Family Immigration

• Permanent residency through sponsorship

Sponsor a family member If you become a permanent resident of Canada, your family members can live, study and work in Canada. You can sponsor certain family members to come to Canada if you meet these criteria:

• you are 18 years of age or older;
• a Canadian citizen;
• a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Indian Act;
• a permanent resident of Canada.

Spouse or common-law partner class in Canada You can apply to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner or child. Sponsored spouses, common-law partners or conjugal partners: You no longer have to live with your sponsor for two years to maintain your permanent resident status. Also, if you are sponsoring your spouse or partner under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada, he/she may be eligible for an open work permit. You can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner if:

• they are at least 18 years of age;
• your relationship is genuine and not primarily intended to help the sponsored person obtain permanent residence in Canada.

You will need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) if you are applying for permanent residence and are originally from Europe, the Middle East or Africa. In this category, you can become a respondent if:

• you are 18 years of age or older;
• you are a Canadian citizen, a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Indian Act of Canada, or a permanent resident:
  • if you are a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must show that you intend to live in Canada when the family member you are sponsoring becomes a permanent resident;
  • you cannot sponsor someone if you are a permanent resident living outside Canada;
• you can prove that you are not receiving social assistance for a reason other than disability;
• You can meet the basic needs of the person you are sponsoring (and in some situations where you reach the low-income cut-off).

However, you will not be able to be a guarantor if:

• You failed to pay:
  • an immigrant loan;
  • performance bond;
  • child support;
• you have not provided for the basic needs of a previously sponsored family member who has had to rely on social assistance;
• you are subject to a removal order;
• you are detained in a penitentiary, jail or reformatory;
• you are receiving social assistance for a reason other than disability;
• you are not discharged from bankruptcy (undischarged bankruptcy);
• you have previously sponsored a spouse or conjugal partner and it has not been three years since that person became a permanent resident;
• you have sponsored a spouse or partner previously, and it has not been three years since that person became a permanent resident;
• you have already submitted an application to sponsor your current spouse or partner and a decision on your application has not yet been made;
• you have been convicted of a violent offence or a sexual offence that caused bodily harm to a family member or you have attempted or threatened to commit any of these offences.

Sponsor your parents and grandparents You may be able to sponsor your parents and grandparents to become permanent residents if you meet the following criteria:

• you are 18 years of age or older;
• you are a Canadian citizen;
• you are a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Indian Act;
• you are a permanent resident of Canada.

If you are sponsoring your parents and grandparents to come to Canada as permanent residents, you must:

• support them financially.
• ensure that they do not have to apply to the government for social assistance;
• provide for your own basic needs and those of your parents, grandparents and their dependents.

Each year, the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada accepts a number of new completed applications under the Parent and Grandparent Program. On July 28, 2018, new Ministerial Instructions came into force to amend the Ministerial Instructions issued on December 30, 2017.   Under these new instructions, they will agree to process more complete applications to sponsor parents and grandparents, from 10,000 to 17,000 in 2018. This increase demonstrates the importance the government places on family reunification.   Contact us for more information.