FAMILY CLASS APPLICATIONS

Who can sponsor?

Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Canada, 18 years of age or older, may sponsor close relatives or family members who want to become permanent residents of Canada.

Who can be sponsored in the family class?

• spouses, common-law or conjugal partners 16 years of age or older;
• parents and grandparents;
• dependent children, including adopted children; (see below for definition)
• children under 18 years of age whom you intend to adopt;
• brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces or grandchildren who are orphans, under the age of 18 and not married or in a common-law relationship; and

• any other relative if you have none of the above relatives or family members, either in Canada or abroad.

• a son or daughter is dependent when the child:

• is under the age of 22 and does not have a spouse or common-law partner;
• is a full time student and is substantially dependent on a parent for financial support since before the age of 22, or since becoming a spouse or common-law partner (if this happened before age 22); or
• is financially dependent on a parent since before the age of 22 because of a disability.

To sponsor any other eligible relatives (e.g. parents and grandparents) you must be resident in Canada.

If you are not a Canadian citizen, you cannot sponsor if you live outside Canada.

All sponsorships must be submitted to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. If you are sponsoring your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner or dependent child you must submit both the sponsorship application and the application for permanent residence to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga.

For other family members, the sponsorship application is submitted to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga. When it is approved, the sponsor is sent an application form for permanent residence which must be forwarded to your relative who then submits it to the visa office.