Family sponsorship in Canada: spouse, children, parents

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor a spouse, a common-law or conjugal partner, dependent children, and parents and grandparents when IRCC accepts applications. In a few limited situations, other relatives such as an orphaned brother, sister, niece, nephew or grandchild can also be sponsored. Each relationship has its own rules on IRCC’s family sponsorship pages.

The undertaking lasts three years for a spouse or partner, starting when they become a permanent resident. For a dependent child it usually lasts ten years or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first. For parents and grandparents it lasts 20 years. Quebec sets its own lengths. The undertaking continues even if the relationship ends.

In most cases, no. There is generally no minimum income to sponsor a spouse, partner or dependent child, although you must not be receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability. The exception is when the person you sponsor has a dependent child who also has children of their own. Sponsoring parents and grandparents does need a minimum income.

IRCC runs the Parents and Grandparents Program with a limited number of applications each year. People who submitted an interest to sponsor form are selected at random and invited to apply. Sponsors must show they met the minimum necessary income for three tax years in a row before applying. IRCC announces each intake on canada.ca.

The super visa is a visitor visa, not permanent residence. It lets parents and grandparents stay for up to five years at a time and can be applied for whenever you like, while sponsorship depends on an intake. You must meet a minimum income, and your parents need medical insurance that meets IRCC requirements for at least one year.