Sponsor Family Members

Sponsorship is about making sure that families can stay together as much as possible. If you are a permanent resident or a Canadian citizen, you can sponsor family members.

Family members could be a spouse or partner, a child or a dependent, or a parent or grandparent. Canada focuses on bringing families together. Canada also encourages family members to switch from temporary permits to permanent ones. This is where it switches from a visa to a sponsorship.

Spouse Or Partner

To qualify, the permanent resident has to be a spouse, a common-law partner, or a conjugal partner. This also applies to same-sex couples. 

There is an outland sponsorship and an inland sponsorship. An outland sponsorship is when the partner is living outside of Canada. They may be travelling in and out of Canada, but they must be permanently living outside of Canada.

Inland sponsorship is when the spouse is living in Canada under a work visa or other such permits. They would need to be living legally in the country (with a valid permit) for the sponsorship to be processed. The goal should be to take the status from being temporary to permanent. 

Child Or Dependent

Parents can sponsor children if they are underage.  This sponsorship gives children access to education and future opportunities in Canada. This applies to adopted and natural children. Children over the legal age must have their own permits.

Parent Or Grandparent

Permanent residents or Canadian citizens can also sponsor their parents or grandparents. Like with child sponsorship, the relationship must be proven. Parents and grandparents can only be sponsored if the permanent resident is over 18 years of age. Sponsoring permanent residents must also be good Canadian citizens. Residents must also be able to support their parents or grandparents after they immigrate to Canada. 

Citizens and permanent residents can consider this route for parents and grandparents who are staying with them on temporary visas. The goal should be to convert them from being temporary to permanent.