For a number of immigrants, Canada is not only the place for them to build a career or look for new chances — it is also where they will set up a family home. The Canada Family Sponsorship program is an expression of this feeling, permitting citizens and permanent residents to invite their relatives to join them.

Having one of the most welcoming immigration systems in the world regarding families, Canada makes sure that families living in different countries can come together through a well-organized and clear sponsorship procedure. In this guide, Abhinav Immigration Services clarifies everything you are supposed to know about Canada’s sponsorship program, eligibility criteria, and how to obtain permanent residency in Canada for family members.

Reasons for Canada’s Priority on Family Reunification

Canada’s immigration policy is based on three components — economic development, humanitarian aid, and family reunification. The Family Sponsorship Program is the main instrument in the fulfillment of this vision through the unification of families and the facilitation of the successful integration of newcomers.

Through this program, Canadian citizens and permanent residents are allowed to support certain family members in obtaining permanent residency. Once the family members are granted Canada PR, they can live, work, or study anywhere in the country and enjoy the same rights as any other permanent resident.

The program is like a golden opportunity for Indians and other immigrants who are already in Canada to bring their spouses, children, parents, or even grandparents to live there permanently.

The Canada Sponsorship Program Explained

The Canada sponsorship program is made up of several categories that aim to accommodate different kinds of family ties. Each stream comes with its own eligibility requirements and documentation needed.

1. Spousal and Partner Sponsorship

A Canadian citizen or permanent resident can sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner to come to Canada as a permanent resident. The couple must meet the following conditions for the sponsorship to be successful:

• The relationship must be genuine and legally binding.
• The sponsor cannot be receiving social welfare (other than for disability).
• Both the sponsor and the sponsored person must show the intention to live together in Canada.
• The processing time for most spousal sponsorship applications is around 12 months.

2. Dependent Child Sponsorship

Children aged 22 and below who are single and do not have a partner can be sponsored under this classification. The sponsor is to demonstrate financial capability to sustain the child coming to Canada.

This is one of the simplest ways to get Canada PR for family, especially for parents who have recently migrated and would like to be united with their children.

3. Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship (PGP)

The Canadian government has an annual intake window for the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program, and every year it allows citizens and PR holders to bring their parents or grandparents to Canada to be permanent residents.

Because of the high demand, this program, however, works through a lottery-based invitation system, and sponsors are randomly selected to submit their applications. The lucky sponsors must provide proof of income to support their relatives for two decades.

4. Other Relatives (Exceptional Cases)

In exceptional cases, a childless Canadian can support the immigration of their deceased sibling’s, nephew’s, niece’s, or grandchild’s orphan by providing care for the child until the child reaches the age of 18 and adopt the child.

Eligibility Criteria for Sponsors

Before beginning the process of sponsorship application, it is very important to understand the obligations and duties of a sponsor. The sponsor has to:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada and living in the country (or if not living in Canada, planning to come back once the sponsored person arrives).
• Have no criminal record or history of immigration violations.
• Have the “undertaking” long enough to provide support to the family member financially.
• Sign a sponsorship agreement wherein they commit to providing the sponsored relative with food, shelter, and healthcare, the three basic needs.

For instance, if you sponsor a spouse or partner, the financial responsibility lasts three years after they are given permanent residency. For parents and grandparents, it is a 20-year responsibility.

Documents Required for the Canada Family Sponsorship Process

The documentation requirements for Canada Family Sponsorship depend slightly on the category, but in general, they include:

• Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency (passport, PR card, or COPR).
• Relationship documents (marriage certificate, birth certificate, adoption papers, etc.).
• Financial documents such as tax returns and bank statements.
• Police clearance certificates and medical examinations for family members who are being sponsored.
• Immigration forms filled out for both the sponsor and the applicant.

The accuracy and completeness of the documents are very important because one of the most common reasons for delays or refusals of sponsorship applications is the incomplete or inconsistent documents.

Processing Times and What to Expect

The time taken to process family sponsorship applications varies depending on the specific category and the number of applications at IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada).

• Sponsorship of spouse/partner: 12-14 months
• Sponsorship of a dependent child: 10-12 months
• Sponsorship of parent and grandparent: 18-24 months

In addition, there is also the necessity of conducting background checks as well as medical examinations on all family members being sponsored before granting approval. They are granted permanent resident status and allowed to start their life in Canada after the application is granted.

Assistance from Abhinav Immigration Services

Abhinav Immigration Services has, through its multi-decade experience in dealing with complicated immigration cases, successfully guided a significant number of families to reunite under Canada’s sponsorship programs. Our team takes every application to be in line with the latest immigration rules and also customized to satisfy IRCC’s criteria.

We offer the following services:

• Assessing eligibility and selecting the category (spouse, child, parent, or relative)
• Preparing and verifying documents
• Filing and keeping the track of sponsorship applications
• Providing support after approval and for settlement purposes in Canada

Whether you are applying for the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program or for just your spouse and children, our specialists will go through each step with absolute accuracy and utmost care.

The Crux

The Canada sponsorship program is more than just an immigration chance — it is a vow to unite families. Canada’s family-class intake of immigrants will have increased by 2025, thus it is a very good time to apply for your visa now. Reuniting with your loved ones in Canada is a life-changing experience, and if you have the right support, it can be done without difficulty and stress.

Join hands with Abhinav Immigration Services — the most reliable name in global immigration in India — and you will enjoy a smooth, successful and emotionally fulfilling Canada Family Sponsorship journey

Start now — get in touch with our experts and take the first step to having your family in Canada.