Canada Family Sponsorship Requirements: Complete Checklist

Surya Rathee
[Published 09 Nov, 2023 | 03:24 PM]
About Author - 8 min read
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Canada is committed to bringing families together - and offers one of the best “Family Reunification” programs in the world. The Family Class Sponsorship is designed for permanent residents or citizens of Canada who wish to bring along their family members to Canada.

If you're eager to sponsor your parents & grandparents, spouse, partner, or dependent children to become permanent residents of Canada, this blog provides a complete checklist to help you navigate the process of the Canada Family Sponsorship Program.

Bringing Your Family Members to Canada

Who is eligible?

To be eligible to sponsor your family members under the Canada Family Sponsorship Program, you must:

Be at least 18 years old.
Be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act. If you're a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must demonstrate your intention to live in Canada when the individuals you want to sponsor become permanent residents. You cannot sponsor someone if you're a permanent resident living outside Canada.
Prove that you are not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability.
Demonstrate your ability to provide for the basic needs of the persons you wish to sponsor.

Immigrate to Canada with Family in 90 Days

Who can you sponsor?

You can sponsor the following family members:

Your Spouse:

Your spouse can be of any gender and must be legally married to you and at least 18 years old.

Your Common-Law Partner:

Your common-law partner isn't legally married to you, can be of any gender, is at least 18 years old, and has been living with you for at least 12 consecutive months. This means you have been living together continuously for 1 year in a conjugal relationship, with no long periods apart.

Your Conjugal Partner:

Your conjugal partner isn't legally married to you or in a common-law relationship with you, can be of any gender, is at least 18 years old, has been in a relationship with you for at least 1 year, lives outside Canada, and can't live with you in their country of residence or marry you due to significant legal and immigration reasons such as their marital status, sexual orientation, and persecution.

Dependent Children:

Children qualify as dependents if they meet the following requirements:

They're under 22 years old.
They don't have a spouse or common-law partner.

Children 22 years old or older qualify as dependents if they meet the following criteria:

They are unable to financially support themselves due to a mental or physical condition.
They have depended on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22.

Parents or Grandparents:

You can sponsor your own parents and grandparents, related by blood or adoption.

How to Apply For Family Sponsorship?

To sponsor your parents & grandparents, spouse, partner, or child, there are two applications to complete:

Application 1: Apply to Sponsor

The sponsor must download and complete the PDF forms in the application package.
Digitally sign the forms, along with the person you're sponsoring (principal applicant).
The principal applicant will upload the forms to their online application.
Electronically sign the entire application, including those of any other family members.
The application package includes the document checklist, forms, and an instruction guide to help you and your family members complete the forms correctly.

Application 2: Apply to Be Sponsored (Permanent Residence)

You must fill out digital forms online, which include:

Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
Schedule A - Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
Supplementary Information - Your travels (IMM 5562)

Pay Your Application Fees

In most cases, your fees will include processing fees for you, the persons you're sponsoring, and their dependents, right of permanent residence fee, biometrics fee, and other third-party fees including Medical exam fee and Police certificate fee.

Fees	$CAN
Sponsor your spouse or partner Sponsorship fee ($75), principal applicant processing fee ($490), and right of permanent residence fee ($515)	1,080
Sponsor your spouse or partner without right of permanent residence fee Sponsorship fee ($75) and principal applicant processing fee ($490)	565
Include any dependent child Include any dependent child on an application with your spouse or partner ($155)	155/Child
Independently sponsor a dependent child Sponsorship fee ($75) and processing fee ($75)	150/Child
Sponsor your parent or grandparent Sponsorship fee ($75), principal applicant processing fee ($490), and right of permanent residence fee ($515)	1,080
Sponsor your parent or grandparent (without the right of permanent residence fee) Sponsorship fee ($75) and principal applicant processing fee ($490)	565
Include the spouse or partner of your parent or grandparent Processing fee ($570) and right of permanent residence fee ($515)	1,085
Include the spouse or partner of your parent or grandparent (without the right of permanent residence fee) Processing fee ($570)	570
Include a dependent child of your parent or grandparent	155/Child
Biometrics – per person	85
Biometrics – per family (2 or more people) Maximum fee for a family of 2 or more people applying at the same time and place	170
Biometrics – per group (3 or more performing artists) Maximum fee for a group of 3 or more performing artists applying at the same time and place	255

Submit Your Online Application

Before submitting your application, make sure to answer all questions. Electronically sign your application (type your full name exactly as shown on your passport). Also, make sure to include your processing fee receipt while uploading the supporting documents.

After You Apply

IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) will review your Family Sponsorship application. They will return it to you if it's incomplete or if fees are missing. If they begin processing your application, they will provide you with an application number, and an acknowledgment of receipt, and assess your eligibility as a sponsor and the eligibility of the person you're sponsoring to apply for Canada PR visa.

Prepare for Arrival

When your sponsored family members arrive at the port of entry to Canada, they must present the following documents to the border services officer:

Confirmation of Permanent Residence.
Permanent resident visa (if issued one), which must be valid.
Quebec Selection Certificate if they're going to live in Quebec.
Any other document issued by IRCC and instructed to bring.

Breaking News: Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2024 -26 Announced

Canada Family Class Sponsorship is one of the most sought-after pathways for moving to Canada permanently.

Sponsoring a family member under the Family Class Sponsorship program takes around 12-14 months – from start to finish. The processing times can be longer - depending on the nature of your case. You may experience processing delays if you have a complicated case, and the IRCC requires additional proof of your relationship.

The best way to make sure that your sponsorship application is processed within the standard processing times is to make sure that it is done right the first time.

Good Luck!

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