Canada
Family Reunification in Canada
Reunite With Your Family in Canada
Family Class Sponsorship lets Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians bring close family members to Canada as permanent residents. Through this program you may be able to sponsor a spouse or partner, your dependent children, your parents and grandparents, and — in limited cases — certain other relatives. This page is your overview of who can sponsor, who can be sponsored, and what the commitment involves.
01 What is Family Class Sponsorship
Family Class Sponsorship is the part of Canada's immigration system that lets eligible people in Canada help close family members become permanent residents. It is administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and is built around the idea of family reunification — keeping families together so they can live, study, and work in Canada.
Sponsorship involves two sides working together: the sponsor (who must meet eligibility rules and make a financial commitment) and the sponsored person (who must qualify under the relevant family relationship and pass admissibility checks). Depending on who you are sponsoring, the application is handled through one of several streams, including spousal/partner and dependent-child sponsorship and the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
This page provides general information, not legal advice, and no application outcome can be guaranteed. BroadGate's licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs), regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), can review your specific situation. Always confirm current rules on the official IRCC pages before you apply.
02 Who Can Be a Sponsor
To sponsor a family member, you must generally meet all of the following requirements. In most cases, you:
- are at least 18 years old
- are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a person registered under the Canadian Indian Act
- live in Canada — or, if you're a Canadian citizen sponsoring a spouse, partner, or dependent child from abroad, can show you will return to live in Canada once they become permanent residents
- can demonstrate that you will be able to provide for the basic needs of the people you sponsor
- are not receiving social assistance for a reason other than a disability
- are not in default of a previous sponsorship undertaking, an immigration loan, or court-ordered support payments
Some circumstances can bar you from sponsoring — for example, certain criminal convictions, an undischarged bankruptcy, or being in default of a prior undertaking. A permanent resident who was themselves sponsored as a spouse or partner generally cannot sponsor a new spouse or partner until a set period has passed. Eligibility is assessed case by case.
03 Who You Can Sponsor
The family class covers close relatives. Each relationship has its own stream and its own requirements — the four main groups are below.
Spouse or Partner
Your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner — the relationship must be genuine and not entered into mainly for immigration purposes.
Dependent Children
Your biological or adopted children who qualify as dependants based on their age and circumstances at the time of application.
Parents & Grandparents
Sponsored through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), which has its own intake process and a higher income requirement.
Other Relatives
In limited cases — an orphaned sibling, nephew, niece, or grandchild under 18, or one relative of any age if you have no other relative you could sponsor.
You generally cannot sponsor adult siblings, aunts, uncles, or cousins outside the narrow exceptions above, nor your spouse or partner's parents and grandparents (your in-laws). Adult siblings, aunts, and uncles only qualify under the "orphaned relative" or "lonely Canadian" provisions.
04 The Sponsorship Undertaking
When you sponsor a family member, you sign a binding undertaking — a promise to the government to financially support the people you sponsor and repay any social assistance they receive during the undertaking period. You also sign a sponsorship agreement setting out the responsibilities of both sides. The undertaking begins the day the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident and cannot be cancelled or shortened afterward — even if your relationship changes, the person becomes a citizen, you move provinces, or your finances change.
Undertaking lengths (as of June 2026, all provinces except Quebec): spouse, common-law,
or conjugal partner — 3 years; dependent child under 22 — 10 years or until
they turn 25, whichever comes first; dependent child 22 or older — 3 years;
parents and grandparents — 20 years; other eligible relative — 10 years.
In Quebec the periods differ (for example, parents and grandparents is 10 years), and Quebec sponsors
sign a separate undertaking with the province. These periods are set by IRCC and can change — confirm
the current figures on the official IRCC undertaking pages before applying.
05 Income Requirements
Whether you need to prove a specific income depends on who you are sponsoring:
- Spouse, partner, or dependent child: in most cases there is no minimum income requirement — you simply must not be receiving social assistance (other than for a disability).
- Exception: you must meet a minimum income if the dependent child you're sponsoring has a dependent child of their own, or your spouse/partner has a dependent child who in turn has their own dependent child. In that case income is assessed against Statistics Canada's Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) using the Financial Evaluation form (IMM 1283).
- Parents and grandparents (PGP): you must meet a higher Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) and prove it for three consecutive tax years. A co-signer's income may be added.
The dollar amounts for LICO and the PGP Minimum Necessary Income are updated by the government and depend on your family size — they change from year to year. We deliberately don't pin a figure here; confirm the current required amounts on the official IRCC page (or IMM 1283 instructions) for the tax years that apply to your application.
06 How to Apply
The exact steps depend on the stream, but a sponsorship application generally follows this path:
Confirm Eligibility for Both Sides
Check that you qualify as a sponsor and that your relative qualifies under the right family relationship. For the Parents and Grandparents Program, you usually first submit an interest-to-sponsor form during an intake window and wait to be invited to apply.
Gather Documents and Forms
Complete the sponsorship and permanent residence application forms and gather relationship proof, identity and status documents, and — where required — income documents.
Pay the Fees
Pay the applicable government fees, which typically include the sponsorship fee, the principal applicant's processing fee, the Right of Permanent Residence Fee, and biometrics. Confirm current amounts on IRCC before paying.
Submit the Application
Sponsorship applications are generally submitted online through IRCC's Permanent Residence portal as one combined package.
Biometrics, Medical & Background Checks
The sponsored person provides biometrics and completes a medical exam, and IRCC carries out security and admissibility checks. Additional information or an interview may be requested.
Decision
If approved, your family member becomes a permanent resident. Processing times vary by stream and country and are subject to change — check current IRCC processing times for an estimate.
07 Documents You May Need
Your exact checklist is generated by IRCC based on your stream and situation. Documents commonly requested across family class applications include:
- proof of your status in Canada (citizenship, permanent residence, or registration under the Indian Act)
- proof of the family relationship — for example, marriage or birth certificates, or evidence of a common-law or conjugal relationship
- identity and travel documents for the sponsored person and any accompanying family members
- the signed undertaking and sponsorship agreement
- income documents (such as Notices of Assessment) where an income requirement applies — for example, for the Parents and Grandparents Program
- police certificates, medical exam results, and biometrics as requested
- translations of any documents not in English or French, with the required certification
Always use the current document checklist generated by IRCC for your specific application. Requirements differ between streams and can be updated, and Quebec applicants follow additional provincial steps.
08 Frequently Asked Questions
Who exactly can I sponsor under the family class?+
You can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner; your dependent children; and your parents and grandparents (through the PGP). In limited cases you can also sponsor an orphaned sibling, nephew, niece, or grandchild under 18, or one other relative of any age if you have no other relative you could sponsor. You generally can't sponsor adult siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, or in-laws outside these exceptions.
Do I need a minimum income to sponsor my spouse?+
In most cases there is no minimum income requirement to sponsor a spouse, partner, or dependent child — you only need to show you're not receiving social assistance other than for a disability. An income test applies in narrow cases (for example, if the dependent child you're sponsoring has a child of their own) and for the Parents and Grandparents Program, which requires a higher income proven over three tax years.
How long does the sponsorship undertaking last?+
As of June 2026, outside Quebec the undertaking is 3 years for a spouse or partner; 10 years (or until age 25, whichever comes first) for a dependent child under 22; 3 years for a dependent child 22 or older; 20 years for parents and grandparents; and 10 years for other eligible relatives. Quebec periods differ. Once the person becomes a permanent resident, the undertaking can't be cancelled or shortened — confirm current figures on IRCC before you apply.
Can I sponsor my parents or grandparents whenever I want?+
Not exactly. Parents and grandparents are sponsored through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), which typically opens an intake window where you submit an interest-to-sponsor form, and only those invited can apply. Availability, timing, and the income required change year to year, so check the current PGP details on IRCC. The Super Visa can be an alternative for longer visits while you wait.
Does my sponsored family member get a work permit right away?+
Sponsorship leads to permanent residence, which itself allows the person to live, study, and work in Canada once approved. In some situations a spouse or partner being sponsored from within Canada may be eligible for an open work permit while their application is processed. Eligibility depends on current policy, so confirm what applies to your case before relying on it.
What happens to my obligations if my relationship breaks down?+
The financial undertaking stays in effect for its full length even if you separate or divorce, if the person becomes a Canadian citizen, or if either of you moves. You can only withdraw a sponsorship before the person becomes a permanent resident. Because the commitment is binding, it's worth getting advice before you sign.
Talk to a Licensed Expert
Ready to bring your family to Canada?
Our licensed RCICs, regulated by the CICC, can confirm who you're eligible to sponsor, explain the undertaking, and help you prepare a strong, complete application.
