Canada Family Sponsorship

Looking to bring your family to Canada? Canada's family sponsorship programs allow citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their relatives for immigration.

Canada Family Sponsorship Programs Overview

Program	Who Can Be Sponsored	Processing Time	Key Features
Spouse/Partner Sponsorship	Married or common-law partners	12-18 months	Includes same-sex relationships
Parent/Grandparent Sponsorship (PGP)	Parents and grandparents	20-24 months	Lottery system for applications
Dependent Child Sponsorship	Children under 22	11-15 months	No income requirement
Other Relative Sponsorship	Orphaned siblings/relatives	Varies	Strict eligibility criteria

Spouse/Common-Law Partner Sponsorship

Eligibility Requirements:

• Sponsor must be Canadian citizen or PR
• Minimum age: 18 years
• Proof of genuine relationship (marriage certificate, joint accounts, photos)
• Sponsor must meet financial requirements (LICO)

Application Process:

• Sponsor submits application to IRCC
• Spouse applies for permanent residence
• Medical exam and background check
• Decision and landing

Processing Time:

• 12-18 months

Cost:

• CAD $1,080 (sponsor + applicant)

Parent/Grandparent Sponsorship (PGP)

Key Features:

• Lottery systemfor application selection
• Super Visa alternative available
• 20-year sponsorship obligation

Financial Requirements:

Family Size	Minimum Necessary Income
2 persons	CAD $43,082
4 persons	CAD $65,695

Processing Time:

• 20-24 months

Application Window:

• Typically opens in late Q3

Dependent Child Sponsorship

Requirements:

• Child must be under 22 (exceptions for full-time students)
• Not married or in common-law relationship
• Medical admissibility required

Processing Time:

• 11-15 months

Financial Requirements:

• No Income Requirement for sponsors

Other Family Sponsorship Options

Orphaned Relatives

• Brother/sister/nephew/niece/grandchild
• Must be under 18 and unmarried
• Both parents must be deceased

Lonely Canadian Relative

• Single Canadian with no family in Canada
• Can sponsor one relative of any age
• Extremely limited availability

Super Visa Alternative

For parents/grandparents who don't want permanent residence:

• Multiple-entry visa valid for 10 years
• Can stay up to 5 years per visit
• Requires private medical insurance

Processing Time:

• 4-6 months

Financial Requirements

Sponsors must prove income meets Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) + 30%:

Family Size	Minimum Income (CAD)
2 people	$43,082
4 people	$65,695
6 people	$86,713

Note:Income requirements waived for spouse/child sponsorships