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Sponsorship programs

Help your family members to immigrate to Canada

1

Sponsor your spouse, partner or dependent children

Who can sponsor their spouse, partner or dependent children?

The person must be 18 years old, a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada and able to support them financially and provide them the basic needs.

Does income require for the sponsor?

In most cases, there isn’t an income requirement to sponsor your spouse or partner or dependent child. You only need to show that you have enough money to meet the income requirements if:
  • You’re sponsoring a dependent child that has 1 or more dependent children of their own, or
  • You’re sponsoring a spouse or partner that has a dependent child, and their dependent child has 1 or more children of their own.
The below Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) table explain how much money you’ll need and how to fill out the form.

Federal Income Scales

Federal Income Table, 2018

The following table applies to all provinces except Quebec.

Size of Family Unit Minimum necessary Income
1 person (the sponsor) $25,338
2 persons $31,544
3 persons $38,780
4 persons $47,084
5 persons $53,402
6 persons $60,228
7 persons $67,055
More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add $6,827

Table 1 – Low Income Cut-Off (LICO)

Who cannot sponsor their spouse, partner or dependent children?

If you are less than 18 years old and you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you are not able to sponsor your spouse, partner or dependent children.

Please note that if you were sponsored by a spouse or partner and you became a permanent resident less than 5 years ago and if you are still financially responsible for a previous spouse or partner that you sponsored, you are not eligible to sponsor.

Who you can sponsor?

You can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner and dependent children.

What is the meaning of common-law partner?

It means that your partner is not legally married to you, can be either sex, 18 years old, has been living with you for at least 1 year.

What is the meaning of conjugal partner?

It means that your partner is not legally married to you, can be either sex, 18 years old, has been in relationship with you for at least 12 consecutive months and lives outside of Canada.

You’ll need to give proof that you could not live together or get married in your conjugal partner’s country (for example, proof of refused long-term stays in each other’s country).

What is the meaning of dependent children?

Children qualify as dependants if they meet both of these requirements:
  • They’re under 22 years old
  • They don’t have a spouse or common law partner
Children 22 years old or older qualify as dependants if they meet both of these requirements:
  • They are unable to financially support themselves because of a mental or physical condition
  • They have depended on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22

2

Sponsor your parents and grandparents

Who can sponsor their parents and grandparents?

The person must be 18 years old, a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada and have enough money and proof of income to support them financially.

Who cannot sponsor their parents and grandparents?

If you are less than 18 years old and you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you won’t live in Canada, you do not have enough money, you are in jail or declared bankruptcy and receive social assistant for a reason other than a disability, you are not able to sponsor your parents and grandparents.

Who you can sponsor?

You can sponsor your own parents and grandparents, related by blood or adoption. In case of divorce or separation, you can sponsor your parents’ and your grandparents’ spouses, or conjugal or common-law partners. In the application, you can only include your brothers and sisters, or half brothers and sisters, if they qualify as dependent children. You may sponsor more than 1 person or couple if you meet the below income requirements for all the people you want sponsor and their dependants (spouse, partner and children).
Total number of persons you would be responsible for Minimum income required for the 3 taxation years right before the date of your application
2018 2017 2016 2015
2 persons $40,379 $39,813 $39,372 $38,618
3 persons $49,641 $48,945 $48,404 $47,476
4 persons $60,271 $59,426 $58,768 $57,642
5 persons $68,358 $67,400 $66,654 $65,377
6 persons $77,095 $76,015 $75,174 $73,733
7 persons $85,835 $84,631 $83,695 $82,091
If more than 7 persons, for each additional person, add $8,740 $8,616 $8,521 $8,358

The services we can offer to assist with your sponsorship application

  • Initial consultation on eligibility and guidelines;
  • Full review of your application and supporting documents;
  • Face to face meeting for applicants within Canada or online Video conference call for overseas applicants;
  • Assist to apply and take care of your application through the process from A to Z;
  • For applicants who had been rejected previously, our office will review and assess your appeal options;
  • Review and consultation on Exceptional and Unusual Sponsorship cases.

FAQs for Family Sponsorship

The program opens every year, typically between January to February based on the government announcement. Every year a limit/quota of applications is accepted based on a first-come basis.
This depends on your eligibility criteria including income during the past three years, your residency in Canada, if you have ever been on welfare / social assistance/unemployment benefits, and any if you had any previous sponsorship obligations.
A supervisa allows your parents or grandparents to stay inside Canada continuously for 2 years per stay based on this type of visa. Sponsorship of your parents/grandparents would lead to permanent residency – not a visa.
Under special circumstances, this could be possible. However, this depends on the age of your siblings and whether you have any family in Canada. Send us a quick WhatsApp question or email for a fast response.
You can apply to sponsor your parents/grandparents even if your notice of assessment for the last year (2019) has not been issued yet but you are not able to sponsor them if you do not have the required income according to LICO plus 30% for the previous years. (2019 figures will be added in January 2020)  
Total number of persons you would be responsible for Minimum income required for the 3 taxation years right before the date of your application
2018 2017 2016 2015
2 persons $40,379 $39,813 $39,372 $38,618
3 persons $49,641 $48,945 $48,404 $47,476
4 persons $60,271 $59,426 $58,768 $57,642
5 persons $68,358 $67,400 $66,654 $65,377
6 persons $77,095 $76,015 $75,174 $73,733
7 persons $85,835 $84,631 $83,695 $82,091
If more than 7 persons, for each additional person, add $8,740 $8,616 $8,521 $8,358
Step 1: Understand the Requirements – make sure the prerequisites of the program and school of interest match your background, qualifications and experience. Step 2: Choose your Course – select a program from a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI) recognized by the government of Canada. Step 3: Take the Language Proficiency Test – TOEFL and IELTS are the most popular and widely accepted. If your English is not good enough, you can always take an English pathway program. Step 4: Apply and get admission to your program. Step 5: Pay fees and receive a letter of acceptance. Step 6: Apply for a study permit – all new study permits are issued at a Canadian port of entry. Step 7: Travel to Canada – if your application is approved you will receive a Letter of Introduction at the Port of Entry (POE) as well as a travel visa (if required for your country of citizenship). These documents will authorize you to travel to a Canadian POE to obtain your study permit.
View all the Family Sponsorship related FAQs

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