Canada Family Sponsorship: Eligibility, Requirements, Process & Documents for Indians
Reunite with your family in Canada. Sponsor your spouse, dependent children, parents, or grandparents for permanent residence. Learn about eligibility, income rules, fees, and the step-by-step application process.
12 months (spousal) / 20-24 months (PGP)
CAD 85 + CAD 545 + CAD 575 RPRF
Permanent Residence
Canada Family Sponsorship is a permanent residency stream administered by IRCC under the Family Class that allows Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians under the Indian Act to sponsor close relatives to live, work, and study in Canada. It is the second-largest PR pathway after Express Entry and reunites families through legally binding sponsorship undertakings.
Eligible sponsors must be at least 18 years old, agree to financially support the sponsored relative for a defined period, and meet program-specific income thresholds where applicable. Application fees include a CAD 85 sponsorship fee, CAD 545 processing fee, and CAD 575 Right of PR fee for adults. Spousal sponsorship from outside Canada processes in approximately 12 months; the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) takes 20-24 months. There is no language test, no points-based score, and no work experience requirement.
Eligibility
Who can apply for Canada Family Sponsorship?
- Canadian citizens aged 18 or older living in Canada or planning to return when the sponsored relative arrives
- Permanent residents aged 18 or older with valid PR status, currently living in Canada
- Registered Indians under the Canadian Indian Act, regardless of citizenship or PR status
- Spouses, common-law partners, or conjugal partners of a Canadian citizen or PR (in or outside Canada)
- Dependent children (biological or adopted), under 22 and not a spouse or common-law partner
- Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or PRs (Parents and Grandparents Program, invitation-based)
- Orphaned brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren under 18 who are unmarried
- An only relative outside Canada when the sponsor has no other family member who is a citizen, PR, or registered Indian
- Adopted children where the adoption is legally recognised under Canadian and provincial law
Eligibility varies by sponsorship stream and individual circumstances. Income requirements apply only to the Parents and Grandparents Program. Quebec sponsors must additionally meet provincial undertaking rules with MIFI.
Detailed Guides
Detailed guides for Canada Family Sponsorship.
Five Family Class streams.
Other Eligible Relatives
Sponsor an orphaned brother, sister, niece, nephew, or grandchild under 18, or any one relative when the sponsor has no other family in Canada. Strict eligibility rules apply.
Adopted Child or Relative to be Adopted
Sponsor a child being adopted from outside Canada under provincial adoption rules and the Hague Convention (where applicable). The adoption must be in the best interest of the child.
Requirements
What are the requirements and key details of Canada Family Sponsorship?
- Visa Category: Permanent Residence (Family Class)
- Sponsor Status: Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian under the Indian Act
- Sponsor Minimum Age: 18 years
- Sponsor Income — Spouse / Partner / Child: No minimum income requirement
- Sponsor Income — Parents and Grandparents: Minimum Necessary Income (LICO + 30%) for 3 consecutive tax years
- Language Test: Not required
- Work Experience: Not required
- Sponsorship Application Fee: CAD 85 per sponsor
- Principal Applicant Processing Fee: CAD 545 (adult) / CAD 175 (dependent child)
- Right of PR Fee (RPRF): CAD 575 per adult
- Biometrics Fee: CAD 85 per person; CAD 170 family rate
- Processing Time: ~12 months (Spousal) / 20–24 months (Parents and Grandparents)
- Sponsorship Undertaking: 3 years (spouse) / 10 years or until age 25 (child) / 20 years (parents and grandparents)
Documents
What are the documents required for Canada Family Sponsorship?
- Valid passport for the sponsored relative with at least 6 months validity beyond the application date
- Sponsor's proof of status — Canadian citizenship certificate, PR card, or Certificate of Indian Status (CIS)
- Completed sponsorship application forms — IMM 1344 (Sponsorship Agreement) and IMM 5532 (Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation, where applicable)
- Completed Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008) and applicable Schedule A (IMM 5669)
- Marriage certificate, common-law partner declaration, or conjugal relationship evidence (for spouse/partner sponsorship)
- Birth certificates of the sponsored relative and any accompanying dependants
- Proof of relationship — wedding photos, joint bank statements, lease agreements, communication records, and affidavits (for spousal/partner cases)
- Adoption decree and home study report (for adopted child sponsorship)
- Sponsor's Notice of Assessment (NOA) and Option C Printout from CRA for the last 3 tax years (for PGP)
- Sponsor's employment letter, recent pay stubs, or T4 slips (for income-tested streams)
- Police clearance certificates from every country the principal applicant has lived in for 6 months or more since age 18
- Medical examination results from an IRCC-approved panel physician
- Biometrics — fingerprints and photograph collected at a designated Visa Application Centre
- Digital photographs meeting IRCC photo specifications for each applicant
- Sponsorship Undertaking and Agreement signed by the sponsor (and co-signer, where applicable)
- Quebec sponsors must additionally submit a separate undertaking with the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI)
Application Process
How to Apply for Canada Family Sponsorship: Step-by-Step Process
Confirm Sponsor and Sponsored Relative Eligibility
Verify that the sponsor is a Canadian citizen, PR, or registered Indian aged 18 or older with no inadmissibility bars (default on past undertaking, certain criminal convictions, or bankruptcy). Confirm the sponsored relative falls within the Family Class definition under section 117 of the IRPR.
Choose the Right Sponsorship Stream
Select between spousal sponsorship (inland or outland), dependent child sponsorship, the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP, invitation-based), or other relative sponsorship. For PGP, sponsors must first submit an Interest to Sponsor form during the open window and wait for an invitation to apply.
Gather Documents and Sign the Undertaking
Collect identity, status, relationship, and financial documents. The sponsor signs the Sponsorship Agreement (IMM 1344) committing to financial support for the undertaking period: 3 years for spouses, 10 years for children, and 20 years for parents/grandparents. Quebec sponsors sign a separate provincial undertaking.
Submit the Application via the IRCC PR Portal
Create an IRCC PR Portal account and upload the sponsorship application along with the principal applicant's PR application as a single package. Pay the CAD 85 sponsorship fee, CAD 545 processing fee per adult, CAD 575 Right of PR fee per adult, and CAD 85 biometrics fee per person.
Sponsor Eligibility Assessment
IRCC first assesses the sponsor's eligibility. If approved, the application moves to assessment of the sponsored relative. If the sponsor is found ineligible, they may withdraw the application for a refund of processing fees (sponsorship fee is non-refundable).
Complete Biometrics, Medical, and Police Checks
After receiving the biometrics instruction letter, the sponsored relative attends a Visa Application Centre for fingerprints and photograph. Complete the upfront medical exam with an IRCC-approved panel physician and submit police clearance certificates from all required countries.
Application Review and Possible Interview
A visa officer reviews the relationship evidence, sponsor's financial position (where required), and admissibility documents. Spousal cases may be flagged for an interview if the genuineness of the relationship is in question.
Receive Permanent Residence and Land in Canada
If approved, the sponsored relative receives a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a permanent resident visa (where applicable). They must land in Canada before the COPR expiry to activate PR status. Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) holders inland transition seamlessly to PR.
Understanding the Canada Family Sponsorship process is essential to prepare a strong application and avoid refusals. Each stream has specific eligibility rules, undertaking lengths, and documentation expectations. Reviewing program-specific rules, ensuring accurate forms, obtaining police clearances, and closely monitoring the annual Interest to Sponsor window for parents will significantly improve your approval chances.
For detailed insights on eligibility, document checklist, visa validity, and common refusal reasons, explore Family Sponsorship FAQs guide to know the answers of all your questions.
Related Resources
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