Overview of Family Sponsorship programs

Family Sponsorship is a program that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their family members to Canada. This program aims to reunite families and provide a pathway for family members to become permanent residents of Canada. By sponsoring a family member, the sponsor agrees to support them financially and ensure they do not require social assistance.

Key Points

Sponsors must be 18 years or older and must demonstrate the financial ability to support the sponsored family member(s).
Family members eligible for sponsorship include spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, dependent children, adopted children, parents, grandparents, and in some cases, other relatives.
The sponsorship agreement includes a commitment to provide financial support for a specific period.

Family Sponsorship Categories

Spousal, Partner, Dependent Child Sponsorship

Allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, or dependent children to come and live in Canada.

Sponsor must be 18 years or older and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
The relationship must be genuine and legally recognized.
Both sponsor and applicant must meet financial and legal requirements.
The sponsor must not have a criminal record or be bankrupt.
The sponsor must sign an agreement to financially support the applicant.

For spousal or dependent child sponsorship, there is no specific income requirement. However, the sponsor must not be receiving social assistance (except for disability) and must demonstrate the ability to financially support the sponsored person.

Adopted Child Sponsorship

Allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor adopted children from abroad to become permanent residents.

The adoption must be legal and final.
The sponsor must be 18 years or older and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Must comply with both the sending country’s and Canada’s adoption laws.
The sponsor must provide financial support for the adopted child.
The sponsor must sign an agreement to financially support the applicant.

For sponsoring an adopted child, you must meet the income requirement based on the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) to ensure you can support the adopted child financially. This requirement varies depending on the number of family members in your household.

(Other) Relatives Sponsorship

This category allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor certain relatives to come to Canada as permanent residents.

Sponsor must be 18 years or older and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Sponsor must demonstrate the financial ability to support the relative.
Relatives who can be sponsored include siblings, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren who are orphaned, under 18, and not married or in a common-law relationship.
In special circumstances, other relatives can be sponsored if the sponsor does not have any other immediate family members in Canada.

When sponsoring other relatives, ensure you meet the income requirement based on the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) to demonstrate financial capability to support them. This requirement varies depending on the number of family members in your household.

Parents/Grandparents Sponsorship

This category allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents to come to Canada as permanent residents.

Sponsor must be 18 years or older and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Sponsor must meet a minimum necessary income requirement for the past three years.
Must sign a sponsorship agreement to provide financial support for the parents/grandparents for 20 years.
The parents/grandparents must also pass medical, criminal, and background checks.

For sponsoring parents and grandparents, you must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirement for the last three consecutive years. The MNI is higher than for other types of family sponsorship and is based on the number of family members.

Eligibility Requirements

Ensure you meet all the eligibility requirements before applying to avoid delays and potential refusals.

Financial Commitment

Be prepared for the financial commitment involved in sponsoring a family member.

Documentation

Gather all necessary documentation, including proof of relationship, financial ability, and legal status.

Ready to navigate the path of Sponsoring your Family Member(s) in Canada?

Navigating the Family Sponsorship process can be complex and requires careful planning. At SAAB Immigration Services Inc., we specialize in reuniting families through expert guidance and support. Book an appointment with us today to start your family sponsorship journey and ensure a smooth and successful application process.

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Our Team

Dikshit Soni

Founder and Principal Consultant

Megha Khatri

Administrative Manager