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Family sponsorship

Spousal Sponsorship

Sponsor your spouse and get a Permanent residency in Canada.

With Dhunna Immigration Consultants

Work with professionals to save time, create a strong application and give your best shot at sponsoring your loved ones.

The Family Class allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their dependent children, parents and grandparents, and spouse or common-law/conjugal partner. Canada strongly supports keeping families together whenever possible. As such, the processing of Family Class applications is given the highest priority at Canadian Visa Offices.

Before You Can Sponsor Your Spouse in Canada, Here Are the Eligibility Criteria That You Need to Meet First. You Must Be:

  • At least 18 years old
  • A citizen or permanent resident of Canada or a registered Indian in the Canadian Indian Act
  • Prove that you are not benefiting from social assistance unless for the reason of disability.
  • Financially capable to support and provide for yourself, your spouse, and even your spouse’s dependent children’s basic needs if applicable.

On The Other Hand, Your Spouse Must Be:

  • Married legally to you.
  • At least 18 years old

The Spousal Sponsorship Category

The Spousal Sponsorship program is a subsection of the Family Class immigration category. Under this program, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident may sponsor a spouse or common-law partner for Canadian permanent residence.

Both the Canadian citizen or permanent resident (also called the ‘sponsor) and the foreign national (the ‘sponsored person’) must be approved by immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in order for the sponsored person to receive a visa.

In order to receive a visa through this immigration program, the sponsor and sponsored person must prove that their relationship qualifies under one of three categories:

  • Spouse
  • Common-law Partner
  • Conjugal Partner

NOTE: Canada recognizes same-sex marriage, and same-sex partners may be eligible to apply under any of the above three categories, provided they meet all eligibility requirements.

Outland Sponsorship

An Outland application is generally pursued when the sponsored partner is living outside of Canada. However, Outland applicants can still be in Canada and apply through the Outland program and may be permitted to travel in and out of Canada throughout the application process. Outland applications are processed through the visa office that serves the applicant’s country of origin, or where they have resided legally for at least one year.

Inland Sponsorship

The other potential option for Spousal/Common-Law Sponsorship is the Inland route.

Inland sponsorship is when the couple is together in Canada and the foreign spouse/common-law partner has temporary status in Canada, either as a worker, student, or visitor. The person being sponsored may be eligible for an Open Work Permit, allowing him or her to work for any employer in Canada while the sponsorship application is being processed.

After sponsorship

Permanent residence granted under the Spousal Sponsorship program carries certain conditions that must be met:

  • The sponsor is financially responsible for the person sponsored for three years after the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.
  • Individuals who come to Canada as spouses are themselves barred from sponsoring a spouse in turn for five years after receiving Canadian permanent residence.

Children Or Other Dependents Sponsorship

Children or Other Dependents Sponsorship allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their children and other dependents. 

The objective of the Family Class of immigration is to reunite close family members in Canada.

Through the Family Class, Canadian citizens and permanent residents may sponsor their dependent children, parents and grandparents, spouse, common-law, and conjugal partners.

The Government of Canada has a strong commitment to keeping families together whenever possible. Because of this, processing Family Class applications is a high priority at Canadian Visa Offices.

Under most circumstances, individuals coming to Canada as temporary foreign workers or permanent residents have the right to bring their dependents, including any and all dependent children, to Canada with them. However, circumstances arise when this is not possible at the time of immigration. For Canadian citizens and permanent residents with dependent children abroad, the government has created a special program to facilitate their loved ones’ entry into Canada.

You Can Sponsor Your Children As A Dependent Only If They Meet These Two Criteria:

  • At least 18 years old
  • A citizen or permanent resident of Canada or a registered Indian in the Canadian Indian Act
  • Prove that you are not benefiting from social assistance unless for the reason of disability
  • Financially capable to support and provide for yourself, your spouse, and even your spouse’s dependent children’s basic needs if applicable

You Can Sponsor Your Children As A Dependent Only If They Meet These Two Criteria:

  • Under the age of 22 years old
  • Do not have a spouse or common-law partner

However, If Your Children Are Above 22 Years Old, They Will Qualify As Dependent Children If They Are:

  • Not capable to support themselves financially due to conditions with mental and physical
  • Still dependent on the financial support of their parents ever since before they reach 22 years old

Parents and grandparents’ program

The Family Class sponsorship program includes a stream for parents) and grandparents) of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Successful parents) and grandparents) under this program will receive Canadian permanent residence and may eventually be able to apply for Canadian citizenship.

To be eligible for Family Class sponsorship, the sponsor in Canada must meet the following requirements:

  • The sponsor received an invitation to apply (ITA)
  • The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
  • The sponsor must be 18 years of age or older;
  • The sponsor must exceed the minimum necessary income level for this program (if married or in a common- law relationship, the income of both can be included);
  • The sponsor must sign an undertaking to repay any provincial social assistance benefits paid to the sponsor and accompanying family members), if any, for a period of 20 years, if necessary; and
  • If the sponsor resides in Quebec, an additional “undertaking” must be signed.

Sponsors will have to prove that they meet the minimum income requirements by submitting notices of assessment issued by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) in support of their sponsorship and they must also demonstrate they have met the minimum necessary income level for three consecutive years.

If you need more information about this program, please do not hesitate to get in touch today at info@dhunnaimmigration.ca