Family Sponsorships

Family Class Immigration

Canadian citizens and permanent residents age 18 or older are entitled to sponsor close relatives or family members wanting to become permanent residents. Sponsors must promise to support the relative or family member, as well as their accompanying family members, for a three to 10 year period. Sponsors, who may also need to meet specific income requirements, may sponsor these foreign relatives or family members:

• Spouses, common-law or conjugal partners age 16 or older.
• Parents and grandparents.
• Dependent children, including adopted kids.
• Children under 18 whom you intend to adopt.
• Brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces or grandchildren who are orphans, less than 18, and not married or in a common-law relationship; or one relative of any age if you have no aunt, uncle or family member from the list above who is already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

You may also sponsor a spouse or common-law partner from inside Canada, provided they have lived with you in Canada. Sponsorship of a spouse or common-law partner includes their dependent children, whether based in Canada or abroad.

You´re now entitled to apply to sponsor your same-sex partner as a spouse, provided you´re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You must also have been issued a marriage certificate by a Canadian province on or after a specific date-June 10th, 2003, for Ontario residents.

If married abroad, you´re not entitled to apply to sponsor your same-sex partner as a spouse. However, you may qualify for sponsoring your same-sex partner as a common-law or conjugal partner.