Do you want to apply for a Canada visa family sponsorship program? Smile, for there is a piece of good news for those wishing to sponsor their family members to come to Canada. Every year, Canada welcomes over 100,000 emigrants through family sponsorship. So, this year might be your turn to migrate to your dream country (Canada) through the Family Visa sponsorship program
To learn more about this, come along with us as we take you through the Canada visa family sponsorship requirements.
Also covered here are:
- Overview of Canadian Immigration Family Sponsorship
- How to Apply for Family Sponsorship
- Sponsor your Wife, Husband, or Common-law Partner
- Sponsor your Dependent Children, Parents, and Grandparents
- Canada family sponsorship visa application guidelines,
- How to be eligible to sponsor a family member,
- How many relatives can I sponsor to Canada? etc.
- Frequently Asked Questions, etc.
As a country devoted to family reunification and keeping loved ones together, Canada has numerous immigration programs that allow Canadian residents to sponsor family members to come to Canada.
More so, IRCC (formerly CIC) accepts approximately 80% of these immigrants through the Spouses, Partners, and Children Program, and the remaining 20% through the Parents and Grandparents Program.
This detailed Canada Visa page clarifies how to sponsor your family and loved ones for travel to Canada.
Overview of Family Sponsorship in Canadian Immigration
One of the pillars of Canada’s immigration scheme is family reunification. Since the end of the Second World War, Canada has sought to welcome immigrants in order to strengthen its economy, reunite families, and for humanitarian and humane reasons.
The family class is Canada’s second-largest category of newcomers under its Immigration Levels Plan. To support its post-COVID economic recovery, Canada is pursuing the highest levels of immigration in its history. As a result, Canada plans to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants per year, with over 100,000 falling into the family category.
The Department of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship in Canada, or IRCC for short, supervises the country’s immigration system. However, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, or CIC, was the formal name for the department. The IRCC creates and oversees Canada’s family sponsorship program.
Establishing program criteria, accepting and reviewing family sponsorship applications, and issuing permanent and temporary resident visas are all part of the job.
What is Canadian family sponsorship?
- It enables a member of your family to immigrate to Canada and obtain permanent residence (PR).
- It requires you, as an individual, to commit to meeting basic needs and financially supporting that person.
What is Family Sponsorship Visa? Canada Visa
Canada has sponsorship programs for both permanent residents and citizens who want to bring their loved ones to Canada. These programs permit certain family members to become permanent residents of Canada.
One of the most famous streams of Canadian immigration, family sponsorship programs make it easy for citizens and permanent residents to bring their partners and immediate family members to Canada.
However, this Canada visa family sponsorship comes with reduced processing times because Canada understands that families should never be put on hold.
Who can sponsor (family sponsorship) someone to Canada?
If your relative becomes a permanent resident of Canada, he or she will be able to live, study, and work in the country. That’s if you’re over the age of 18 and a
- Canadian citizen or
- permanent resident of Canada or
- an individual registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Law
Can I sponsor someone to come to Canada? Canada visa family sponsorship
Conjugal Partner, Common-law Partner, or Spouse
You may be able to sponsor your partner, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for Canadian permanent residence, regardless of whether they are in Canada on a valid temporary visa or living abroad.
Applicants who are already in Canada may be qualified for an open work permit in Canada, allowing couples to alleviate some of their financial burdens.
A spousal open work permit permits sponsored persons to work in Canada while their sponsorship application is being processed. Because Canada recognizes common-law partnerships, if you and your partner are not married but have been living together for at least one year, you may be qualified to apply for spousal sponsorship.
Parent or Grandparent Visa Sponsorship: The Canada visa family sponsorship
Through the parent and grandparent sponsorship scheme, Canada extends its obligation to family reunification to the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
However, citizens and permanent residents must show financial support for their family by meeting the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the size of their family unit in order to sponsor a parent or grandparent.
They must also agree to support their sponsored family members financially if need be. Sponsors who are unable to provide permanent support for their parent or grandparent may be qualified for a Super Visa, a long-term, multiple-entry visa for Canadian citizens and permanent residents’ parents and grandparents.
Child or Other Dependant Visa Sponsorship Requirements – Canada visa family sponsorship
Sponsors can include their children as accompanying dependents on their application for permanent residence if they are immigrating to Canada. If you prefer not to include them or are unable to do so, they may be able to join you in Canada afterward.
The Canadian child sponsorship program in Canada allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their biological or adopted children under the age of 22 for permanent residence if they are unmarried and have no children.
A child over the age of 22 may be regarded as dependent if they have a physical or mental condition that makes it impossible for them to support themselves.
Recommended posts for you:
Canada Visa Requirements And Application Guidelines
The Best USA Travel Guides and Advice – All You Must To Know
Orphaned Brother, Sister, Nephew, Niece, or Grandchild
In some cases, Canadian citizens or permanent residents may be capable of supporting an orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild to enter Canada. Regardless, to be eligible for sponsorship, your orphaned relative must be:
- unmarried,
- under the age of 18, and
- related to you by blood or adoption.
Other relatives (under Exceptional Cases as a “Lonely Canadian”)
In exceptional circumstances, Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents may be able to sponsor one extended relative to come to Canada. However, sponsors must be regarded as “Lonely Canadian” to sponsor a relative who does not fit into Canada’s current Family Class definition.
This means that the sponsor does not have a partner, common-law partner, child, parent, or grandparent.
How To Be Eligible to Sponsor a Family Member: Canada Visa
To sponsor a family member, you must meet the minimum eligibility conditions Stated below. Eligible sponsors must:
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- be at least 18 years old
- live in Canada or have the intention to return to Canada once your spouse or partner becomes a permanent resident
- be able and ready to meet your family member’s basic financial needs for 3 years
Who is Not Eligible to Sponsor a Relative?
In some circumstances, a permanent resident or citizen is ineligible to sponsor. However, if any of the following scenarios listed below apply, a sponsor may not be eligible:
- are currently in prison
- have failed to make alimony or child support payments
- have proclaimed bankruptcy and are still being held
- received social security benefits for reasons other than a disability
- failed to repay an immigration loan, or made late or missed payments
- have onetime sponsored another relative but failed to meet the sponsorship agreement’s terms
- Depending on the truth of the case, you may have been convicted of a violent offense, a crime against a relative, or a sexual offense.
How Much Does it Cost to Finance/Support a Family Member In Canada?
A $150 payment is required for each child included in the application if you are sponsoring your spouse and they have dependent children, or if you are sponsoring your adopted child.
However, if you include your relative’s spouse or partner, an additional $1,050 is required. Below are the government processing fees for sponsoring a relative in Canada for Canada Visa.
- Sponsorship fee: $75
- Principal applicant processing fee: $475
- Right of permanent residence fee: $500
- Biometrics: $85
- Total: $1135
However, if the sponsor lives in or intends to live in Quebec after receiving permanent residence, a fee of CAD 289 must be paid in addition to the fees listed above.
Income Requirement for Canada Visa Family Sponsorship
Some sponsorship applications have minimum income requirements, which include parents, grandparents, eligible orphaned relatives, or those qualified under the “lonely Canadian” policy.
Therefore, these sponsors must meet the required Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the size of their family unit and provide Canada Revenue Agency-issued Notices of Assessment (NOA) as evidence that they have met the required MNI for at least 3 consecutive years.
Canada Visa Family Sponsorship Requirements
Unlike some other types of Canadian sponsorship, there is no minimum income requirement to sponsor a partner. However, anytime you sponsor a family member to travel to Canada, you must sign an undertaking pledging to provide financial support for your sponsored family member’s basic needs.
This undertaking is needed for all sponsorship applications and identifies a sponsor’s promise to repay social assistance benefits received by the sponsor and their family member(s) over 20 years. Similarly, if the sponsor lives in Quebec, a supplementary undertaking must be signed.
The term of the project is determined by the type of sponsorship. However, the duration of the undertaking for spousal sponsorship (including partners and common-law or conjugal partners) is 3 years from the day the sponsored person becomes a Canadian permanent resident.
Similarly, Canadian citizens or permanent residents who sponsor their dependent children are exempted from meeting the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI), as long as their dependent child does not have any children of their own. However, if the sponsored dependent child has dependent children of their own, the sponsor must meet the MNI for their family unit size.
Do I need a job to be able to sponsor a family member for a Canada Visa?
First and foremost, applicants must meet the MNI requirements to sponsor a family member other than a spouse or partner. However, while a job may not be required, sponsors must provide proof of sufficient income from the previous 3 years to support their sponsored family members.
How Long Does Visa Sponsorship Take?
From start to finish, approximately, visa sponsorship applications take about a year to process. However, visa sponsorships are typically processed within 12 months, but depending on the nature of the case, it may take longer than that.
Note that your application may be delayed if you have a complicated case or the visa officer requires additional proof of your relationship with the person.
Read also: Canada Visa Requirements And Application Guidelines
However, the best way to ensure that your sponsorship application is processed as fast as possible is to do it correctly the first time. Canadim’s lawyers and legal professionals have assisted thousands of spousal sponsorship candidates, so they can be of help to you as well.
What Other Options do I have for Bringing a Family member to Canada? Canada Visa
If sponsorship is not available, your relative may be able to enter Canada through another immigration scheme. Take our free online assessment to learn more about your immigration options or those of your family members.
How Many Family Members Can One Sponsor to Travel to Canada?
A Canadian permanent resident or citizen can finance an unlimited number of qualified family members. Applicants must, however, submit separate applications for each qualified family member being financed.
Sponsoring a Family Member in Quebec
The federal government offers Quebec more leeway in selecting who will live there. In line withe, a permanent residents or citizen in Quebec must first apply to the Quebec Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation, et de l’Intégration (MIFI) for permission to sponsor a qualified family member.
MIFI is in control of approving sponsorship agreements for sponsors residing in Quebec.
Canadian Sponsorship Background Check
Someone above the age of 18 who applies for permanent residence in Canada must provide a Police Clearance Certificate to prove they are not criminally unacceptable.
Applicant must get police clearances from all countries he has lived in for at least 6 months since the age of 18.
Canadian Sponsorship Biometrics Requirements- Canada visa family sponsorship
Most immigration applicants in Canada need to provide biometrics. However, to find out if you need to provide biometrics, make use of Canada’s online tool.
Furthermore, after submitting your application and paying your biometric fee, you will receive a letter from IRCC with instructions on how to submit your biometrics.
Post you may like: The Best USA Travel Guides and Travel Advice – All You Must To Know
Canadian Sponsorship Medical Exam Requirements – Canada visa family sponsorship Requirements
People applying for Canada permanent residence must pass a medical exam to ensure they are not medically inadmissible.
However, you do not need to submit your medical exam with your application. Following the submission of your sponsorship application, IRCC will send you instructions on how to complete your medical examination.
TNote, the medical examination must be performed by a doctor on the IRCC’s panel physician list.
How To Check the Status of Sponsorship Application: Canada Visa
Applicants who applied for spousal, common-law, or dependent child sponsorship, can check the status of their application via Canada’s Permanent Residence Application Tracker.
However, if you are sponsoring another family member, the method by which you check your application status will depend on whether you submitted your application online or by mail. To know more about how to check your sponsorship application status use IRC C’s online tool.
Is there a Deadline for the Submission of Canadian Visa Family Sponsorship Applications?
No, there is no deadline. Eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents can apply to sponsor their spouse or child at any time any day.
However, applicants who wish to sponsor their parents or grandparents must be invited to do so and must apply before the deadline date.
Can I sponsor my brother or sister to travel to Canada?
Sponsoring your siblings to come to Canada as Canadian citizens or permanent residents is very difficult. However, it is only possible if you meet the criteria for “Lonely Canadian” status or if they can be listed as dependents on your parental sponsorship application.
Can I Sponsor My Fiance to Come to Canada?
Canada does not allow Canadian permanent residents or citizens to sponsor their fiancée’s entry into Canada. To apply under the spousal sponsorship class, Canadian citizens and permanent residents must be married.
Alternatively, if your fiancé is eligible as a common-law partner, you may be able to sponsor them to enter Canada.
Can Sponsor My Girlfriend/Boyfriend to Come to Canada?
There is no program in Canada that allows you to sponsor your boyfriend or girlfriend to come to Canada. However, to sponsor your boyfriend/girlfriend to come to Canada, you must be a common-law partner or married.
Similarly, Canadian permanent residents and citizens may be able to sponsor their conjugal partner in certain circumstances.
Can I sponsor My Friend to come to Canada? Canada Family Sponsorship Visa
No program in Canada allows a permanent resident or citizen to sponsor a friend to come to Canada.
However, if your friend wishes to immigrate to Canada, he/she may be qualified under another immigration program.
Is there an Age Limit for Canada Visa Sponsorship in Canada?
Yes, Canadian citizens or permanent residents must be at least 18 years old to be eligible to sponsor a family member. However, there is no upper age limit for sponsoring a family member to immigrate to Canada.
Can my spouse or common-law partner work in Canada while processing their inland spousal sponsorship application?
Yes, if your spouse or common-law partner is in Canada and has a valid work permit, s/he may continue to work until their visa expires. Similarly, if they have a valid study or visitor visa and are in Canada, they may be eligible to apply for an open work permit, which allows them to work while their application is being processed.
I am adopting a child. Is it necessary to wait until the adoption is finalized before beginning the sponsorship process application?
No, if the adoption process is close to completion, you can begin the sponsorship process.
What Exactly is a Sponsorship Undertaking?
To begin the sponsorship application, you will be asked to sign an “undertaking” in which you agree to be legally responsible for anybody you are sponsoring. Note, you will be asked to repay this money if that family member requires government social assistance.
The undertaking will remain effective for the duration specified by the family member you are sponsoring and will not be terminated even if circumstances change.
Similarly, the duration of the agreement you must sign will be determined by the family member you are sponsoring and, in the case of children, their age.
How to Apply for a Family Sponsorship Visa
To apply for a Canada visa family sponsorship, follow these steps:
- Ensure you are eligible to be a sponsor.
- Make sure that the relatives you want to sponsor meet the eligibility criteria.
- At the federal level, apply to the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) but, if you are a Quebec resident, to the Ministry of Immigration, Francization, and Integration at the provincial level (MIFI).
- You must submit your sponsorship application together with the applications for permanent residence (PR) status of your family members or relatives.
- Your PR application will be reviewed after you have been confirmed to be eligible to sponsor.
- Applicant must pay the application fee for family sponsorship.
- Deliver your application to the appropriate address. This information can be found in the sponsorship guide, available for download on the Canadian government website.
How Do I Apply For Family Sponsorship: Requirements for Canada visa family sponsorship
To apply to sponsor a relative, applicants must complete the following steps:
- Download the application form from the government’s website, read the instruction manual, and fill out the forms correctly.
- Make payment application fees (including processing fees, biometrics, and any other third-party fees).
- Send your application to the address in the application guide.
Do you want to come to Canada or Extend Your Visa?
Find out if you are qualified to apply for a Canada Visa and an extension.
Would you want to work, study, visit, travel through, or live permanently in Canada?
If yes, then answer a few questions below to learn more about the various immigration programs available to you. Each immigration program has a different method of application and eligibility requirements. The form should take you about 10-15 minutes to finish.
You may be asked questions about your:
- nationality
- age
- language ability
- family members
- education
- work experience
- income and/or net worth
- details on any job offer
After answering the above questions, we will tell you which program you may be eligible for based on your answers, so please be as accurate as possible.
If you are qualified, we will provide you with detailed instructions on what you can do next.
Declaimer: Note that this information about “Canada visa family sponsorship” is provided for reference purposes only; no immigration decisions will be made based on your responses here. Therefore, if you decide to apply, your application will be reviewed by an immigration officer in accordance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, regardless of the results of this questionnaire.
Was the post on “Canada visa family sponsorship” helpful?
Drop your answer in the comment about the Canada Visa in the box below.
Leave a Reply