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How Canada Family Sponsorship Works
Canada family sponsorship is a program that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents extend an invitation to family members to immigrate and join them. This includes spouses, common-law partners, children, parents and grandparents, and other close relatives.
Here’s how it works;
1. Check Your Eligibility
Using the IRCC online tool, you can determine if you meet the requirements to sponsor a family member. The following are few of the eligibility requirements;
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Meet the minimum income requirements.
- Be able to provide financial support for your sponsored family member for a period of 3–10 years.
- Not be in prison or convicted of a crime.
- Not be bankrupt or at risk of removal or deportation
- Must not have been sponsored for permanent residence and shouldn’t be owing alimony.
2. Prepare the Required Documentation
Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, you will need to prepare the required documentation for your application. This will include your own identity and immigration documents, as well as the identity and immigration documents of your sponsored family member.
3. Pay Application Fee
Application fees associated with Canada family sponsorship varies, depending on the type of family member you are sponsoring and number of applicants being sponsored.
You can pay the application fees online or by mail.
4. Submit Your Application
When submitting your application online, you will need to create a MyCIC account. However, if you are submitting your application by mail, you will need to send your completed application forms and supporting documentation to the IRCC processing center in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Once you have submitted your application, the IRCC will review it and process it. This process can take several months. If your application is approved, your sponsored family member will be able to immigrate to Canada.
Who Can Be Sponsored Under the Family Sponsorship
- Spouses and common-law partners
- Common-law partner
- Dependent children
- Parents and grandparents
- Orphaned relatives less than 18 years of age
Importance of Canada Family Sponsorship
- Strengthen family ties: Family sponsorship bridges the chasm relocating abroad creates in families. It is typical to hear family members talk about being separated from their kin for too long. It is an empathetic program that helps to reunite family members and strengthen familial bonds.
- Emotional support: This is a very important benefit of this program. Finally seeing a familiar face and knowing you can rely on someone and trust them has to feel so freeing. Sponsored individuals can come in and offer emotional support to their Canadian sponsors and other family members.
- Financial assistance: Sponsored family members may be able to provide financial assistance to their Canadian sponsors, especially if they have work experience or skills that are in demand in Canada.
- Childcare and eldercare: Sponsored family members can provide childcare and eldercare to their Canadian sponsors, which can free up their time and allow them to focus on their careers or education.
If you’re not a Canadian citizen or resident but would like to have your family join you in Canada, here’s an article on how to migrate to Canada via Express Entry
