Family PR FAQs 2026

Canada Family Sponsorship lets eligible Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians sponsor close relatives for PR. IRCC checks sponsor eligibility, the family relationship, and the applicant's admissibility.

A sponsor must be at least 18 and an eligible Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian. A citizen abroad must show a plan to live in Canada when the sponsored relative becomes a PR; a PR abroad cannot sponsor. Bars include undischarged bankruptcy, certain convictions or defaults, and social assistance other than for disability. Quebec adds provincial requirements.

Outside Quebec, spouse, partner and dependent-child sponsorship usually has no minimum income test. Exceptions include a dependent child who has dependent children, or a spouse/partner with a dependent child who has a dependent child. Sponsors still promise basic support. PGP has separate income rules and is paused for new intake. Quebec uses its own assessment and undertaking rules.

Check IRCC's current processing-time tool for the relationship, application class and Quebec destination where applicable. Do not treat a fixed 12- or 24-month estimate as a deadline. Completeness, individual checks and program capacity affect processing.

The Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class requires the couple to live together in Canada and meet that class's conditions. Family Class can cover eligible spouses, partners or children abroad and some applicants in Canada. An open work permit is not limited to the inland class; eligible Family Class applicants in Canada may also qualify under current rules. Choose the class using IRCC's guide and consider travel and appeal rules.

Strong proof includes a marriage certificate, cohabitation records, joint finances, photos, travel records, communication history, affidavits, and a clear relationship timeline. Common-law partners should focus on 12 months of continuous cohabitation evidence.

Eligible relationships include a legally married spouse, a common-law partner after at least 12 consecutive months of cohabitation, or a conjugal partner living outside Canada in qualifying circumstances. The sponsored spouse or partner must be at least 18. The relationship must be genuine and not entered into mainly for immigration.

IRCC lists CAD 1,260 for a sponsored spouse or partner including the right of permanent residence fee. A sponsored dependent child costs CAD 180. Biometrics are extra when required and exemptions may apply. Check the fee list and family composition before paying.

Eligible sponsored spouses, partners and accompanying dependent children living in Canada with the sponsor may apply under current open work permit instructions. This can include Family Class applicants. An AOR and valid, maintained or restoration-related status conditions normally apply. A limited exception permits some applicants whose status expires in 2 weeks or less to apply without an AOR. PR submission alone does not authorize work.

Yes. Common reasons include weak relationship proof, inconsistent history, missing documents, undeclared family members, inadmissibility, sponsor ineligibility, or marriage-of-convenience concerns.

Outside Quebec, the undertaking lasts 3 years for a spouse/partner. For a dependent child under 22 it lasts 10 years or until age 25, whichever comes first; for a dependent child aged 22 or over it lasts 3 years. For parents/grandparents it is generally 20 years. Quebec has different rules. The undertaking remains binding after separation or divorce.

Spouse, partner and dependent-child routes remain subject to eligibility and destination-specific rules. Other family routes have narrow conditions. Since July 15, 2026, PGP intake is paused; IRCC continues existing cases. Quebec has separate undertaking requirements. Check current federal and provincial instructions before preparing an application.

PGP is the permanent-residence sponsorship route for eligible parents and grandparents. Intake is currently paused following the July 15, 2026 announcement. IRCC is not accepting new interest forms or issuing new invitations until further notice and continues existing applications. Check future official intake instructions rather than assuming a new lottery date. The Super Visa is a separate temporary option.

No. IRCC paused the Parents and Grandparents Program on July 15, 2026. It is not accepting new interest to sponsor forms or issuing new invitations until further notice, but existing applications continue to be processed.

A qualifying invitation and all income, family-size and relationship conditions would be required under the applicable intake instructions. Parents or grandparents may be related by blood or adoption; eligible dependants have separate requirements. New PGP intake is currently paused. An invitation cannot be transferred to another sponsor.

For an existing PGP case, follow the applicable intake checklist and IRCC document requests. Evidence may include invitation details, sponsor status, CRA income records, relationship and civil documents, passports and required translations. Medicals, police certificates and biometrics follow the applicable instructions. This checklist does not open new intake.

Follow the deadline and instructions for a valid invitation or existing application. IRCC assesses the sponsor and applicants and may request more evidence. PGP intake is currently paused, so do not assume an older invitation or interest form allows a new application now.

IRCC lists CAD 1,260 per sponsored parent or grandparent including the right of permanent residence fee. Dependants and biometrics can add fees. Check the current list for the existing case; paying a fee does not allow a new application while intake is paused.

They solve different problems. PGP gives permanent residence but needs an invitation and income proof. The Super Visa is temporary, can allow long stays, and is often the practical option when PGP is closed or no invitation is received.

A dependent child is generally under 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship. At 22 or older, they must have depended on their parents for financial support since before 22 and be unable to support themselves because of a physical or mental condition. Lock-in and continued-dependency rules depend on the program.

A person who became PR as a sponsored spouse or partner cannot sponsor a new spouse or partner for 5 years from their own PR landing date. The bar applies only to new spouse or partner sponsorship.