Eligibility Requirements For Family Class Sponsorships

Canada is a nation that embraces family life and family relations. Understandably, you have to leave your family members back in your country while you move to Canada in search of a greener pasture. That is why the Canadian government provides an opportunity whereby you can sponsor any of your family members including your spouse, conjugal partner, common-law partner, dependent children, and parents to come to stay with you in Canada, while they gain permanent residence. However, there are eligibility requirements for family class sponsorship. And we’re here to do justice to that!.

So, in this article, you will know about the requirements for each sponsorship category for both the sponsor and sponsored person

Family Sponsorship

Family sponsorship is one of the easiest routes to immigrate to Canada from any part of the world. This program allows permanent residents or citizens in Canada to sponsor a relative or spouse for immigration to Canada.

You can sponsor your dependent children, spouse, conjugal partner, and common-law partner to come to stay with you in Canada if you are 18 years and above. However, you must be able to certify that you are either a permanent resident, a Canadian citizen, or a registered person in Canada and that you are not receiving any sort of social assistance.

Importantly, you must be able to prove that you can meet the need of your sponsors and ensure that they feel comfortable during their stay.

Family class Sponsorship category

Basically, the category of family sponsorships in Canada is as follows

Spouse or Common-Law Partner Sponsorship
Parent and Grandparent Family Class Sponsorship
Parent and Grandparent Super Visa Sponsorship
Dependent Child Sponsorship

Eligibility Requirements for Family Class Sponsorships

There are different eligibility requirements for each family class sponsorship in Canada. They are explained below

#1. Spouse or Common-Law Partner Sponsorship

This is a type of family class sponsorship that allows a permanent resident or Canadian citizen to sponsor a spouse or common-law partner in Canada. Note that if the sponsored person is your spouse, you must be legally married. You can submit a marriage certificate from the territory or province where your marriage took place (If your marriage is within Canada).

However, if out of Canada, you must submit a valid marriage certificate that is valid from the country you got wedded.

If the Sponsored person is a common-law partner, you must live with him/her together for not less than one year. But for conjugal partners, you must have a mutually dependent relationship for not less than a year.

There must be a high level of commitment, as a common-law partner expressed through intimacy and emotional ties, the efforts to spend time together, and financial closeness.

Requirements for the sponsor

As a sponsor, you must meet the following requirements to sponsor your spouse or common-law partner in Canada

You must be at least 18 years of age
You must be either a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident that lives in Canada
Also, you must not be bankrupt, under a removal order (if you’re a permanent resident), or in prison.
Likewise, you shouldn’t have been sponsored to Canada within five years

Requirements for the Sponsored individual (Spouse or Common-Law Partner)

As a sponsored individual, you must meet the following requirements to Immigrate to Canada under the family class sponsorship

You must not be less than 16 years of age
As a spouse, you cannot be in close blood relation with your spouse

#2. Parent and Grandparent Family Class Sponsorship

This is a type of family class sponsorship that allows a permanent resident or Canadian citizen to sponsor their parent and grandparent in Canada.

Requirements for the Sponsor

As a sponsor, you must meet the following requirements to sponsor your parent and Grandparent in Canada

You and your relative must sign an agreement that testifies that you will financially support your relatives. Note that if you reside in Quebec, you will have to sign an undertaking with the province.
Also, you must make a promise to support your relatives and any of their companies for not less than 20 years.
Likewise, you must satisfy the minimum threshold for the sponsorship.

Requirements for the Sponsored Person (Parent and Grandparent)

Without a doubt, to Immigrate to Canada through the family class Sponsorship as a parent or grandparent of a Canadian permanent resident, you must be a legit parent or grandparent of your sponsor, either by birth or adoption.

#3. Parent and Grandparent Super Visa Sponsorship

This is a type of family class sponsorship that allows a permanent resident or Canadian citizen to sponsor their parent and/or grandparent through Super Visa in Canada

Requirements for the Sponsor

You must be the child or a grandchild of the Sponsored individual
A written commitment of financial support to your relatives must be given
Also, you must satisfy the minimum threshold for the sponsorship.

Requirements for the Sponsored Person (Parent and Grandparent)

As a sponsored parent or grandparent, you must meet the following requirements to Immigrate to Canada through the Super Visa Sponsorship.

You must be the parent or grandparent of your sponsor
You must not have any entanglement against your admissibility to Canada
Also, you must prove that you have Canadian Medical Insurance coverage for not less than a year.
A medical Immigrate examination must reveal a positive health status.

#4. Dependent Child Sponsorship

Dependent child sponsorship is a type of family Class sponsorship that allows a permanent resident or Canadian citizen to sponsor their dependent children in Canada.

Note that the type of relationship that can allow you to sponsor your child to Canada is if you are the biological parents of the child and the child has not to be adopted by either your spouse or common-law partner.

Also, you can sponsor your dependent child if you are a parent through adoption.

Requirements for the Sponsor

Here are the eligibility requirements to sponsor your dependent children from any part of the world to Canada

You must be 18 years of age or older
You are either a Canadian citizen or a Canadian permanent resident that lives in Canada.
Also, you must not be bankrupt or be imprisoned, nor charged with a serious offence.

Requirements for the Sponsored person (dependent children)

As a dependent child or sponsored individual from any part of the world, you must meet the following minimum requirements for you to immigrate to Canada via the family sponsorship program

You must not be more than 20 years of age and be without a common-law partner or spouse, or
You are 22 years and have been depending on your parents for financial support before you got to age 22. Also, you must show evidence of inability to self-finance due to a mental or physical condition.

Obstruction to Family Sponsorship

Without a doubt, an individual cannot sponsor any of their spouse, relatives, or dependent children if they fall under the following categories

Refusal to pay immigration law family support payment and Performance Bond
Failure to give support to a previously sponsored individual led to the sponsored person seeking social donations to meet necessities
if the sponsor is in reformatory, prison, penitentiary, or jail
The sponsor is receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability
If the sponsor is under bankruptcy and has not been discharged by the court
Also if the sponsor is under permanent residents due to family sponsorship and has only held the residence status for not more than 5 years
Likewise, if the sponsor has sponsored another partner within the last 3 years since the sponsored partner became a Canadian permanent resident
If the sponsor is convicted of a sexual offence and has attempted to cause bodily harm to any relative.

Income requirements for Canadian sponsorship

Without a doubt, some specific applications require minimum income requirements including eligible orphans, relatives, parents, and grandparents. A sponsor must provide the Canada Revenue Agency-issued Notice of Assessment (NOA), and meet the minimum necessary income (MNI) that will serve the needs of the size of the family unit.

Basically, you do not need to demonstrate an amount of income to sponsor your spouse or relative (unlike other Canadian sponsorship). Although, you will have to sign an undertaking to provide the financial support of your spouse or family member.

If are sponsoring your adopted child or your sponsored spouse has dependent children, you will have to pay the sum of $150 for each child. However, if you want to include the relative of your spouse or partner you’ll have to pay the sum of $1,050.

In addition to the payment, the government processing fees for you to sponsor any relative or spouse are listed below

Sponsorship fee $75
The principal applicant processing fee is $475
Right of permanent residence fee $500
Biometrics: $85
Total: $1135

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does family sponsorship takes in Canada?

Basically, the processing of Family sponsorship can take up to one year or 12 months.

Can a Canadian citizen sponsor a non-family member?

Under family sponsorship, you cannot sponsor a non-family member.

Can a Canadian citizen sponsor a friend to Canada?

No, if you are a permanent resident of Canada citizen, there is no provision for you to sponsor your friend to Canada under the family sponsorship program.

Conclusion

Family sponsorship is a unique program that seeks to bring families of permanent residents together. There are eligibility requirements for the family Class Sponsorship for both the sponsored person and the sponsor which must be met

Eligibility Requirements For Family Class Sponsorships