Family sponsorship in Canada lets eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents bring their closest relatives to Canada as permanent residents. The program covers spouses, common-law and conjugal partners, dependent children, and parents or grandparents, each under a distinct application stream with its own eligibility criteria and financial undertaking. As the sponsor, you take on a formal, binding commitment to support your family member financially for a period set by IRCC — currently ranging from 3 to 20 years depending on the relationship, though these durations are subject to change per IRCC policy updates.
Sponsor Eligibility at a Glance
- • You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old
- • You cannot be in receipt of social assistance (except for disability)
- • You must meet the minimum necessary income threshold for most categories
- • You cannot have a previous sponsorship in default or an undischarged bankruptcy
- • You must reside in Canada (citizens sponsoring spouses from abroad have a separate pathway)
Sponsorship Categories
Spousal Sponsorship
Sponsor your legally married spouse for permanent residence, inland or outland.
Learn moreCommon-Law Partner
Sponsor a partner you have cohabited with continuously for at least 12 months.
Learn moreConjugal Partner
A narrow stream for partners where marriage or cohabitation is genuinely impossible due to exceptional circumstances.
Learn moreDependent Children
Sponsor biological or adopted dependent children under age 22 (or older if dependent due to disability).
Learn moreParents and Grandparents Program
Sponsor parents or grandparents through the PGP lottery — a periodic, limited-intake program. Consider the Super Visa as an interim option.
Learn moreFrequently Asked Questions
Can a Canadian citizen sponsor a non-family member?
No. Canada's family class sponsorship is limited to defined relationships: spouses, common-law and conjugal partners, dependent children, parents, grandparents, and a narrow category of other relatives only where the sponsor has no other living eligible family member. Friends, extended relatives such as aunts, uncles, or cousins, and non-cohabiting partners who do not meet conjugal criteria cannot be sponsored under family class. If your relationship does not fit a defined category, a Humanitarian and Compassionate application may be the only discretionary pathway.
What are the income requirements for Canada family sponsorship?
For most sponsorship categories, you must demonstrate income at or above the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30 percent, based on your family size including the person being sponsored. Spousal and dependent-child sponsorship does not require meeting the LICO threshold, but you must still demonstrate you are not in receipt of social assistance. Income thresholds are updated by IRCC periodically; verify current minimums on the IRCC website or contact our office for a case-specific assessment.
Can you sponsor a friend to Canada?
Not through family sponsorship. There is one limited exception: if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with no living eligible relative anywhere in the world, you may sponsor one friend of any age. This is the "lonely Canadian" provision and it is rarely met in practice. Outside this exception, friends are not sponsorable under Canadian immigration law.
What is Canada family class sponsorship and how does the undertaking work?
Canada family class sponsorship is the permanent immigration pathway for bringing qualifying relatives to Canada. As sponsor, you sign a legally binding undertaking promising to financially support your family member and repay any social assistance they receive during the undertaking period. The length of the undertaking varies by relationship (subject to IRCC policy): it is currently 3 years for spouses and partners counted from the date permanent residence is granted, and 10 years for dependent children (or until age 25, whichever is first). For parents and grandparents, the undertaking period is 20 years. These periods are set by regulation and may change. If your sponsored family member receives government assistance, the government can pursue you for repayment even after the relationship ends.
Related pathways: If your parents or grandparents are not eligible for the PGP or you are waiting for the next intake lottery, the Super Visa allows multi-entry stays of up to two years per visit. For family members who require a short-term entry while a sponsorship application is pending, see our guide to the Temporary Resident Visa.
Processing times, eligibility criteria, and program requirements are subject to change per IRCC updates. Consult a regulated immigration consultant before making any application decisions.
Processing Times
Important Notes
- • Same-sex partners are eligible
- • Inland sponsorship allows for open work permits
- • Medical and criminal admissibility applies
- • Relationship genuineness is assessed
Start Your Sponsorship
A consultation is required for case-specific advice on your sponsorship options.
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