{"id":17,"date":"2012-12-17T08:56:26","date_gmt":"2012-12-17T08:56:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/immigrationca.staging.wpengine.com\/2012\/12\/17\/family-sponsorship-immigration-overview\/"},"modified":"2025-05-12T14:05:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T18:05:24","slug":"family-sponsorship-immigration-overview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/family-sponsorship-immigration-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada Family Sponsorship Immigration 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Canada&#8217;s Family Class remains the second largest category in its<a href=\"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/immigration-to-canada-overview\/\"> immigration system<\/a>, playing a key role in family reunification. Canada aims to welcome tens of thousands of newcomers each year through family sponsorship. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is committed to reuniting families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This overview outlines who can sponsor, who can be sponsored, the conditions, and how Quebec differs from the rest of Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">On This Page You Will Find:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Who Can Sponsor a Family Member<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Who You Can Sponsor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Definitions of Relationships<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spousal Open Work Permit Rules<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sponsorship Obligations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sponsorship from Outside Canada<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Quebec Sponsorship Process<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Step-by-Step Guide to Apply for Family Sponsorship<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Frequently Asked Questions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Can Sponsor a Family Member?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To sponsor a family member, you must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Be at least 18 years old<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a person registered as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reside in Canada (or plan to return if sponsoring a spouse, partner, or dependent child)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sign an agreement to financially support the sponsored person and ensure they do not rely on social assistance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who You Can Sponsor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/spousal-sponsorship-conditions\/\">Your spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/family-sponsorship-immigration-for-dependent-children\">Your dependent children<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/parent-and-grandparent-sponsorship-re-opens\/\">Your parents or grandparents<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One other relative of any age, but only in specific circumstances<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certain accompanying relatives of those listed above<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Definitions of Relationships<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Spouse<\/strong>: Legally married partner<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Common-law partner<\/strong>: Lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 continuous months<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Conjugal partner<\/strong>: In a committed relationship for at least one year, but unable to live together due to circumstances beyond your control (such as immigration barriers)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dependent child<\/strong>: Under 22 and unmarried, or over 22 and financially dependent due to a physical or mental condition<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spousal Open Work Permit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Spouses or common-law partners being sponsored from inside Canada may be eligible for an open work permit if they:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Are in a genuine relationship with their sponsor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Live with the sponsor in Canada<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have submitted a permanent residence application and received an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maintain temporary resident status while waiting for approval<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sponsorship Obligations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sponsors must sign a legal undertaking to financially support their family member and repay any social assistance received by the sponsored person. Duration varies by relationship:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Spouse or partner<\/strong>: 3 years<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dependent child under 22<\/strong>: 10 years or until age 25, whichever comes first<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dependent child over 22<\/strong>: 3 years<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Parents or grandparents<\/strong>: 20 years<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Other relatives<\/strong>: 10 years<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The obligation continues even if the sponsor\u2019s circumstances change, such as separation, divorce, or loss of income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sponsorship from Outside Canada<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Canadian citizens living abroad can sponsor their spouse, partner, or dependent child as long as they plan to return to Canada when their sponsored family member becomes a permanent resident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Permanent residents must live in Canada during the sponsorship process and cannot sponsor family members while living abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sponsorship in Quebec<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you live in Quebec, you must meet<a href=\"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/family-sponsorship-immigration-in-quebec\/\"> additional provincial requirements.<\/a> These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Signing an undertaking with the provincial government<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Completing a \u201cwelcome and integration plan\u201d for sponsored persons aged 18 to 55<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Helping the sponsored person access services in French and integrate into Quebec society<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Quebec also sets its own durations for sponsorship obligations, which may differ from federal timelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step-by-Step Guide to Apply for Family Sponsorship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Check your eligibility<\/strong>: Make sure you meet the requirements to sponsor a relative under Canadian law.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Choose the correct application package<\/strong>: Use IRCC\u2019s online tools to download the correct forms for your situation (e.g. spousal sponsorship, parent sponsorship).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gather supporting documents<\/strong>: This includes proof of relationship, financial documents, identification, and any required translations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pay the required fees<\/strong>: Pay your application fees online and keep the receipt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Submit your application<\/strong>: Send your application package to the address listed in the instruction guide. For Quebec, submit both federal and provincial forms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wait for confirmation<\/strong>: IRCC will send an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) once your application has been received.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Respond to any requests<\/strong>: IRCC may request biometrics, medical exams, or further information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Track your application<\/strong>: Use IRCC\u2019s online system to track the progress of your sponsorship case.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Receive a decision<\/strong>: Once approved, your family member will receive permanent residence documents and, if outside Canada, instructions to travel.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ: Family Sponsorship Immigration<\/h3>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1747072678290\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h4 class=\"rank-math-question \">Who is eligible to sponsor a family member to Canada?<\/h4>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>You must be at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered under the Indian Act. You must commit to supporting the family member financially.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1747072684933\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h4 class=\"rank-math-question \">Can I sponsor my spouse if I live outside Canada?<\/h4>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes, if you are a Canadian citizen and can prove you will return to Canada once your spouse becomes a permanent resident. Permanent residents must apply from inside Canada.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1747072695644\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h4 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is the Spousal Open Work Permit?<\/h4>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>It allows sponsored spouses or partners living in Canada to work while their permanent residence application is being processed. They must maintain temporary resident status.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1747072702676\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h4 class=\"rank-math-question \">How long does the sponsorship obligation last?<\/h4>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>It varies: 3 years for spouses, 10 years for children under 22, 20 years for parents, and 10 years for other relatives. Quebec may have different timelines.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1747072709941\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h4 class=\"rank-math-question \">Can I sponsor any relative if I have no other family?<\/h4>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes, in exceptional cases where you have no spouse, partner, child, or parent to sponsor, you may sponsor one relative of any age or relationship.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to sponsor your family to immigrate to Canada in 2025. Find out who can apply, how it works, and what rules apply across provinces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":481,"featured_media":147759,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,70637,29],"tags":[77275,77780,77778,256,258,225,77777,77779,257],"class_list":["post-17","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-c26-canada-immigration","category-family-sponsorship-immigration","category-c32-sponsorship-immigration","tag-canada-family-sponsorship","tag-dependent-child-immigration","tag-family-immigration-canada","tag-family-sponsorship-immigration","tag-live-in-canada","tag-migration-to-canada","tag-sponsor-parents-canada","tag-sponsor-spouse-canada","tag-sponsor-your-wife","category-20","category-70637","category-29","description-off"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/481"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/147759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}