Family class
Family Sponsorship in Canada: Who You Can Sponsor
Family sponsorship lets a Canadian citizen or permanent resident bring close family members to Canada as permanent residents. It does not depend on a points score — it depends on the sponsor's eligibility and on proving the relationship.
- Reviewed by Harshmeet Pal Singh, RCIC · CICC R708583
- Last reviewed: 2026-09-19
The 30-second answer
Who can I sponsor to come to Canada?
A Canadian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 or over may sponsor a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, a dependent child, and parents or grandparents. Other relatives can be sponsored only in narrow circumstances — for example an orphaned close relative, or where the sponsor has no other family member who could be sponsored. Cousins, aunts, uncles, adult siblings and friends generally cannot be sponsored, whatever their circumstances.
Who can be sponsored
| Relationship | What has to be proven | Income requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse or partner | A valid marriage, twelve months' cohabitation, or a qualifying conjugal relationship — plus that it is genuine and not primarily for immigration purposes | Generally none |
| Dependent child | The parent–child relationship and that the child meets the definition of a dependant, principally on age and dependency | Generally none |
| Parents and grandparents | The relationship, and that the sponsor meets the income requirement for the applicable years | Yes — minimum necessary income, based on family size |
| Other relatives | That the narrow qualifying circumstances actually apply | Varies |
Sponsor eligibility comes first
Assess the sponsor before anything else. It is the cheapest step and it occasionally ends the conversation — which is far better learned now than eight months in.
- Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18
- Will live in Canada when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident — a citizen living abroad may apply if they show they will return
- Not in default of a previous sponsorship undertaking or an immigration loan
- Not receiving social assistance, other than for a disability
- Not in prison, and not subject to a removal order
- Not sponsored as a spouse themselves within the previous five years
- Not convicted of certain offences, including offences against a family member
A sponsor signs a binding commitment to provide for the sponsored person's basic needs — three years for a spouse or partner, longer for parents and grandparents. If the couple separates the day after landing, the undertaking still binds the sponsor, and any social assistance the sponsored person receives in that period becomes a debt the sponsor owes. This is not a formality.
Where we work on family files
Spousal & Partner Sponsorship
Inland versus outland, relationship evidence, open work permits, and the appeal right you give up by choosing inland.
Read the full guideDependent Children
Age and dependency at the right moment, custody documentation where parents are separated, and declaring every child — including those not coming.
Parents and Grandparents Program
Permanent residence for parents, subject to a limited intake and a real income test across multiple tax years.
The Parents and Grandparents Program leads to permanent residence but depends on a limited intake, so it is not available on demand. A super visa does not lead to permanent residence but can be applied for at any time and allows stays of up to five years per entry. Many families use a super visa during the years when the sponsorship route is closed or still in progress.
RCIC Insight
The single most damaging error in family files has nothing to do with the relationship being sponsored. It is failing to declare a family member who is not coming — a child from an earlier relationship, most often. An undeclared and unexamined family member can be permanently barred from being sponsored by that person later, and it is generally not fixable afterwards. Declare everyone, every time.
Harshmeet Pal Singh, RCIC · CICC licence R708583
Why family applications are refused
- The relationship is not accepted as genuine — the central ground in spousal and partner cases.
- Cohabitation not established where common-law status is claimed but never documented.
- Sponsor ineligible — a default, a prior sponsorship within five years, or social assistance.
- Income shortfall in parent and grandparent applications, often because family size was counted wrongly.
- An undeclared family member, with the lasting consequences described above.
- Inconsistencies between the sponsor's and applicant's forms — dates, addresses, previous marriages.
If an application has already been refused, note that outland family class refusals generally carry a right of appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division, while inland refusals do not. See refusals and complex cases.
Government fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sponsor a spouse or partner Includes the sponsorship fee, the processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee | CAD $1,260 |
| Sponsor a dependent child, each | CAD $180 |
| Biometrics, per person | CAD $85 |
Processing times
Commonly around a year, and longer where evidence or admissibility issues arise. IRCC publishes live processing times that change frequently and vary by country of residence and application type. Use the official processing-times tool for a current estimate for your own situation.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an income requirement for family sponsorship?
It depends who you are sponsoring. There is generally no minimum income requirement for a spouse, partner or dependent child.
Sponsoring parents or grandparents does require the sponsor to meet a minimum necessary income for the applicable tax years, based on family size. In every case the sponsor signs the undertaking regardless of income.
Can I sponsor my brother or sister?
Generally no. Adult siblings are not in the family class, and neither are cousins, aunts, uncles or friends.
There are narrow exceptions — an orphaned sibling, niece, nephew or grandchild under 18 and unmarried, or the "lonely Canadian" provision where a sponsor has no other relative who could be sponsored. Both are tightly defined. Otherwise, an economic route such as Express Entry is usually the realistic path.
How long does family sponsorship take?
Spousal and partner applications commonly take around a year, and longer where relationship evidence is questioned, an interview is called, or admissibility needs assessment.
Parent and grandparent applications depend on a separate intake process before processing even begins, so the total wait can be considerably longer.
Can my sponsored spouse work while waiting?
In an inland (in-Canada class) application, usually yes — an open work permit can be applied for alongside the sponsorship application. Apply for both at the same time; filing the work permit later just loses months.
In an outland application, no work permit arises from the sponsorship itself. See spousal sponsorship.
What if my relationship ends during processing?
The application cannot proceed, and both parties have an obligation to tell IRCC of a material change.
Continuing after a relationship has ended risks a misrepresentation finding with consequences lasting years. If permanent residence was already granted, the sponsor's undertaking continues to apply.
Find out whether you can sponsor, before you spend anything
Tell us your status and your family situation, and receive your free Canada Immigration Roadmap with the routes open to you and what each requires.