How to Sponsor a Family Member to Come to Canada

Reuniting Your Family in Canada

One of the most meaningful parts of settling in Canada is bringing your family to join you. The Canadian government offers several family sponsorship programs that allow permanent residents and citizens to sponsor close relatives. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step by step.

Family sponsorship is a cornerstone of Canadian immigration policy. Every year, Canada welcomes tens of thousands of sponsored family members. If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 or older, you may be eligible to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, dependent children, parents, or grandparents.

At WelcomeAide, we help newcomers understand the immigration process and connect them with the right resources. Family reunification is one of the most common topics we hear about from the communities we serve.

Who Can You Sponsor?

Canada's family sponsorship program covers several categories of relatives. Each category has its own requirements and processing times. Here are the main groups you can sponsor.

Spouse, Common-Law Partner, or Conjugal Partner

You can sponsor your spouse (legally married partner), your common-law partner (someone you have lived with in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months), or your conjugal partner (someone in a committed relationship with you for at least one year who could not live with you due to immigration barriers). The sponsored person can be living in Canada or outside Canada.

Processing times for spousal sponsorship vary. As of early 2026, most spousal sponsorship applications are processed in about 12 months. You can check the latest processing times on the IRCC processing times page.

Dependent Children

You can sponsor your dependent children, including adopted children. A dependent child must be under 22 years of age and not have a spouse or common-law partner. Children over 22 may qualify if they have depended substantially on a parent's financial support since before age 22 and are unable to support themselves due to a medical condition.

Parents and Grandparents

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) allows you to sponsor your parents and grandparents for permanent residence. This program uses an intake process that opens periodically. In recent years, IRCC has used an interest-to-sponsor form. When the intake period opens, you submit your interest, and potential sponsors are selected through a random draw.

For more information on the PGP intake process, visit the IRCC Parents and Grandparents sponsorship page.

Eligibility Requirements for Sponsors

To be eligible to sponsor a family member, you must meet several requirements. These requirements ensure that sponsors can financially support the people they bring to Canada.

• You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must live in Canada (citizens living abroad may sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child if they plan to return to Canada when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident).
• You must not be in prison, charged with a serious offence, bankrupt, or receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability.
• You must sign an undertaking promising to provide financial support for the sponsored person.
• For parents and grandparents sponsorship, you must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirement for three consecutive tax years.

Income Requirements

For spousal and dependent child sponsorship, there is generally no minimum income requirement. However, for parents and grandparents sponsorship, you must demonstrate that your total household income meets or exceeds the MNI threshold for three consecutive years.

For 2026, the MNI for a family of three persons is approximately $45,206 per year. For a family of four, it is approximately $54,890. These numbers are updated annually based on Statistics Canada's Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) figures. You can find the current MNI table on the IRCC eligibility page for PGP.

Key Forms You Will Need

The family sponsorship application involves several forms. Having the right forms ready before you begin will make the process much smoother.

IMM 1344: Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking

This is the main sponsorship form. As the sponsor, you fill out this form to officially apply to sponsor your family member. It includes your personal information, your relationship to the person you are sponsoring, and your agreement to provide financial support. The undertaking period is three years for a spouse or partner and 20 years for a dependent child (or 10 years, whichever comes first, depending on the child's age).

IMM 0008: Generic Application Form for Canada

This form is filled out by the person being sponsored (the principal applicant). It collects personal details, travel history, education, and other background information. All family members included in the application must also be listed on this form.

Additional Forms

Depending on your situation, you may also need:

• IMM 5532: Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation (for spousal sponsorship)
• IMM 5406: Additional Family Information
• IMM 5669: Schedule A, Background/Declaration
• IMM 0008DEP: Additional Dependants/Declaration

All forms are available for free download from the IRCC forms and guides page.

The Sponsorship Application Process

The application process involves several steps. Follow them carefully to avoid delays or refusals.

Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility

Before you begin, confirm that you are eligible to sponsor and that your family member is eligible to be sponsored. Use the IRCC online tool to check your eligibility.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

You will need identity documents, proof of Canadian status, proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificates, photos, communication records), police certificates, medical exams, and financial documents. For parents and grandparents, you will need Notices of Assessment (NOA) from the Canada Revenue Agency for three tax years.

Step 3: Complete and Submit the Application

Fill out all required forms accurately. Applications can be submitted online through the IRCC online portal. Pay the required fees, which include a sponsorship fee of $75, a processing fee of $490 per adult, and the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) of $515 per person.

Step 4: Wait for Processing

After submission, IRCC will review your application. They may request additional documents or an interview. Processing times vary by category and country of origin. Spousal sponsorship typically takes 12 months. Parents and grandparents sponsorship can take 24 to 36 months.

Step 5: Landing and Permanent Residence

Once approved, your family member will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document. If they are outside Canada, they will also receive an immigration visa. They must travel to Canada before the visa expires and complete the landing process at a port of entry.

The Super Visa Alternative

If you want to bring your parents or grandparents to Canada but cannot wait for the PGP or do not meet the income requirements, the Super Visa is a good alternative. The Super Visa is a multi-entry visa that allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time.

To apply for a Super Visa, your parent or grandparent must:

• Be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Have a signed letter from the child or grandchild in Canada promising financial support.
• Have private medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company, valid for at least one year, covering at least $100,000.
• Pass an immigration medical exam.
• Meet standard visitor visa requirements.

The child or grandchild in Canada must meet the MNI for the current tax year. The Super Visa processing fee is $100 for the temporary resident visa plus $85 for biometrics.

Undertaking Obligations

When you sponsor a family member, you sign an undertaking. This is a legal promise to provide financial support for the sponsored person. The undertaking means you are responsible for their basic needs, including food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities.

The length of the undertaking depends on the relationship:

• Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner: 3 years from the date they become a permanent resident.
• Dependent child under 22: 10 years or until they turn 25, whichever comes first.
• Parents and grandparents: 20 years.

During the undertaking period, if your sponsored family member receives social assistance from the government, you may be required to repay those amounts. This obligation cannot be cancelled, even if your relationship breaks down or you experience financial difficulties.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many sponsorship applications are delayed or refused because of avoidable errors. Here are some common mistakes to watch for.

• Submitting incomplete forms or missing signatures.
• Not including enough proof of a genuine relationship (for spousal sponsorship).
• Failing to disclose all family members, including those not accompanying the applicant.
• Not meeting the income requirement for three full years (for PGP).
• Submitting expired documents or photos that do not meet specifications.
• Missing the deadline for medical exams or police certificates.

Processing Times and Fees Summary

Here is a quick overview of typical processing times and fees for family sponsorship:

• Spousal sponsorship: approximately 12 months. Total fees: approximately $1,080 ($75 sponsorship + $490 processing + $515 RPRF).
• Dependent child: approximately 12 months. Processing fee: $75 sponsorship + $75 per child.
• Parents and grandparents: approximately 24 to 36 months. Total fees: approximately $1,080 per person ($75 sponsorship + $490 processing + $515 RPRF).
• Super Visa: approximately 3 to 6 months. Fees: $100 visa + $85 biometrics = $185.

How WelcomeAide Can Help

Navigating the family sponsorship process can be overwhelming, especially if English or French is not your first language. At WelcomeAide, we provide free multilingual information to help newcomers understand their immigration options.

You can use our AI chat assistant to ask questions about family sponsorship in your preferred language. Our assistant can help you understand eligibility requirements, identify the forms you need, and find links to official government resources.

Learn more about our programs, read about our impact on newcomer communities, or explore more guides on our blog. You can also read about our mission on our about page.

Family reunification is one of the most important steps in the settlement journey. With the right information and preparation, you can bring your loved ones to Canada and build a new life together.