Family sponsorship immigration Canada is the main way Canadian citizens and permanent residents bring close relatives to Canada as permanent residents. IRCC covers several categories under family sponsorship, including spouses/partners, dependent children, parents and grandparents, and a small number of other relatives in special situations.
This guide is updated for 2026 because many older “2025” posts still show the wrong fees, the wrong documents, or include unrelated items (like language tests and ECAs) that do not apply to family sponsorship.
What family sponsorship includes
IRCC groups family sponsorship into these main paths:
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Sponsor your spouse, partner or dependent child
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Sponsor your parents and grandparents (PGP) (invitation-based)
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Sponsor other relatives (very limited situations)
Who can be a sponsor (core rules)
For spouse/partner/child sponsorship, IRCC says you can sponsor if you:
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are 18 or older
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are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered under the Canadian Indian Act
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live in Canada
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Canadian citizens abroad must show they plan to live in Canada when the sponsored family becomes PR
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permanent residents living outside Canada can’t sponsor
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sign an undertaking and sponsorship agreement
Who usually can’t sponsor (common refusal reasons)
IRCC lists several ineligibility reasons, including if you are: in jail, behind on certain payments, not discharged from bankruptcy, or receiving social assistance for a reason other than a disability.
Who you can sponsor
1) Spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child
IRCC explains these categories and also emphasizes that the relationship must be genuine (not only for PR status).
Dependent child definition (important):
A child is usually a dependent if they are under 22 and don’t have a spouse or common-law partner.
2) Parents and grandparents (PGP)
PGP is invitation-based. IRCC’s 2025 intake is closed, and the last day to apply for that intake was October 9, 2025.
For 2026 specifically, IRCC issued Ministerial Instructions saying that as of January 1, 2026, no new PGP sponsorship/PR applications are to be received for processing until further instructions are issued.
3) Other relatives (very limited)
IRCC says you can sponsor an orphaned brother/sister/niece/nephew/grandchild only if they are under 18, both parents have passed away, and they are single.
You may sponsor one “other relative” of any age only if you don’t have a living close relative you could sponsor instead (spouse, child, parent, grandparent, etc.) and you don’t have other relatives in Canada who are citizens/PRs/registered under the Indian Act.
Undertaking: how long you are financially responsible
This is a legal commitment. IRCC sets different undertaking lengths:
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Spouse/partner: 3 years from the day they become a PR
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Dependent child under 22: 10 years or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first
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Parents/grandparents: 20 years (Quebec is different)
If the person you sponsor receives social assistance during your undertaking period, you may have to repay it, and this can affect your ability to sponsor again.
Income requirements (what’s true in 2026)
Spouse/partner/child: usually no minimum income requirement
IRCC says in most cases there isn’t an income requirement to sponsor a spouse/partner/child, except for specific situations (for example, sponsoring a dependent child who has children of their own).
Parents and grandparents: income is required for 3 tax years
IRCC requires you to meet income requirements for each of the 3 tax years before you apply (and you can use a co-signer to combine income).
IRCC also publishes the income table (family size vs required income).
Step-by-step: how family sponsorship applications work
A) Sponsor a spouse/partner/child
IRCC’s process is: prepare forms and documents, pay fees, submit, then respond to biometrics/medical/police requests as required.
Tip: Even if you submit on paper, IRCC allows linking a paper application to an online account for messages and updates.
B) Sponsor parents and grandparents (PGP)
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You must be invited to apply.
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For the 2025 intake, IRCC confirms it invited people from the 2020 Interest to Sponsor pool, with a goal of 10,000 complete applications.
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IRCC’s PGP instruction guide (Jan 2026 update) confirms the 2025 intake is closed and that invited applicants must submit online.
C) Sponsor other relatives
IRCC states you submit the sponsorship application and the PR application at the same time for your relative.
Fees (updated numbers)
Use IRCC’s fee list as your “source of truth.” The most common family sponsorship fees are:
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Sponsor a spouse or partner: $1,205 (includes $85 sponsorship + $545 processing + $575 right of PR fee)
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Sponsor parents or grandparents: $1,205 for the principal applicant
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Sponsor a dependent child only: $170 per child (sponsorship + processing)
Biometrics may be required and IRCC lists $85 per person (and a family maximum in some cases).
Processing times (how to check safely)
IRCC processing times change and are updated regularly. The correct place to check is IRCC’s processing time tool (not social media estimates).
Also, IRCC’s service standard note for spousal sponsorship (non-Quebec) has been 12 months for 80% of cases (this is a standard, not a guarantee).
Required documents (fixing your draft)
Remove these from your old list because they do not apply to family sponsorship:
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Education Credential Assessment (ECA)
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Language test results
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Proof of work experience
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“Atlantic province endorsement certificate”
Instead, typical family sponsorship documents include:
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Sponsor status proof (citizenship/PR/Indian Act registration)
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Identity documents (passports, birth certificates)
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Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, proof of common-law, child birth certificate, adoption documents)
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Police certificates and medical exam (when IRCC requests, depending on case)
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Income proof only when required (especially parents/grandparents)
Special note for Quebec residents (important in 2026)
IRCC notes that Quebec has its own undertaking process and has reached limits in certain categories until June 25, 2026, including spouse/partner/child and parents/grandparents pages.
FAQ
Can a permanent resident sponsor family from outside Canada?
No. IRCC says permanent residents living outside Canada can’t sponsor; Canadian citizens abroad may sponsor if they show plans to return.
Do I need minimum income to sponsor my spouse?
Usually no, but IRCC lists exceptions (for example, if the sponsored person has a dependent child who has children).
Is Parents and Grandparents sponsorship open in 2026?
IRCC’s Ministerial Instructions say that as of January 1, 2026, no new PGP sponsorship/PR applications are to be received for processing until further instructions are issued.
How long am I financially responsible for my sponsored spouse or child?
Spouse/partner: 3 years. Dependent child under 22: 10 years or until age 25 (whichever comes first).
Can I sponsor my sibling?
Only in very limited cases, such as an orphaned sibling under 18 (and other strict rules).
Reality check
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Family sponsorship is not “instant PR.” IRCC can refuse if eligibility or relationship requirements are not met, or if the application is incomplete.
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Your undertaking is a real financial responsibility. If the sponsored person receives social assistance during your undertaking period, it can create repayment obligations and block future sponsorships.
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Parents and grandparents sponsorship has been paused for new applications in 2026 until IRCC issues further instructions.
Official Goverment Source:
Family sponsorship overview (IRCC):
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship.html
Sponsor spouse/partner/child (IRCC):
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/spouse-partner-children.html
Eligibility:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/spouse-partner-children/eligibility.html
Dependent child definition:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/age-limit-requirements-dependent-children.html
Sponsor parents and grandparents (IRCC):
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/sponsor-parents-grandparents.html
PGP income requirements:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/sponsor-parents-grandparents/eligibility/income.html
Ministerial Instructions (PGP 2026):
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/ministerial-instructions/other-goals/mi89.html
Sponsor other relatives (IRCC):
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/other-relatives/who-you-can-sponsor.html
IRCC fee list:
https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp
Check processing times:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html
