Reunite with your loved ones in Canada. Sponsor your spouse, children, parents, or other eligible family members for permanent residence.
Family sponsorship allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor eligible family members to immigrate to Canada and become permanent residents. As a sponsor, you commit to providing financial support for your sponsored relative(s) for a specific period.
Bring your loved ones to live with you permanently in Canada
Sponsored family members become permanent residents
PRs can work, study, and access healthcare in Canada
Permanent residents can apply for citizenship after 3 years
Different sponsorship programs for different family relationships
Sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner to become a permanent resident of Canada
Sponsor your dependent children or adopted children to join you in Canada
Sponsor your parents and grandparents through the annual intake program
In specific circumstances, sponsor other relatives like siblings, nieces, nephews, or orphaned relatives
What you need to qualify as a sponsor and what your family member needs to qualify
For parents and grandparents sponsorship, you must meet the Minimum Necessary Income for the 3 taxation years before applying. The amount varies based on family size and province. Spousal sponsorship has no income requirement (except in Quebec). Check current MNI tables on the IRCC website.
Choose the right application stream for your situation
Sponsored person is living in Canada with valid status
Best for: Couples already living together in Canada
Sponsored person is living outside Canada
Best for: Couples living apart or wanting flexibility to travel
Step-by-step guide to sponsoring your family member
Confirm you meet sponsor requirements and your relative qualifies to be sponsored
Collect proof of relationship, identity documents, financial records, and supporting evidence
Fill out sponsorship application, undertaking, and permanent residence forms
Pay sponsorship fee, processing fee, and right of permanent residence fee
Send complete application package to appropriate IRCC processing center
IRCC reviews sponsorship eligibility and sponsored person's admissibility
Sponsored person completes medical exam and provides police certificates
If approved, sponsored person receives COPR and becomes permanent resident
Current processing standards for family sponsorship applications
12 months
Both inland and outland applications
20-24 months
After sponsorship approval
Note: Processing times are estimates and can vary based on application complexity, completeness, and IRCC workload. Check the IRCC website for current processing times.
Expert guidance for successful family reunification
Determine if you qualify to sponsor and which family members are eligible
Help gathering proof of relationship, financial documents, and supporting evidence
Strategic advice on proving genuine relationship for spousal sponsorship
Professional review and submission of complete sponsorship package
Coaching for sponsorship interviews if required by IRCC
Communication with IRCC, responding to requests, and updates throughout processing
Get a free assessment or book a consultation to start your family sponsorship journey
If you're receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability, you cannot sponsor. However, there is no minimum income requirement for spousal sponsorship (except in Quebec), so as long as you're not on social assistance, you can sponsor your spouse or partner.
Provide evidence such as: wedding photos and certificates, joint bank accounts, shared lease or property ownership, photos together over time, communication records, travel together, affidavits from friends/family, and any other documentation showing your relationship is real and ongoing.
If you apply inland, your spouse can apply for an open work permit at the same time as the sponsorship application. For outland applications, your spouse would need to qualify for a work permit separately (such as through a job offer with LMIA).
The undertaking is your commitment to financially support the sponsored person. For spouses/partners/children, it's 3 years. For parents/grandparents, it's 20 years. During this time, if the sponsored person receives social assistance, you must repay the government.
If you don't meet the Minimum Necessary Income for parents/grandparents sponsorship, you cannot sponsor them through the regular program. However, you can apply for a Super Visa, which allows them to visit Canada for up to 5 years at a time without needing to renew their status.
The information provided on this page is for general guidance only. Family sponsorship requirements, processing times, and income thresholds change regularly. ReginaMax Immigration Services does not guarantee sponsorship approval or permanent residence for sponsored family members. Each case is unique and subject to Canadian immigration law. Final decisions are made solely by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).