Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor certain family members to become permanent residents of Canada. The sponsor promises to support the family member financially, and both of them must meet the rules. Law Wise, based in Mississauga, prepares spousal and family sponsorship applications for sponsors across the GTA and Ontario and for family members in Canada and abroad.
Who can sponsor a family member
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), to sponsor a spouse, partner or child you must:
- be at least 18 years old
- be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a person registered under the Indian Act
- live in Canada. A citizen living abroad must show a plan to live in Canada once the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident, and a permanent resident living abroad cannot sponsor
- sign an undertaking and a sponsorship agreement to support the people you sponsor
Who cannot sponsor
You may not be able to sponsor if, for example, you:
- were sponsored as a spouse or partner yourself and became a permanent resident less than five years ago
- signed an undertaking for a previous spouse or partner who became a permanent resident less than three years ago
- are behind on an immigration loan, a performance bond or court-ordered family support
- did not provide the support promised under an earlier sponsorship
- are an undischarged bankrupt
- receive social assistance for a reason other than disability
- were convicted of a violent offence, an offence against a relative that caused bodily harm, or a sexual offence
- are in jail or under a removal order
Some of these bars do not apply in every case, and other reasons can apply. If one of them might affect you, get advice before you file.
Who you can sponsor
- Spouse. A person you are legally married to.
- Common-law partner. A person you have lived with in a conjugal relationship for at least one year.
- Conjugal partner. A person outside Canada with whom you have had a committed relationship for at least one year, where you cannot live together or marry for legal, immigration, social, cultural, religious or other reasons.
- Dependent child. Your child, or your spouse’s or partner’s child, who is under 22 and does not have a spouse or common-law partner, or who is 22 or older and has depended on a parent’s financial support since before 22 because of a physical or mental condition.
- Other relatives. In narrow cases, an orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild under 18, a child you intend to adopt, or one other relative if you have no closer family in Canada or abroad whom you could sponsor.
A spouse or partner must be at least 18. Parents and grandparents are a separate program, described below.
Spousal sponsorship in Canada
In a spousal sponsorship, the central question is whether the relationship is genuine. Under the regulations, a person is not treated as a spouse or partner if the marriage or relationship was entered into primarily to gain immigration status, or is not genuine. Officers look at how the relationship developed and how the couple live. Useful evidence includes:
- the marriage certificate and photographs of the wedding and of time spent together
- proof of living together, such as a lease, bills and identification showing the same address
- messages, call records and travel records for periods spent apart
- joint bank accounts, insurance and other shared finances
- letters from family and friends who know the couple
A spouse or partner who is in Canada may be able to apply for an open work permit while the sponsorship is being processed. IRCC’s processing times vary with the type of application and how complete it is.
Income requirements
In most cases there is no minimum income to sponsor a spouse, a partner or a dependent child. An income test applies if you sponsor a dependent child who has a dependent child of their own, or a spouse or partner whose dependent child has a dependent child. Sponsoring parents or grandparents has its own income rules. Quebec has separate requirements.
The undertaking: how long the promise lasts
The undertaking is a binding promise to provide for the basic needs of the person you sponsor. It starts when they become a permanent resident and lasts:
- 3 years for a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner
- 10 years, or until the child turns 25 if that comes first, for a dependent child who is under 22
- 3 years for a dependent child who is 22 or older
- 20 years for a parent or grandparent
- 10 years for other relatives
An undertaking does not end when life changes
If the person you sponsored receives social assistance during the undertaking, you can be required to repay it. Separation, divorce, financial difficulty or the sponsored person becoming a citizen does not cancel the undertaking.
The periods come from section 132 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, SOR/2002-227, as it read on 10 October 2026.
Parents and grandparents: program paused, super visa available
IRCC’s page for the Parents and Grandparents Program, last modified on 18 August 2026, says the program is paused: IRCC is not accepting applications and will not accept new interest-to-sponsor forms or send invitations until further notice. Applications already submitted continue to be processed.
The alternative for visits is the super visa. It allows multiple entries for up to 10 years and stays of up to five years at a time, for parents and grandparents of a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or a registered Indian. It has its own income and medical insurance requirements. See our page on visiting Canada.
If a sponsorship is refused
A refusal is not always the end. In many family class cases the sponsor can appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division, and the time to do so is short. See immigration and refugee appeals. Where the refusal is based on a criminal record, a medical issue or an earlier misrepresentation, see inadmissibility issues.
How Law Wise helps with family sponsorship
- checking that the sponsor and the family member are both eligible
- identifying problems early, such as an earlier refusal or a gap in the evidence
- organising relationship evidence and supporting documents
- preparing and filing the sponsorship and permanent residence applications
- answering IRCC requests and preparing clients for interviews
- advising on appeals and other options after a refusal
You are not required to use a representative, IRCC’s forms and guides are free, and no representative can promise an invitation or an approval. Your file is handled by a Law Wise lawyer licensed by the Law Society of Ontario. Service is available in English, Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi, and, if you retain the firm, fees are explained and confirmed in writing before work starts.
Common questions about family sponsorship
How long does spousal sponsorship take?
IRCC publishes its current processing times, and they change. Timing also depends on how complete the application is and how quickly requests are answered. We do not promise a processing time.
Is there a minimum income to sponsor my spouse?
In most cases, no. An income test applies only in limited situations, for example where your spouse’s dependent child has a dependent child. You must still sign the undertaking and must not be receiving social assistance for a reason other than disability.
Can I sponsor my brother, sister, aunt or uncle?
Usually not. Brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces and grandchildren can be sponsored only if they are orphaned, under 18 and unmarried. One other relative can be sponsored only if you have no spouse, partner, child, parent, grandparent or other listed relative who is in Canada or whom you could sponsor.
Can I sponsor my spouse if I live outside Canada?
A Canadian citizen can, by showing a plan to live in Canada when the spouse becomes a permanent resident. A permanent resident who lives outside Canada cannot sponsor.
Can I sponsor my parents right now?
Not for permanent residence. IRCC’s page, last modified 18 August 2026, shows the Parents and Grandparents Program as paused. A super visa is the option for long visits.
Does the undertaking end if we separate?
No. The undertaking continues for its full term even if the relationship ends.
Speak with an immigration lawyer about sponsoring your family
Your first consultation is free for 15 minutes, by appointment. Call us or send a message, and tell us who you want to sponsor and where they live now.
This page is general legal information, current as of 10 October 2026. Immigration programs and instructions change often, so confirm the current rules on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. This page is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. For advice about your situation, please speak with a lawyer.