Family Sponsorship 2025 Guide
The Family Sponsorship program lets Canadian citizens and permanent residents bring eligible relatives to Canada as permanent residents. It covers spouses, partners, dependent children, parents, grandparents and certain other relatives. Sponsors must demonstrate they can support their family members financially and ensure they do not need social assistance. Applications are completed online or by mail and include both the sponsor’s undertaking and the sponsored person’s PR forms. Processing times vary by category but aim to reunite families as quickly as possible
Who Can Apply?
Sponsors must:
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Be at least 18 years old.
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Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Canadian Indian Act.
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Live in Canada (citizens abroad must plan to return
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Meet income requirements for parents/grandparents sponsorship by providing three years of tax returns and Notices of Assessment
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Sign an undertaking to financially support sponsored relatives for 3–20 years, depending on relationship.
Sponsored persons must be one of:
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Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner.
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Dependent child (under 22 and unmarried).
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Parent or grandparent (must be invited to apply).
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Orphaned sibling, niece, nephew or grandchild under 18, if they have no parents.
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Other relatives (only if the sponsor has no spouse, children, parents or siblings in Canada)
How Does the Application Process Work?
The application process for the Atlantic Immigration Program is straightforward
1. Check Eligibility
Review sponsor and sponsored person requirements on Canada.ca.
2. Gather Documents
Sponsor: proof of citizenship/PR status, income documents, signed undertaking.
Sponsored: identity documents (passport), proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificates), police certificates, medical exam results.
3. Complete Forms
Sponsors use IMM 1344 (Application to Sponsor) and family information forms.
Sponsored complete IMM 0008 (Generic Application), IMM 5669 (Background/Declaration), IMM 5406 (Family Information) and IMM 5562 (Travel History).
4. Pay Fees
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Sponsorship fee: CAD 75
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Principal applicant processing fee: CAD 490
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Right of Permanent Residence fee: CAD 515
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Biometrics (if required): CAD 85 per person
5. Submit Application
Apply online via the IRCC portal or by mail. Combine sponsor and sponsored forms into one package.
5. After You Apply
Receive Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR).
Provide biometrics within 30 days of request.
IRCC verifies eligibility, conducts security and medical checks, and makes a decision
Application Fee and Processing Time
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Total fees for a spouse or partner: CAD 1,165 (excluding biometrics).
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Parents/Grandparents sponsorship: CAD 1,275 plus CAD 85 biometrics (per person)
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Processing targets:
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Spouse, partner & dependent child: 12 months for 80 % of complete applications.
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Parents/Grandparents: 20–24 months (invitation-based)
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Other relatives: 24+ months, depending on stream.
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Required Documents
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Valid Passport -
Education Credential Assessment -
Language Test Results -
Proof of Work Experience -
Endorsement Certificate From an Atlantic Province -
Proof of Settlement Funds
Official Application Page
For detailed information and to start your application process, visit the official;
🔗 Family Sponsorship – IRCC canada.ca
🔗 Sponsor a Spouse, Partner or Child canada.ca
🔗 Sponsor Parents & Grandparents canada.ca
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who can sponsor a family member?
Canadian citizens, permanent residents or status Indians aged 18+ who live in Canada and meet income requirements
Can permanent residents sponsor?
Yes, if they live in Canada when the application is submitted and processed
How long does sponsorship take?
Spousal sponsorship targets 12 months; parents/grandparents take 20–24 months
What fees apply?
Sponsorship: CAD 75; principal applicant: CAD 490; right of PR: CAD 515; biometrics: CAD 85 per person
Can I sponsor more than one relative at once?
Yes, as long as you have sufficient income to support all sponsored persons.
What if I don’t meet the income requirement?
You may combine incomes with a co-signer (spouse or common-law partner) to meet the minimum threshold
