Mississauga Office: 3715 Laird Rd, Unit 4, Mississauga, ON L5L 0A3
D.H.A Office: 43 CCA – 2nd Floor, D.H.A – Phase 5
- 3715 Laird Rd, Unit 4, Mississauga, ON L5L 0A3
Family Sponsorship Canada
Canada’s family sponsorship programs let eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents help close family members become permanent residents. If you want to bring your spouse or partner, your dependent child, or your parents or grandparents to Canada, this page explains who can sponsor, who can be sponsored, and how the main programs work — then points you to the right next step. Every situation is different, so the safest starting point is a review of your specific facts with a licensed RCIC.
Who can sponsor a family member
To sponsor a spouse, partner or dependent child, you generally must be at least 18, and be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a person registered under the Canadian Indian Act. You usually need to be living in Canada. A Canadian citizen living abroad may sponsor a spouse, partner or dependent child if they can show they will live in Canada once the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident. A permanent resident living outside Canada cannot sponsor. When you sponsor, you sign an undertaking — a commitment to financially support the people you sponsor for a set period — and a sponsorship agreement.
When you may not be eligible to sponsor
You may not be able to sponsor if, for example, you are in default on a previous sponsorship undertaking or an immigration loan, are behind on court-ordered support payments, are receiving social assistance for a reason other than a disability, are an undischarged bankrupt, are subject to a removal order, or are in prison. This is not a complete list — IRCC assesses eligibility against the law in each case, which is why a file review matters.
Who you can sponsor
Canada’s family sponsorship programs may cover your spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, your dependent child, and your parents and grandparents. (Note: “other relatives” can be sponsored only in very narrow situations — this is covered in the FAQs, not as a main service here.)
| Relationship | Who qualifies (plain terms) | Fixed income requirement? | Typical route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse | Legally married, genuine relationship | No (limited exceptions) | Inland or outland |
| Common-law partner | Lived together 12+ continuous months | No (limited exceptions) | Inland or outland |
| Conjugal partner | 1+ yr interdependent; barriers to marry/cohabit; abroad | No (limited exceptions) | Outland |
| Dependent child | Under 22 and no spouse/partner (overage exception applies) | No (limited exceptions) | Dependent child sponsorship, or included as a dependant, depending on the case |
| Parents & grandparents | Your parents/grandparents | Yes — minimum income for 3 tax years | PGP (intake-based) |
Spousal and partner sponsorship
You may be able to sponsor a spouse, a common-law partner, or a conjugal partner. A common-law partner is someone you have lived with continuously for at least 12 months. A conjugal partner is someone you have been in a committed, interdependent relationship with for at least a year but cannot live with or marry because of real barriers, and who lives outside Canada. In every case, IRCC must be satisfied the relationship is genuine and not entered into mainly to obtain permanent residence.
Working while the application is in process
Some spouses or partners being sponsored from inside Canada may be eligible for an open work permit after they receive an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR), depending on their status, their location, the relationship facts, and IRCC’s current public policy. Where it applies, this open work permit can sometimes be extended while the permanent residence application is still being processed and no final decision has been made. Whether it applies to you depends on your specific situation.
Learn more: Spousal Sponsorship Canada →
Dependent child sponsorship
You may be able to sponsor your dependent child. A child generally qualifies as a dependant if they are under 22 and do not have a spouse or common-law partner. A child who is 22 or older may still qualify in the limited case where they have depended on a parent for financial support since before age 22 and cannot support themselves because of a mental or physical condition. A child’s age is generally “locked in” on the date IRCC receives the complete application.
Learn more: Dependent Child Sponsorship Canada →
Parents and grandparents sponsorship (PGP)
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) lets eligible sponsors bring their parents or grandparents to Canada as permanent residents. PGP operates through IRCC’s intake and invitation process. When IRCC opens or uses an interest-to-sponsor pool, selected sponsors may be invited to submit a full application. Unlike spousal sponsorship, PGP has an income requirement — sponsors must meet a minimum necessary income across three tax years, and a spouse or common-law partner can co-sign to combine incomes.
Current PGP status
As of June 25, 2026, IRCC has not opened a new interest-to-sponsor form or a 2026 intake. The most recent (2025) intake was by invitation only, drawn from people who had submitted the interest-to-sponsor form in 2020, and it closed on October 9, 2025. IRCC has said details on the next intake will be shared when available. Because this status can change, confirm the current position on IRCC’s website or with our office before relying on it.
Alternative while PGP is not open: the Super Visa. If you cannot sponsor your parents or grandparents right now, the Super Visa may let them visit for up to 5 years at a time, with the possibility of 2-year extensions from inside Canada. A Super Visa is a long-stay visitor option — it is not permanent residence and not family sponsorship — but it can keep families together while you wait for a PGP intake. Super Visa also has its own eligibility requirements, including host income and medical insurance. Ask us whether your parents or grandparents may qualify.
Learn more: Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Canada →
Sponsor eligibility and financial responsibility
Most spousal, partner and dependent-child sponsorships do not have a fixed income requirement, though limited exceptions exist. Parents and grandparents sponsorship does require meeting a minimum necessary income for three tax years. We do not list specific dollar figures here because they change with each intake — we’ll confirm the current numbers for your situation.
When you sponsor, you agree to an undertaking to support the sponsored person(s) for a set period that begins when they become a permanent resident. As a general guide (outside Quebec), the undertaking is about 3 years for a spouse or partner, 10 years (or until age 25) for a dependent child under 22, 3 years for a dependent child 22 or older, and 20 years for parents and grandparents (Quebec periods differ). Once the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident, the undertaking generally cannot be cancelled — so it’s worth understanding before you apply.
Inland vs outland — which process applies
You’ll often hear sponsorship described as “inland” or “outland.” Inland usually refers to the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class, where the sponsored person is in Canada. Outland usually refers to the family class process, often used when the sponsored person is outside Canada — though the right category depends on the facts of your case, including where the sponsored person lives and their goals (for example, whether they want to work in Canada while waiting). We help you choose the route that fits your situation.
Common reasons family applications run into problems
Family applications can be delayed or refused for reasons such as incomplete documents, gaps in proving a genuine relationship, eligibility issues with the sponsor, or missed requirements. These are educational examples, not a diagnosis of your case. If you’ve had a refusal or you’re worried about one, we can assess your situation and explain your realistic options before you act.
How MAK helps with family sponsorship
MAK Canadian Immigration is led by licensed RCICs. We review your eligibility as a sponsor, identify the right program and route, help you build strong, well-documented relationship and financial evidence, and prepare and submit a complete application. We do not promise outcomes — no one can — but we help you put forward the strongest, most accurate application for your facts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sponsor my spouse if I live outside Canada?
If you are a Canadian citizen living abroad, you may be able to sponsor your spouse, partner or dependent child if you can show you will live in Canada once they become a permanent resident. A permanent resident living outside Canada cannot sponsor.
Is there an income requirement to sponsor my spouse?
In most cases there is no fixed income requirement to sponsor a spouse, partner or dependent child, although limited exceptions exist. Parents and grandparents sponsorship does have an income requirement.
What counts as a common-law partner?
Generally, someone you have lived with continuously in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 months. Short, temporary absences may be acceptable depending on the facts.
My parents want to come now, but PGP isn’t open. What can I do?
When PGP intake is closed, many families use the Super Visa, which can allow parents or grandparents to visit for up to 5 years at a time, with possible 2-year extensions from inside Canada. It is a visitor option, not permanent residence or sponsorship. We can check whether your parents or grandparents may qualify.
How long is the sponsorship undertaking?
It varies by who you sponsor — as a general guide outside Quebec, about 3 years for a spouse or partner and up to 10 years (or until age 25) for a younger dependent child, and 20 years for parents and grandparents. We’ll confirm the period for your case.
Can I sponsor a relative who isn’t my spouse, child, parent or grandparent?
Only in narrow situations — for example, an orphaned sibling, niece, nephew or grandchild under 18, or a single last remaining relative where you have no closer relative you could sponsor. Most family sponsorships fall into the main categories. Ask us if you think you may qualify under these limited rules.
Is inland or outland better for me?
It depends on where the sponsored person lives, whether they want to work in Canada while waiting, and other facts. We help you choose the route that fits your goals.
Do you guarantee approval?
No. No one can guarantee an immigration result. We help you submit a complete, accurate and well-supported application that gives your situation its best, honest chance.
Want to bring your family to Canada? Book a paid consultation for a file review, or start with the free assessment if you’re not sure where you stand.
Book a ConsultationStart Free Assessment
