A Canadian Citizen or a Canadian Permanent Resident can sponsor a close relative to become a Permanent Resident under the Family Class.
Eligibility Criteria:
To qualify under the Family Class, an applicant must be the Canadian Sponsor's:
Spouse or Common-law Partner, or
Parent or Grandparent, or
Dependent (including adopted) Child under 19, or
Other Eligible Relative
Also included are children under 19 who are either orphaned or placed with a child welfare authority for adoption and whom the Sponsor intends to adopt. If the Sponsor has no relative as listed above and no relatives who are Canadian Citizens or Canadian Permanent Residents, he or she may sponsor one other relative.
Financial Requirement:
The Sponsor must be able to demonstrate the financial ability to provide for the essential needs of the Family Class Immigrant and dependents. The financial ability requirements are eased when sponsoring a spouse and/or and unmarried child(ren) under 19 years old.
Sponsorship Agreement:
The Sponsor must enter into an agreement with the Government of Canada (or the Government of Quebec, if that is where the Sponsor resides) whereby he or she agrees to provide for the essential needs of the Family Class Immigrant and dependents for a prescribed period of time. Failure to meet any of the commitments provided for in this agreement could result in legal action being taken against the Sponsor.
Are you eligible to sponsor a relative?
In order to be eligible to sponsor your close relative under the Family Class, you must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident, at least 19 years old; must be physically residing in Canada (or able to demonstrate anintention to reside in Canada by the time the sponsored family member lands in Canada); must not be incarcerated in prison; not bankrupt; and not under a removal (deportation) order if a permanent resident.
