Family Sponsorship
How You Can Sponsor For Canadian Immigration
Canada invites over 100,000 family-class immigrants annually. Most of the immigrants arrive through the spouses, partners, and children category while a few arrive under the Parents and Grandparents Program. The policies around sponsoring other family members are not that known. However, it is extremely important to always remember that IRCC allows you to sponsor your family in specific situations.
Canadian citizens or PR holders who are above the age of 18 years and registered under Canada’s Indian Act stand eligible to sponsor their family for Canadian PR. Most people sponsor their spouses, parents, or grandparents. There are two more options for who you can sponsor.
Orphaned Sibling, Nephew, Niece, Or Grandchild
The Canadian Immigration body, IRCC allows you to sponsor an orphaned sibling, nephew, niece or grandchild if the below criteria are met:
- If you are related either by blood or through adoption
- If both of the parents passed away
- If they are aged below 18 years
- If they are not married or in a common-law or conjugal relationship
On the contrary, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada state one cannot sponsor a family member if the below applies:
- If one of the parents is alive
- If the location of the parents is not known
- If they were abandoned by their parents
- If the child is taken care of by someone else while one or both parents are alive
- If the parent is in jail or detained
Other Relatives
Another way, one can also sponsor a relative which is related by blood or adoption of any age in case the below criteria are met.
- If the sponsor does not have a living relative that they could sponsor instead such as a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, child, parent, grandparent, or an orphaned sibling, nephew/niece, or grandchild
- If the sponsor does not have any relatives that are Canadian citizens, PR holders or are registered under the Indian Act
- If the relative you are going to sponsor has a spouse, partner, or dependent children who wish to come to Canada, you will be required to include them on the same sponsorship application.
Application Process
It is a two-step application process. You can simply apply to sponsor your relatives and they can apply for PR. One is required to submit both applications to IRCC at the same time.
IRCC offers the below guidelines on how to prepare and submit an application.
- Ensure that you and your relatives meet the eligibility criteria
- Thoroughly read the application guidelines
- Attach all requested documents and evidence in your application. You will need to submit documents such as proof of income and sign legal declarations such as committing to financially support your relative upon their arrival to Canada
- Be honest with all the answers
- Submit applicable fees
- Make sure your relatives and their close family (if applicable) complete the required health and security checks
