The Basics
What is family sponsorship?
Family reunification is a cornerstone of Canada's immigration system. Through family sponsorship, eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents can help certain close family members become permanent residents themselves. For many families, it's one of the most direct routes — and it generally doesn't require a job offer.
Sponsorship involves a commitment: the sponsor typically agrees to support the family member financially for a defined period, helping them settle without relying on social assistance. The exact obligations depend on who is being sponsored.
Who's Involved
Who can sponsor & be sponsored
Sponsors are generally Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are adults and who meet certain requirements. Family members who may be sponsored commonly include:
- Spouses, common-law and conjugal partners.
- Dependent children.
- Parents and grandparents — often through a dedicated program with its own intake process.
- Certain other relatives in specific, limited circumstances.
Each category has its own eligibility rules, documents and processing considerations, so it's important to check the current requirements for the specific relationship.
Good to Know
A few general points
Family-class applications are handled by IRCC, and processing times vary by category and over time. The parents-and-grandparents route, in particular, often works differently from spousal sponsorship and may involve a separate intake. Because details and intake windows change, the official IRCC pages are the place to confirm what's open and what's required right now.