Guide To Family Sponsorship Visas For Canada | Requirements For Immigration

Family Sponsorship Requirements

Family Sponsorship is a program that allows you to sponsor a family. You can sponsor a parent or grandparent, but you need to prove that you have the funds to do it. In this article, you’ll learn about the requirements.

Canadian Family Sponsorship Programs

Your Path to Family Reunification in Canada

Spouse/Partner Sponsorship

  • • Spouse or Common-law Partner
  • • Conjugal Partner
  • Processing: 12-24 months

Parents & Grandparents

  • • Annual Immigration Program
  • • Super Visa Option
  • Quota-based System

Dependent Children

  • • Under 22 Years Old
  • • Financial Dependency
  • Priority Processing

General Sponsorship Requirements

• Must be 18+ years old

• Canadian citizen/PR

• Meet income requirements

• 3-year sponsorship undertaking

Spouse/Partner Sponsorship

Spouse/Partner Sponsorship Visa

Valid Marriage/Partnership Proof

Sponsor: Canadian Citizen/PR

Financial Requirements Met

Medical & Security Checks

3-Year Sponsorship Agreement

Genuine Relationship Proof

No Criminal Record

Age 18+ Required

Picture this: You’ve been living in Canada for three years as a permanent resident, working as a software developer in Toronto. During your vacation to Mexico, you met someone special, fell in love, and after a year of relationship, you got married in Mexico City. Now, you want to bring your spouse to Canada to build your life together.

Let’s walk through your journey. First, you’ll check if you meet the sponsor requirements. Since you’re working full-time making $65,000 annually, you easily meet the minimum income requirement. You gather documents proving your permanent residence status, employment letters, and tax returns. The next critical step is proving your marriage is genuine. You collect your marriage certificate, but that’s just the beginning. You also gather your WhatsApp chat history showing daily conversations, joint bank account statements from the trips you’ve made together, photos from various occasions with family and friends, and flight tickets showing your visits to each other.

Your spouse in Mexico also begins their part. They take the required medical examination at an approved panel physician in Mexico City. They obtain their police clearance certificates – one from Mexico and another from Brazil where they worked for two years. They gather their birth certificate, passport copies, and employment history.

Together, you complete the sponsorship forms. You commit to the three-year sponsorship undertaking, understanding you’ll be financially responsible for your spouse during this period. This means if they need social assistance, you’ll have to repay it. You submit everything to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), including the processing fees of $1,050.

While waiting for processing, you prepare your home in Toronto, adding your spouse’s name to the lease. You keep all communication records with IRCC, as they might request additional documents. After about 12 months, your spouse receives their permanent residence visa. You book their flight to Toronto Pearson International Airport, where you’ll welcome them to their new home in Canada. This marks the beginning of your shared life in Canada, though your sponsorship obligations continue for the next three years.

Parent and grandparent sponsorship

Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)

Minimum Income for Past 3 Years

20-Year Sponsorship Agreement

Medical Examination Required

Quebec Requirements Different

Proof of Relationship

Limited Annual Spots

Interest to Sponsor Form

Security Clearance

Principal Applicant Rules

Language Tests Optional

LICO + 30% Required

Canadian Citizen/PR Status

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and you want to bring your parents to Canada, you might be eligible for the Parent and Grandparent sponsorship program. This is a federal government program that is designed to help you bring your aging grandparents to the country and also to make it easier for you to get them a Canadian visa. It is one of the many programs that the Canadian government has to help immigrants and their families settle in the country.

Practically Possible When IRCC announces the opening of the Parents and Grandparents Program interest to sponsor form, you’re ready. You submit the form within hours of the window opening. Three months later, you receive an invitation to apply – you’re one of the lucky 15,000 selected this year. You’re earning $85,000 annually, which exceeds the required minimum income (LICO + 30%) for sponsoring parents.

Before you begin the process of sponsoring your parents, you need to know some basics. The government has implemented a lottery system that helps select the best candidates to sponsor. You will be invited to submit a complete application within 60 days of receiving your invitation. In order to ensure that your application is accepted, you will need to meet all the required criteria.

First, you need to fill out the Interest to Sponsor Form. This form is the first step in the process of getting a sponsor. Once you have filled out the Interest to Sponsor form, IRCC will randomly invite you to submit a full application. Applicants must also be 18 years of age and have a valid passport. To be eligible to participate, the prospective sponsor and their family must undergo medical exams.

The requisite income for a parent or grandparent must be met for the three tax years before the applicant’s application. For parents, this means that your father must be earning at least $1,500 a month or your mother at least $800 a month, and if you are a grandparent, your income must be at least $3,800 a month. While this may seem high, it is based on the number of people in your family. However, if your family size decreases, it will not necessarily affect your eligibility.

The financial evaluation for sponsoring a parent or grandparent is another important step in the process. This is a form called the Financial Evaluation for Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship (IMM 5768). This form will help you determine if you are capable of financially supporting your sponsor’s family.

If your sponsored parents or grandparents have dependent children, you will need to provide proof of their income. As a sponsor, you will be responsible for supporting their children or grandchildren for twenty years. In addition, you must be willing to assist them in finding a job. Finally, you will need to submit a valid passport and proof of private health insurance for your parents or grandparents.

The Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program (PGP) is designed to help aging Canadians take care of their aging parents or grandparents. Parents and grandparents who come to Canada will be able to enjoy the benefits of a Canadian visa, and may be able to apply for citizenship four years after arriving.

Super Visa Program

The Super Visa program for family sponsorship is an immigration option that allows eligible family members to enter Canada for up to two years. Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens can apply for the Super Visa if they meet certain requirements. Applicants must have medical coverage for at least one year and must demonstrate ties to their home country. They must also pass a medical examination.

The application process is similar to the regular Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) process. However, there are more requirements. Besides meeting income and medical standards, applicants must prove that they are law-abiding and are admissible to Canada. Also, they must prove that they will be able to financially support their grandparents/parents. This type of application allows visitors to stay for up to two years at a time, with the potential to extend the stay.

Applicants must meet income cut-offs for the super visa. Depending on the number of children and parents, the minimum income requirement may vary. For example, for a family of four, the income requirement will be $17,000. If the applicant’s child is self-employed, his or her income can be verified through a tax return or tax information from the CRA.

Applicants must also meet the medical requirements of the super visa. Specifically, they must have private medical insurance from a Canadian health care provider. Moreover, they must provide biometrics, including fingerprints and photos. In addition, the application must be submitted to the visa office responsible for the applicant’s place of residence outside of Canada.

Applicants who wish to stay in Canada for more than a couple of months must first apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). After the TRV is approved, the applicant can then apply for a Super Visa. An immigration medical exam may also be required before the super visa application is submitted. Once the application is accepted, the applicant must then wait for processing.

Applicants can also apply with their spouses, common-law partners or other family members. Those wishing to apply as a sponsor must provide proof that the host will financially support the family, as well as the purpose of their visit to Canada. Other connections can also be used to demonstrate ties to their home country, such as a job, house, or other financial sources.

While the parent and grandparent super visa allows for extended stays in Canada, there are some limitations. For example, applicants must demonstrate ties to their home country, such that they can be returned to their homeland in the event of a natural disaster. Similarly, applicants must be medically admissible to Canada and must not be a security risk. A strong case will greatly improve the chance of approval.

Dependent Children

Dependent Child Sponsorship Program

Under 22 Years Old

Minimum Income: LICO Requirements

10-Year Sponsorship Agreement

Medical Examination Required

Education/Language Not Required

DNA Test May Be Required

Birth Certificate Mandatory

Police Clearance if 18+

Custody Documents If Divorced

Sponsor: Citizen/PR Status

Let’s say you’re a permanent resident in Canada, working as an accountant in Edmonton with an annual income of $70,000, well above the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) requirement for your family size. Your 17-year-old daughter has been living with your ex-spouse in the Philippines, and now you want to bring her to Canada for better education opportunities.

First, you confirm your eligibility. You’ve maintained your income above LICO for the past year, have your Notice of Assessment ready, and can prove you’re meeting child support obligations from your previous marriage. Since your daughter is under 22, she qualifies as a dependent child.

You gather the required documents: your daughter’s birth certificate showing you as the parent, your divorce decree, and custody agreement showing you have the right to bring her to Canada. Since your relationship with your ex-spouse is amicable, they provide written consent for the move.

Your daughter completes her medical examination at an approved panel physician in Manila. Since she’s over 16, she also obtains a police certificate. You submit these along with her passport copies and photos. You sign the 10-year sponsorship undertaking, committing to financially support her until she’s either 25 years old or becomes financially independent.

While processing, you prepare for her arrival. You register her for high school in Edmonton, arrange for her health card, and set up her room. You also connect with local Filipino youth groups to help her transition.

After about 8 months of processing, your daughter receives her permanent residence visa. You book her flight to Edmonton International Airport, coordinating with your ex-spouse for her departure. As you wait at the airport, you’re both nervous and excited about this new chapter, where you’ll finally be able to live together and provide her with the opportunities you’ve worked so hard for in Canada.

Further Guide To Proof Of Funds Required

If you’re planning to welcome your family memeber, to immigrate to Canada, it’s crucial to have the necessary funds. The requirements are different depending on the immigration program you choose. However, you will generally need to prove you can support yourself and your family. A good rule of thumb is to have enough money to live on and provide for your dependents.

When applying for family sponsorship, you’ll need to meet the minimum income and Minimum Necessary Income requirements. You’ll also need to show you can support your sponsored family financially. Your finances will be reviewed and checked to ensure that you have the ability to support your family as soon as you arrive in Canada.

To make things even easier, you can use a co-signer. This can be a spouse, common-law partner, or someone else who has financial responsibility for you. While this will not make you immune to the proof of funds requirement, it will help you get through it.

Despite the fact that there is no specific proof of funds requirement for PR applications, most immigration programs will still ask you to demonstrate your ability to support yourself and your family. The proof of funds you submit must be able to support you and your family while you wait for your permanent residency visa to be processed. That’s why it’s important to be realistic about your financial means.

Depending on the type of family sponsorship you’re applying for, you’ll need to be able to provide for your family’s needs for a period of three years. As part of this, you’ll also need to prove that you have sufficient savings to cover the initial costs of settlement in Canada.

The proof of funds required for a family sponsorship application is not as complicated as it sounds. As long as you can show that you can afford the cost of living in Canada, you’ll have a better chance of securing your visa. Several programs, including the Provincial Nominee Program and Express Entry, require you to submit proof of funds. Some programs don’t require you to provide any form of documentation.

Applicants can file a paper-based application through the Visa Application Centre. Or they can hire a immigration attorney in Canada to help them through the process.

Aminder Kaur Mangat Canadian Barrister

I’m Aminder Kaur Mangat, B.A., LL.B., a Canadian Barrister & Solicitor and a proud member of the Law Society of Ontario. I founded AKM Law in January 2017 with a focus on providing effective, results-driven legal services.

I completed my B.A. with Honours at the University of Manitoba and graduated at the top of my class from the University of West London’s law school. With over a decade of exclusive Canadian immigration experience, I work with both corporate clients and individuals. My expertise lies in handling complex cases, including previously refused applications and issues involving inadmissibility, such as criminality or misrepresentation.

At AKM Law, I’m dedicated to finding practical solutions and delivering successful outcomes for my clients.

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