Family Sponsorship Canada
- Editorial Staff
- Mar 24, 2023
- 3 min read
Family Sponsorship Canada is one of the many immigration programs that allow a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor certain family members to come to Canada.
As a sponsor, you make an unconditional promise to provide financial support to your relative and their family. The undertaking remains in effect for as long as the person you’re sponsoring is in Canada.
What Are the Requirements?
You must meet certain requirements to be a sponsor under Family Sponsorship Canada. These requirements vary depending on the type of sponsor you are, and the people you are sponsoring.
You can only sponsor your spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner if you have been married for at least one year (a 12-month period that has not been interrupted). If you are living together in a same-sex marriage, you need a certificate of marriage from the country where you had your marriage and Canada.
You also need to sign an undertaking with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, agreeing to repay the government for any social assistance payments your sponsored person collects while they are in Canada. This obligation remains in effect even after the sponsored person becomes a citizen, separates from you or moves away from Canada.
How to Apply
Family sponsorship is one of the most popular streams of immigration to Canada. Citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their spouses, common-law partners, children, parents and grandparents to immigrate to the country.
The Government of Canada has made it easier for citizens and permanent residents to bring their loved ones to the country with reduced processing times as part of its commitment to keeping families together. However, it is important to understand that even small errors can cause delays in your application.
Ronen Kurzfeld richmond hill Immigration can help you make sure your application is submitted in a timely manner, and that any documentation required by the Immigration and Refugees Canada (IRCC) is accurate and legally correct.
You can also create an online account to link your paper-based application to, which will allow IRCC to communicate with you directly as it reviews your sponsorship application. You should include a copy of your registration with IRCC when you submit your application.
Requirements for a Sponsor
Family Sponsorship Canada is a program that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor relatives from other countries to come to Canada. When a relative is approved, they become permanent residents of Canada and can live and work in Canada without restrictions. They also have free government-funded healthcare, free schooling and other benefits.
To be eligible to sponsor a relative, you must meet certain requirements. This includes meeting income requirements and signing an undertaking to support the person you’re sponsoring for a certain period of time.
You must also declare all your family members on the application. If they aren’t declared, you could risk losing your permanent resident status.
Generally, the length of the undertaking varies depending on the category of sponsorship (spousal or common-law/conjugal partner). If you are sponsoring a dependent child, the undertaking lasts for three years from the day they become a Canadian permanent resident.
Requirements for a Relative
When you sponsor a relative to come to Canada, you must make sure that they will be able to meet their basic needs. This means they should be able to live on their own, not rely on social assistance.
Family reunification is one of the pillars of immigration to Canada. Under the family sponsorship program, you can help your relatives obtain a permanent resident visa so that they can live, work and study in Canada.
To sponsor a relative, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You must also have enough income to meet their Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirements and agree to financially support them if they need it.
If you have questions about sponsoring a relative, speak to a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant at Cohen Immigration Law. We can help you understand the process and ensure that your application is submitted on time. We can also guide you through the process of bringing your family together in Canada.
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