Family Class

Canadian citizens and permanent residents residing in Canada, may sponsor close relatives or family members who wish to become permanent residents of Canada. Under this category you can sponsor relatives or family members who are:-

your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner 16 years of age or older;

your parents or grandparents;

your dependent children, including adopted children;

children under 18 years of age whom you intend to adopt;

your brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces or grandchildren who are orphans; under the age of 18 and not married or in a common-law relationship; or

Incase you are not having aunt, uncle or family member who fall in the category, listed above, to sponsor, you may sponsor one relative regardless of his or her age or relationship to you

A son or daughter is considered as a dependent when:
is below the age of 22 and does not have a spouse or common-law partner;

is a full-time student and is substantially dependent on a parent for financial support since before the age of 22, or since becoming a spouse or common-law partner (if this happened before age 22); or

is financially dependent on a parent since before the age of 22 because of a disability.

Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada

If you are living in Canada with a spouse or common-law partner and wish to support his or her application to immigrate as a member of the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class, you must first sponsor him or her for immigration.

Also you are required sign an Undertaking with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. This is a promise to the Government of Canada that you will support your spouse or common-law partner and his or her dependent children for a period of three to 10 years so that they will not need to apply for social assistance.

You must also sign a Sponsorship Agreement with your spouse or common-law partner that outlines your mutual commitments to each other. You promise to provide for the basic requirements of your spouse or common-law partner and any dependent children for the duration of the Undertaking and your spouse or common-law partner promises to make every effort to become self-supporting.

Sponsoring a Relative or Family Member

If you wish to sponsor any of the relatives mentioned in the above list, you are required to meet certain income requirements:-

If you have previously sponsored relatives or family members who have received social assistance, you may not be allowed to sponsor another person.

If you live in any province in Canada except Quebec and wish to sponsor a relative or family member, you are required to sign an undertaking with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. You must also sign an agreement with your relative or family member that outlines your mutual commitments.

For applying as a sponsored immigrant, following requirements are to be met:-

Your relative or family member who is a permanent resident of Canada must first apply to sponsor you.

You must be one of the relatives or family members listed above to be eligible for sponsorship.

Both you and your sponsor are required to sign a sponsorship agreement. The agreement outlines your mutual obligations.

Your sponsor must promise to support you and your family members financially for 3 to 10 years so that you need not to apply for social assistance. On your behalf, you are expected to make every effort to become self supporting (unless you are elderly).