If someone you love is living outside Canada while you’re building your life here, you already know how hard that is. Canada’s family sponsorship program exists to change that — to give Canadian citizens and permanent residents a legal pathway to bring their closest family members to join them permanently. The process takes time and careful preparation, but it is achievable. We help you do it right.
Are you eligible to sponsor?
To sponsor a family member you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have sufficient financial means to support your family members after they arrive in Canada
- Agree to provide financial support for a specified period, covering basic needs such as food, clothing, housing, and any required medical or dental care
Who can you sponsor?
Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner You may sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner if you are married, in a common-law relationship, or in a committed conjugal relationship.
Dependent children You may sponsor your dependent children, including adopted children, if they are under 22 years of age and do not have a spouse or common-law partner.
Parents and grandparents You may sponsor your parents and grandparents if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and are at least 18 years of age.
Orphaned or other relatives In certain circumstances you may also sponsor an orphaned sibling, nephew, niece, or grandchild, or another relative if you have no other eligible family member in Canada. Specific conditions apply — we can assess your situation at consultation.
What does your family member get?
A sponsored family member receives permanent resident status — the right to live, work, and study anywhere in Canada indefinitely. It is not a temporary visa.
How does the process work?
Step 1 — Eligibility assessment Both the sponsor and the sponsored person must meet specific eligibility requirements before an application can proceed.
Step 2 — Document preparation Both parties gather supporting documents including proof of the sponsor’s status in Canada, proof of the family relationship, proof of the sponsor’s income, identity documents, medical exam results, and police certificates.
Step 3 — Application submission The complete application is submitted to IRCC along with the required fees. Where it is processed depends on the family relationship category and the sponsored person’s country of residence.
Step 4 — Processing IRCC reviews the file, assesses eligibility, and verifies the genuineness of the relationship. For spousal and partner sponsorship this includes careful assessment of whether the relationship is genuine. IRCC may request additional information at any point.
Step 5 — Decision and landing If approved, the sponsored person receives confirmation of permanent residence and completes the landing process at a Canadian port of entry or at a visa office abroad.
A note for those in Québec
If the sponsor lives in Québec, an additional provincial assessment by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) is required. As a Montréal-based consultancy, TDL Immigration is well familiar with the Québec component of family sponsorship applications.
How long does it take?
Processing times vary and change frequently. Spousal sponsorship applications are currently among the faster family class applications, while parent and grandparent sponsorship is subject to annual caps and can take considerably longer. We give you a realistic, up-to-date timeline at your consultation based on current IRCC processing data.
What can go wrong — and how we help
Family sponsorship applications are refused more often than people expect, usually for reasons that could have been avoided:
- Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
- Insufficient proof of a genuine relationship
- Financial requirements not clearly demonstrated
- Missing deadlines or responding incorrectly to IRCC requests
At TDL Immigration, we review every document before submission, flag potential issues early, and make sure your application tells a complete and convincing story. If IRCC requests additional information during processing, we help you respond promptly and effectively.
F.A.Q.
Here are some common questions about family sponsorship.
Can I sponsor my spouse if we got married recently?
Yes — there is no minimum length of marriage required for sponsorship. However, IRCC scrutinizes recently formed relationships carefully, so strong documentation of your genuine relationship is especially important.
Can I sponsor my parents if I'm a permanent resident, not a citizen?
Yes — permanent residents can sponsor parents and grandparents, subject to the same financial and eligibility requirements as citizens.
What is the Super Visa and is it a good alternative?
The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents to visit Canada for up to five years at a time without renewing their status. It’s faster to obtain than permanent sponsorship and can be a good option while a sponsorship application is in progress. We can advise you on whether it makes sense for your situation.
What if my sponsorship application is refused?
A refusal can be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) in most family sponsorship cases. The appeal process has its own timelines and requirements. We review refusal decisions carefully and advise you on whether an appeal is realistic and how to approach it.
Ready to bring your family home?