Sponsoring & Settling Your Family in Canada

Canada allows permanent residents and citizens to sponsor family members for permanent residence. The most common family sponsorship categories are spousal/partner sponsorship, dependent child sponsorship, and parents/grandparents sponsorship. Spousal sponsorship: you can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner if you are a PR or citizen aged 18+. You must prove your relationship is genuine and not primarily for immigration. The process takes about 12 months. You are financially responsible for your spouse for 3 years after they become a PR. Dependent child sponsorship: you can sponsor children under 22 who are unmarried. The process is faster (6–12 months). Parents and grandparents sponsorship: this is the most competitive. IRCC opens the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) periodically, and you must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the past 3 consecutive years. The income requirement is $40,000+ depending on family size. Alternatively, the Super Visa allows parents/grandparents to visit for up to 5 years per entry (2 years at a time) — it requires medical insurance ($1,000/year) and an invitation letter. To sponsor, you sign an undertaking (a legal commitment to financially support your family member for 3–20 years depending on the relationship and their age). If they receive social assistance during that period, you must repay it. The application is submitted to IRCC with forms, fees ($1,080 for spousal, $150 for a child), and supporting documents (marriage certificate, birth certificates, proof of relationship, financial documents). Processing times vary: 12 months for spouses, 6–12 months for children, 20+ months for parents/grandparents. Once your family member arrives, help them apply for their SIN, health card, and bank account immediately — see our other newcomer guides for those steps.