Overview
Citizens and permanent residents of Canada may sponsor certain close relatives. Every category has its own conditions, and sponsor and applicant are each assessed.
A file is usually only as strong as its proof of the relationship and its forms agreeing between the two people. We go through both sides before anything is filed.
Who this suits
- Spouses and partners living in or outside Canada
- Parents and grandparents of Canadians, when an intake round is open
- Families sponsoring a dependent child
What to gather
- Evidence of the sponsor's standing in Canada
- Marriage, birth or partnership records
- Photos, messages and travel history that show the relationship
- Identity and police documents for the applicant
How the work unfolds
Confirm eligibility
We check both people against the category's conditions.
Prepare both sides
Sponsor and applicant forms and evidence are completed together so they agree.
Submit and respond
We file the package and help with any later request.
Questions about this route
It depends on the category and on whether you are a citizen or a permanent resident. A Canadian citizen living abroad may sponsor a spouse, partner or dependent child if they will live in Canada once that person becomes a permanent resident; permanent residents must live in Canada. We check the rule for your situation.
By signing an undertaking, a sponsor promises to financially support the relative they sponsor for a set period. We explain what that involves for you before you sign.
A refusal letter lists the grounds, and more detail can sometimes be requested. We can talk through whether a new application would answer them. A challenge before a tribunal or court is outside what we do and needs a different kind of representative.