Family Sponsorship in Canada: Spouse, Children and Parents

Who can sponsor a family member?

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor certain family members to become permanent residents of Canada. Family sponsorship does not use a points system and there is no language test for the person being sponsored.

To be a sponsor, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a Canadian citizen, a person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act, or a permanent resident
• Live in Canada (Canadian citizens living abroad can sponsor a spouse, partner or dependent child if they will return to Canada when the person becomes a permanent resident)
• Be able to support the person you sponsor financially
• Sign an undertaking, which is a promise to repay any social assistance the person receives during a set period

You may not be able to sponsor if you are receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability, are in default on a previous sponsorship, immigration loan or court ordered support payments, or have certain criminal convictions.

Spousal and common-law partner sponsorship

You can sponsor three types of partners:

Inland or outland application

If your partner already lives with you in Canada, you can apply from inside Canada. Your partner may be able to get an open work permit while the application is processed. If your partner lives outside Canada, you apply as an outland case. Outland applicants keep the right to appeal a refusal to the Immigration Appeal Division, which inland applicants do not have.

Proving your relationship is real

The officer must be satisfied your relationship is genuine and not mainly for immigration. Strong applications include:

• Marriage certificate or proof of living together, such as a joint lease or shared bills
• Photos together over time, with family and friends
• Records of communication, travel and visits
• Joint bank accounts, insurance or property
• Letters from people who know you as a couple

As a spouse or partner sponsor, you agree to support your partner for three years after they become a permanent resident. There is no minimum income requirement for sponsoring a spouse or partner in most cases.

Sponsoring dependent children

You can sponsor your own or your adopted children if they are dependent children. A child is usually dependent if they are under 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship. A child aged 22 or older can still qualify if they have depended on you financially since before age 22 because of a physical or mental condition.

The undertaking for a dependent child lasts 10 years or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first. Children can also be included in their parent's own application for permanent residence, which is often simpler.

Parent and grandparent sponsorship in 2026

When the program is open, sponsors must show they earned at least the minimum necessary income plus 30% for each of the three tax years before applying, and sign an undertaking to support their parents or grandparents for 20 years (10 years in Quebec).

While the program is paused, the Super Visa is the main way for parents and grandparents to spend long periods with their family in Canada.

Super Visa for parents and grandparents

The Super Visa is a long term visitor visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. It is not permanent residence, but it allows long stays.

• Stay in Canada for up to five years at a time
• Multiple entry visa valid for up to 10 years
• The child or grandchild in Canada must send a letter of invitation and meet a minimum income requirement
• The parent or grandparent needs private medical insurance that meets IRCC rules for at least one year
• A medical exam is required

We prepare Super Visa applications that clearly show your income, your insurance and the purpose of the visit.

Sponsoring other relatives

In limited cases, you can also sponsor:

• An orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild who is under 18 and not married or in a common-law relationship
• One relative of any age if you have no living spouse, partner, child, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or someone you could sponsor

These rules are strict. Brothers and sisters who are adults cannot normally be sponsored, but a sibling in Canada adds 15 points to an Express Entry profile.

Common reasons sponsorships are refused

• Not enough proof that the relationship is genuine
• Different answers from the sponsor and the person being sponsored
• A relationship that started or a marriage that happened very quickly, without explanation
• Missing documents or forms that are not signed
• The sponsor does not meet the eligibility rules, for example because of unpaid support or a previous sponsorship default

A well organized application that tells the full story of your relationship, backed by evidence, avoids most of these problems.

Frequently asked questions