The family sponsorship program in Canada is a way for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor certain relatives and come to Canada as permanent residents. The program is designed to reunite families who have been separated by distance and to help new immigrants settle into their new lives in Canada.
Who can I sponsor to come to Canada?
- Spouse, Common-law, or Conjugal Partner
- Parent or Grandparent Sponsorship
- Child or Other Dependent Sponsorship
- Other relatives (under exceptional circumstances as a “Lonely Canadian”)
Eligible a “Lonely Canadian” may be eligible to sponsor one extended relative to come to Canada. To sponsor a relative that falls outside of Canada’s current Family Class definition, sponsors must meet all the requirements to be considered a “Lonely Canadian”, which means the sponsor has no spouse, common-law partner, child, parent, or grandparent.
To sponsor a family member, you must meet minimum eligibility requirements. Eligible sponsors must:
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- be at least 18 years old
- live in Canada, or plan to return to Canada once your spouse or partner becomes a permanent resident of Canada
- support your relative financially when they arrive
- be able to meet basic needs for yourself and your relative, such as: food, shelter, clothing
- make sure your relative doesn’t need social assistance