an interest-to-sponsor form, draws candidates and issues invitations. Main conditions: prove the minimum necessary income (MNI) over 3 consecutive tax years, sign a 20-year undertaking (10 years if you live in Quebec) and reside in Canada.
The concrete alternative: Super Visa
If the lottery does not go your way or the income falls short, the Super Visa lets your parents and grandparents visit for up to 5 years per entry, renewable over 10 years, with medical insurance of at least $100,000 CAD and proof of the child's income. We prepare it end to end: visitor visa and Super Visa guide (French page - our team serves you in English).
The undertaking you sign
By signing, you commit to covering the sponsored person's essential needs (food, housing, clothing, dental care) for a fixed period:
| Relationship | Length of undertaking |
|---|---|
| Spouse or partner | 3 years |
| Dependent child under 22 | 10 years or until age 25 |
| Dependent child 22 or older | 3 years |
| Parents and grandparents | 20 years |
| Parents and grandparents (Quebec) | 10 years |
| Other family member | 10 years |
Important
The undertaking is legally enforceable. If the sponsored person receives social assistance during the period, the government will bill the sponsor for repayment. Signing without understanding this is the most expensive mistake in sponsorship.
Family sponsorship: frequently asked questions
Who can sponsor a family member in Canada?+
How long does spousal sponsorship take?+
Do I need a minimum income to sponsor my spouse?+
Can I sponsor my parents?+
What undertaking does the sponsor sign?+
What are the most common sponsorship mistakes?+
1,000+ families supported
Ready to reunite your family in Canada?
We verify your eligibility as a sponsor, build the proof of your relationship and walk with you all the way to reunification.