Imagine a successful immigration to Canada and starting a new life; after a while, you want to invite your parents and friends. In fact, all Canadian citizens can sponsor their close family members and friends to come to Canada and start a new life together. Like any other immigration pathway, Canada Sponsorship programs has specific rules, required documents and eligibility criteria.
If you want to invite your loved ones Canada, make sure you read the updated sponsorship regulations for 2025 below.
Who Can Be a Sponsor?
To sponsor an immediate family members or friends, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a Canadian citizen Or hold permanent resident (PR) status
- Be registered as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
It is strongly recommended that the sponsor be living in Canada when applying, or demonstrate the intention to live in Canada once the family member arrives. You must also prove you have enough financial resources to support the sponsored person(s) in addition to your own household.
Tip: Individuals who rely on social assistance from the government are not eligible to sponsor.
Who Cannot Be a Sponsor?
You cannot apply for sponsorship if you:
- Having a criminal record or are serving a prison sentence
- Being under a removal order from Canada
- Being in bankruptcy proceedings
- Receiving social assistance (except for disability benefits)
- Having a history of violent, sexual or family-related offences
- Being unable to pay child support
- Being defaulted on immigration loans
- Failed to meet previous sponsorship undertakings
- Trying to sponsor a spouse but have held PR for less than three years
- Being in Canada under a sponsorship by another person
Sponsoring Family Members
The first step is for the sponsor to apply to the Government of Canada for permission to financially support their family member(s). Sponsored family members must prepare their documents before biometrics, including police clearance certificates and a medical examination. Eligible family categories are explained below.
Spouse or Common-Law Partner
You can sponsor your spouse or a common-law partner you have lived with for at least 12 months. You must demonstrate that:
- The marriage or relationship is real
- If you are outside Canada, you plan to return and live in Canada once your partner arrives.
- If you have previously sponsored someone (such as parents), you must respect the mandatory waiting period between sponsorships.
Dependent Children
You can sponsor your biological or adopted dependent children if they:
- Are under 22 years of age
- Being single
Note: Children over 22 may still qualify if they have a physical or mental condition or remain financially dependent.
Parents and Grandparents
You can also sponsor your parents or grandparents if you have the financial capacity to support them. Sign a financial undertaking accepting responsibility for up to 20 years; and apply to invite your parents and grandparents.
Attention: They are selected in the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Lottery.
Other Relatives
In limited cases, you may sponsor another relative (such as a brother, sister, niece or nephew) if you have no other eligible close family members in Canada; and no one else qualifies to sponsor them.
Tip: This process may require detailed documents and take a long time.
Benefits of Canada Sponsorship programs
Besides enabling your family to immigrate, Canada Sponsorship programs offer:
- The chance to live with parents and close family members in Canada
- Permanent residence for sponsored persons upon approval
- Access to Canadian healthcare, education, and other public benefits
- No language-test scores or job offers required (unlike study permits or work permits)
Financial Requirements
As noted above, in Canada Sponsorship programs sponsors must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) to show they can cover living expenses for their family members or friends. To prove this, you must provide your Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the Canada Revenue Agency for the past three years and sign an Undertaking committing to support your family member(s) for a set period (3 to 20 years depending on the category), while also maintaining your own household.
Note: For sponsoring a spouse or dependent child, proving income is not mandatory, but you must still show you will not face financial hardship.
Sponsor’s Legal Obligations
Especially for parents and grandparents (a 20-year undertaking), you agree to cover:
- Basic needs such as housing, food, and daily living expenses
- Healthcare and medical costs not covered by public insurance
Attention: Even if your relationship with the sponsored person ends, or you face bankruptcy, you remain legally responsible for these costs for the full undertaking period.
| Financial Undertaking Duration | Family Relationship |
|---|---|
| Three years | Spouse or Common-law Partner |
| Until age 10 or up to age 25 | Dependent Child under 22 |
| Three years | Dependent Child over 22 |
| Twenty years | Parents or Grandparents |
Steps to Apply for Family Sponsorship in Canada
If you are eligible for Canada Sponsorship programs, the first step to sponsoring family members is to prepare all required documents, especially financial documents and complete the application forms.
Your documentation must clearly prove your family relationship and leave no room for doubt, as incomplete files or unclear information can lead to refusal of the application.
Next, submit your sponsorship application. If you plan to sponsor your parents or grandparents, you must wait until the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Lottery opens and then register.
Once Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) receives your application, they begin processing your case. If all documents from both the sponsor and the sponsored person are complete, the visa application can be approved. During processing, the officer may request additional documents.
Processing time depends on the type of relationship:
- Spouse or Common-law Partner 10–12 months
- Dependent Child 8–10 months
- Parents or Grandparents 20–24 months
Note: Processing time depends on the type of relationship and may take longer due to application backlogs or special circumstances.
Sponsorship Application Fees
The fees for Canada Sponsorship programs listed below are for the 2025 program year and may change with prior notice, so always check the IRCC website.
| Amount (CAD) | Fee Type |
|---|---|
| 75 | Sponsorship Application Processing Fee |
| 490 | Permanent Residence (PR) Fee for Adult |
| 475 | Fee for a Child under 22 |
| 150 | Fee for a Child under 22 |
| 85 | Biometrics |
Documents Required for the Canada Sponsorship
Always check the official requirements with the embassy, but generally, these documents are consistently requested for the sponsorship application:
- Completed application forms
- Proof of financial support
- Proof of income sources
- Financial undertaking documents
- Signed Sponsorship Agreement
- Passport and all identification documents
- Recent biometric photo
- Sponsored person’s application documents
- Sponsor’s permanent residence documents, such as PR card, Canadian birth certificate or passport
- Proof of family relationship between sponsor and sponsored person, such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.
- Previous marriage documents (if applicable)
- Military service records (if applicable)
- Medical examination documents
- Police clearance certificate
- Receipts for embassy and biometric fees
Sponsorship Services with VisaToronto
Canada sponsorship program is a golden opportunity to live together with your loved ones. If, according to the new rules, you are unsure whether you are eligible to sponsor a family member, you can contact the Visa Toronto team for more information.
If you don’t have enough time or are concerned about the legal complexities of the program, complete the visa toronto consultation form, and we will contact you as soon as possible. avalvisa’s experienced Canadian consultants provide full supportو from preparing documents and completing forms to booking biometric appointments and will guide you through the process until your application is successfully finalized.
FAQs
- Can I sponsor my brother or sister? Only if they are orphaned, under 18, and not married. Otherwise, siblings do not qualify under the regular canada sponsorship program.
- How much income do I need to sponsor my parents? The Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) depends on the size of your family. For example, a family of four requires a higher income than a single sponsor. The exact figures are updated yearly by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
- Can my sponsored spouse work in Canada while waiting for permanent residency? Yes, your spouse can apply for an open work permit once you submit the sponsorship application, allowing them to work while their application is processed.
- What happens if my financial situation changes after applying? You must continue to meet your obligations. If you lose your job, you should provide evidence of savings or new employment. Failure to meet financial responsibilities can reject your application.