Family Sponsorship in Canada: Spouse, Parents & Children

Updated February 10, 202612 min read

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor close family members for permanent residence. Family sponsorship is one of the most common immigration pathways, but it comes with financial obligations and specific eligibility criteria.

Who Can You Sponsor?

As a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you can sponsor:

•Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner

•Dependent children (under 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship)

•Parents and grandparents (through the PGP program or Super Visa)

•Other eligible relatives — In limited circumstances, such as orphaned family members

You cannot sponsor siblings, aunts, uncles, or cousins unless they qualify as a dependent child or orphaned relative.

Spousal Sponsorship

Inland vs. Outland Applications

•Inland: Your spouse is in Canada. They can apply for an open work permit while waiting. Cannot leave Canada during processing.

•Outland: Your spouse is outside Canada. They can continue to travel. Typically faster processing.

Requirements for the Sponsor:

•Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

•Be at least 18 years old

•Prove the relationship is genuine (not entered into for immigration purposes)

•Sign an undertaking to financially support your spouse for 3 years

•Not be in default on a previous sponsorship undertaking

Processing Times: 12–18 months for outland applications; 12–24 months for inland applications.

Costs:

•Sponsorship fee: $75

•Processing fee: $575

•Right of PR fee: $575

•Biometrics: $85

•Total government fees: ~$1,310

Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)

The PGP opens once a year with limited spots. Key details:

•Interest to Sponsor form — Submit during the intake period (usually January)

•Random selection — IRCC randomly selects potential sponsors from the pool

•Financial requirement — You must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for 3 consecutive tax years

•Undertaking period — 20 years of financial responsibility

Alternative: Super Visa

•Valid for up to 10 years

•Allows stays of up to 5 years at a time

•Requires private medical insurance

•Much faster to obtain than PGP (processed as a visitor visa)

•A good option while waiting for PGP sponsorship

Financial Requirements

For spousal sponsorship, there is generally no minimum income requirement — you just need to show you can support your spouse.

For parents/grandparents sponsorship, you must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI):

Family Size	MNI (2026 approximate)
2 persons	$43,000
3 persons	$53,000
4 persons	$64,000
5 persons	$73,000
6 persons	$82,000
7+ persons	Add ~$9,000 per person

You must have met the MNI for the 3 most recent tax years (as shown on your Notice of Assessment).

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