Family Sponsorship Services
Canadian citizens and permanent residents may sponsor certain family members for permanent residence under Family Class immigration. Members of the Family Class include spouses and common-law partners, among others. Canadian immigration law allows for sponsorship of heterosexual and same-sex partners.
Also, with the addition of conjugal partners to the Family Class, it remains possible, in some exceptional circumstances, to sponsor someone to whom a sponsor is not married or is not in a common-law relationship with.
The relationship between the sponsor and the applicant is established on the basis of documentary evidence, such as birth certificates, household registers, etc. Those sponsoring their parents or grandparents are also required to meet the income requirement.
Adoptees are members of the Family Class if the adoption meets the regulatory requirements for an adoption, including being in the best interests of the child (BIOC).
A person who is under 18 years of age and whose parents are both deceased may be sponsored as a member of the Family Class, provided that he or she is single and is in the following relationship with the sponsor: sibling, nephew/niece or grandchild.
A permanent resident or Canadian citizen may sponsor any relative (related by blood or adoption) regardless of age, if a sponsor does not have any of the below-mentioned relatives in Canada, who are either citizens or permanent residents:
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Spouse/common-law partner
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Child
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Parent
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Sibling
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Niece/nephew
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Grandparent
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Aunt/uncle
In addition, a sponsor should not have any member of the Family Class, who could be sponsored, living outside of Canada.
