Sponsor Your Relatives
Strengthening Family Bonds in Canada
Are you a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident eager to bring your close relatives to share in the love and warmth of Canada? The Sponsorship of Relatives program offers a heartwarming pathway for eligible sponsors to reunite with their close relatives and provide them the opportunity to obtain Canadian Permanent Residency. Let’s explore the process of sponsoring your relatives and the meaningful possibilities it holds:
Eligibility as a Sponsor:
To be eligible as a sponsor, you must be a Canadian citizen or a Permanent Resident who is at least 18 years old and residing in Canada. Sponsoring relatives allows you to reunite with your immediate and extended family members, fostering strong family ties and creating lifelong memories together. You must agree in writing to give financial support to your relative and any other eligible relatives coming with them for up to 20 years (depending on their age and how you’re related)
Eligible Sponsored Relatives:
The Sponsorship of Relatives program allows you to only sponsor relatives like a brother, sister, aunt /uncle in very specific situations. Each relationship category has its own eligibility criteria and requirements.
Orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild (they need to meet all of these conditions)
- Related to you by blood or adoption
- Both their mother & father passed away.
- They are under 18 years of age and are single.
Other relative
You may sponsor one relative, related by blood or adoption, of any age, if you meet all of these conditions:
you (the person who wants to sponsor your relative) don’t have a living relative you could sponsor instead, such as a:
Spouse | Common-law-partner | Conjugal partner |
Son/Daughter | Parent | Grandparent |
Orphaned Brother/Sister | Orphaned Nephew/ Niece | Orphaned Grandchild |
you (the potential sponsor) don’t have any relatives (aunt or uncle or any of the relatives listed above), who is a:
Canadian Citizen | Permanent Resident | Registered Indian Under the Indian Act |
To be eligible as a sponsor, you must be a Canadian citizen or a Permanent Resident who is at least 18 years old and residing in Canada. Sponsoring relatives allows you to reunite with your immediate and extended family members, fostering strong family ties and creating lifelong memories together. You must agree in writing to give financial support to your relative and any other eligible relatives coming with them for up to 20 years (depending on their age and how you’re related)
The Sponsorship Process:
The sponsorship process involves several key steps. As a sponsor, you must submit an application, including the required forms, supporting documents, and fees. The application is then reviewed by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to assess your eligibility as a sponsor and the eligibility of your sponsored relatives. If IRCC approves you as a sponsor and starts processing your family member’s application, they’ll send them a letter with their application number. After they get this letter, the principal applicant can link their application to their online account. This way, they can communicate with IRCC quickly and securely and get updates and messages about their application online.
Note: The Person being sponsored can create an online account and link their paper application to it but they can only do this only when IRCC has started processing their application and sent them their application number.
Processing Times and Updates:
The Canadian government is dedicated to processing sponsorship applications as efficiently as possible. While processing times may vary, regular updates will be provided on the status of your application. Each sponsorship application is unique and may be influenced by various factors.
Prepare for Arrival:
Upon arrival in Canada, visitors must present their Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and permanent resident visa to an Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officer. The officer will verify the accuracy of travel and immigration documents, check for expired visas, and ensure they are used within the time limit. A valid passport from your home country is required, and questions related to the application must be answered. Upon arrival, the IRCC officer will authorize you to enter Canada as a permanent resident and send you a permanent resident card, ensuring your Canadian address is correct. The card serves as proof of your status in Canada.
At IES Overseas, we understand the profound significance of family reunification and the joy of building lasting bonds. Our compassionate team of experienced immigration consultants is committed to guiding you through the Sponsorship of Relatives process with care and expertise. Let us help you bring your close relatives to Canada and create a lifetime of cherished moments together – contact us today to begin the process!
