Canadian citizens and permanent residents living
in Canada, 18 years of age or older, may sponsor close relatives
or family members who want to become permanent residents of Canada.
You can sponsor relatives or family members from abroad if they
are:
- spouses, common-law or conjugal partners 16 years of age or
older
- parents and grandparents
- dependent children,
including adopted children
- children under 18 years of age whom you intend to adopt
- brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces or grandchildren who are
orphans, under the age of 18 and not married or in a common-law
relationship
and any other relative if you have none of the above relatives
or family members, either in Canada or abroad.
You may also sponsor a spouse or common-law partner who has legal
status in Canada.
Sponsoring a Relative or Family Member
If you want to sponsor any of the above listed relatives or family
members, you may have to meet certain income requirements. If you
have previously sponsored relatives or family members who have received
social assistance, you may not be allowed to sponsor another person.
Sponsorship is a considerable commitment so you should take this obligation
seriously. To sponsor a relative or family member you must sign a
legal contract with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. This
is called an Undertaking. You must also sign a Sponsorship Agreement
with your relative or family member that outlines your mutual commitments
to each other. You will be responsible for the sponsored relative(s)
for a number of years.
Adopting a Child From Another Country
To adopt a child from another country you must go through both the
adoption process and the sponsorship and immigration process.
Applying as a Sponsored Immigrant
If you wish to become a permanent resident of Canada, your relative
or family member in Canada must first apply to sponsor you. You must
be one of the relatives or family members listed above to be eligible
for sponsorship.
Both you and your sponsor need to sign a Sponsorship Agreement. The
Agreement outlines your mutual obligations to each other. Your sponsor
must promise to support you and your family members financially for
three to 10 years so that you will not need to apply for social
assistance. You must promise to make every effort to become self-supporting
(unless you are elderly).
Applications for Sponsorship
and Immigration to Canada from Abroad
Before your relative or family member can immigrate to Canada, you
must sponsor that person. Your relative or family member must then
apply for immigration.
Applications for Sponsorship
and Immigration from Within Canada
In some cases, you may sponsor a spouse or common-law partner who
is already living with you in Canada. |
