How to Sponsor Family Members to Come to Canada

Family Sponsorship in Canada

Canada's Family Class immigration allows permanent residents and citizens to sponsor close family members to join them. Family reunification is one of Canada's immigration priorities, and family-sponsored immigrants make up over 25% of new permanent residents each year.

Who Can You Sponsor?

As a Canadian citizen (18+) or permanent resident (19+ in most provinces), you can sponsor:

• Spouse or common-law partner (including same-sex partners)
• Conjugal partner (foreign national in a committed relationship unable to live together)
• Dependent children (under 22 years old and unmarried)
• Parents and grandparents (annual lottery draw with limited spots)
• Orphaned siblings, nieces/nephews, grandchildren (under 18, orphaned, no living relatives)

Spousal Sponsorship: The Most Common

Sponsoring your spouse or common-law partner is the most common application. Processing times for inland (spouse already in Canada) applications: approximately 12 months. Outland (spouse outside Canada): varies widely by country, typically 12–24 months.

To qualify as a sponsor, you must:

• Be a Canadian citizen or PR
• Be 18 or older
• Not be bankrupt or sponsored by another person in the past 3 years
• Meet minimum income requirements (except for spousal sponsorship — no income requirement for spouses)

Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)

Canada accepts a limited number of parent/grandparent sponsorship applications per year through an annual lottery (interest to sponsor form). Competition is high — tens of thousands of interested sponsors apply for approximately 15,000–23,500 available spaces.

Alternatively, parents and grandparents can visit Canada on the Super Visa — a multi-entry visa allowing stays of up to 5 years per visit (10-year valid visa).

Financial Requirements

For most family sponsorships (except spouses), you must earn above the minimum necessary income (MNI) — roughly $25,000–$45,000+/year depending on family size. You're undertaking to financially support your sponsored family member for 3 years (spouse) or 10 years (parents/grandparents).

Processing Times

Processing times vary significantly. Track current times at IRCC's processing time tool.

Also see: All immigration programs for newcomers in Canada