Sponsorship for Family
Sponsors Need To Prove
They Are Eligible Before They Can Sponsor a Family Member.
You can become a sponsor if you are:
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At least 18 years old
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A Canadian citizen, a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act or a permanent resident living in Canada
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Not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability, and
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Have enough income to provide for the basic needs of any grandchildren (dependent children of a dependent child) of the principal applicant.
You cannot become a sponsor if you:
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Sponsored a previous spouse or partner and it hasn’t been three years since they became a permanent resident
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Receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability
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Previously sponsored someone and did not pay back any social assistance that they received while the undertaking was in place
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You are in default on an immigration loan or a performance bond
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Did not pay court-ordered alimony or child support
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Have declared bankruptcy which has not been discharged
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Were convicted of an offense of a sexual nature, a violent crime, an offense against a relative that caused bodily harm, or threatened or attempted to commit any of the above offenses
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Were previously sponsored as a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner and became a permanent resident of Canada less than five years ago (even if you got your Canadian citizenship within those five years)
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Are under a removal order
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Are in a penitentiary, jail, reformatory or prison, or
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Have already applied to sponsor your current spouse or partner and haven’t received a decision
Sponsor Obligations
When you sponsor a family member, you must sign an undertaking with the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship.
The undertaking is a promise to provide financial support and basic requirements for the family members you are sponsoring. The basic requirements are:
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food, clothing, utilities, personal requirements, shelter, fuel, household supplies, and
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healthcare not provided by public health, such as eye and dental care.
The undertaking ensures that the family member/s does not have to apply for social assistance. The length of the undertaking depends on their age and their relationship with the sponsor.
Your obligations as a sponsor begin as soon as the person(s) you are sponsoring arrive in Canada. Your spouse or common-law partner may help you meet the income requirement by co-signing the sponsorship application.
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The length of the undertaking is:
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3 years for your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner,
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3 years for a dependent child over 22 years of age,
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10 years for a dependent child under 22 years of age, or until the child becomes 25 years old, whichever comes first,
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20 years for your parents and grandparents,
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10 years for any other relative.