Apply to Start your Canadian Sponsorship Process Today!
Canadian Sponsorship allows for Permanent Residence/Citizens to Successfully Sponsor their Spouses, Wife, Husband, Children(s) or Parents. Canada each year allows for thousands of applicants to become PR holders.
Sponsoring a family member to Canada can be done through two different processes: Inland Sponsorship , Outland Sponsorship. Both processes allow Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child for permanent residence in Canada. The main difference between the two lies in the applicant's location and how they apply for permanent residency. Below is a detailed explanation of both processes:
1. Inland Sponsorship
Inland sponsorship applies to individuals who are already in Canada. If you are sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child who is physically present in Canada, this is the process for you.
Eligibility for Inland Sponsorship:
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Sponsor's Eligibility:
- Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Must reside in Canada and intend to continue living in Canada.
- Must demonstrate the ability to support the applicant financially.
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Applicant's Eligibility:
- The person being sponsored must be in Canada and legally authorized to stay (e.g., visitor, student, or worker).
- Must be in a genuine, legally recognized relationship (spouse or common-law partner).
Inland Sponsorship Process:
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Complete the Application:
- The sponsor and the applicant (spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child) must complete the necessary application forms. These include forms such as the Application to Sponsor (IMM 1344), Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008), and Additional Family Information (IMM 5406).
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Submit the Application:
- The application package must be submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The sponsor must also pay the required sponsorship and processing fees.
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Processing Time:
- Inland sponsorship applications usually take around 12 months to process. However, processing times can vary, so it’s important to check the current processing times on the IRCC website.
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Work Permit for the Sponsored Person:
- If the applicant is in Canada on a temporary status (e.g., as a visitor), they may be eligible to apply for an open work permit while waiting for the permanent residence decision. This work permit allows them to work for any employer in Canada during the processing of their application.
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Approval of Permanent Residency:
- If the application is successful, the sponsored person will receive permanent resident status and may receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document.
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Landing:
- After receiving approval, the sponsored person may complete their landing process and officially become a permanent resident of Canada.
Advantages of Inland Sponsorship:
- If the applicant is already in Canada, they can remain in Canada while their application is processed.
- The applicant can work in Canada while waiting for a decision, assuming they’ve been granted an open work permit.
Disadvantages of Inland Sponsorship:
- If the application is refused, the applicant may have to leave Canada and apply again through the outland process.
2. Outland Sponsorship
Outland sponsorship is for individuals who are living outside Canada at the time of application or who want to process their application from outside Canada. This process is applicable to spouses, common-law partners, or dependent children who are outside Canada or want to apply from their home country.
Eligibility for Outland Sponsorship:
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Sponsor's Eligibility:
- Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Must demonstrate the ability to support the applicant financially.
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Applicant's Eligibility:
- The applicant (spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child) must be outside Canada or wish to process the application from their home country or another country outside Canada.
- Must be in a legitimate, legally recognized relationship.
Outland Sponsorship Process:
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Complete the Application:
- The sponsor and applicant must complete the necessary forms, including the Sponsorship Application(IMM 1344), Generic Application Form (IMM 0008), and Additional Family Information (IMM 5406).
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Submit the Application:
- Submit the completed application package to the appropriate Canadian Visa Office in the applicant’s home country (or the country where they are residing).
- Pay the sponsorship and processing fees.
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Processing Time:
- The processing time for outland sponsorship varies, but it is usually faster than inland sponsorship (around 12 months, depending on the visa office and specific circumstances).
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Interview (If Required):
- In some cases, the Canadian visa office may require an interview. The applicant will be notified if an interview is necessary.
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Approval of Permanent Residency:
- If the application is approved, the sponsored person will receive permanent resident status and may be issued a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a permanent resident visa.
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Landing in Canada:
- Upon approval, the applicant will enter Canada as a permanent resident, completing the landing process.
Advantages of Outland Sponsorship:
- Applications are often processed faster than inland applications, especially for applicants who are outside Canada.
- The applicant can continue to live in their home country until the application is approved.
Disadvantages of Outland Sponsorship:
- The applicant must wait outside Canada until their application is approved. If the applicant is already in Canada on a temporary status, they may have to leave while the application is processed.
Key Differences Between Inland and Outland Sponsorship
Factor | Inland Sponsorship | Outland Sponsorship |
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Location of Applicant | The applicant must be in Canada at the time of application. | The applicant must be outside Canada at the time of application. |
Processing Time | Can take around 12 months but might be longer. | Typically faster than inland, but varies by visa office. |
Work Permit | The applicant may be eligible for an open work permit while waiting. | The applicant does not receive a work permit during processing. |
Travel | The applicant cannot leave Canada while the application is being processed, or they may lose their status. | The applicant can continue living and working in their home country while the application is processed. |
Final Decision Location | The final decision is made within Canada. | The final decision is made by the visa office outside Canada. |
General Requirements for Sponsorship
- Proof of Relationship: You need to provide sufficient evidence of your relationship to the person you're sponsoring (e.g., marriage certificates, joint bank accounts, communication records).
- Financial Support: Sponsors need to prove they can financially support the person they are sponsoring to ensure that they will not become a financial burden on the Canadian social welfare system.
Conclusion
Both inland and outland sponsorship programs allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child for permanent residence. The choice between inland and outland sponsorship depends largely on the applicant's location and individual circumstances. Inland sponsorship is appropriate for those already in Canada, while outland sponsorship is suited for individuals living outside Canada or who prefer to process their application from outside Canada.
What is Canadian Immigration Sponsorship? How do I sponsor my wife and children to Canada?
1.) It allows your family member to immigrate to Canada and get permanent residence (PR).
2) It requires you, as an individual, to make a commitment to provide for basic needs and to support that person financially.
Can I be a sponsor? To sponsor a family member, you are required to meet several requirements such as being:
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- a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
- 18 years of age or older
- able to support the sponsored person for several years
Can I be a sponsor? To sponsor a family member, you are required to meet several requirements such as being:
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- Spouses and common-law partners
- Dependent children
- Parents and grandparents
There are exceptions to this rule, however, and it may be possible to sponsor a non-immediate family member (for example, a sister, niece, or uncle) if:
- you do not have any other immediate family members you could sponsor, or
- you have legally adopted them and they meet the definition of a dependent child.
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As a sponsor, you are required to sign a Sponsorship Agreement with your sponsored family member. This is a commitment by you to provide financial support for the basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, and health needs not covered by public health services) of the person you are sponsoring.
For some types of sponsorships, you will also have to meet or exceed the Low Income Cut-off (LICO), for instance if:
- you are sponsoring a spouse or partner who has a dependent child and that dependent child has one or more children of their own, or
- you are sponsoring a dependent child who has one or more dependent children of their own, or
- you are sponsoring a parent or grandparent.
You will be required to sign an "undertaking" making you legally responsible for the family member you are sponsoring. If that family member should need government social assistance, you will have to repay this money.
The undertaking will stay in effect for a period of time based on the family member you are sponsoring and will not be cancelled even if circumstances change (i.e. if the person you are sponsoring becomes a Canadian citizen, if you divorce or separate, if you have financial problems).
The length of the undertaking you will be required to sign will depend on the family member you are sponsoring and, in the case of children, their age:
Sponsored person | Length of undertaking (excluding Quebec) |
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Spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner |
3 years |
Dependent child |
10 years, or until age 25, whichever comes first |
Dependent child 22 years of age or older |
3 years |
Parent or grandparent |
20 years |
Other relative |
10 years |
Adım 1: Ensure you meet eligibility criteria to be a sponsor.
Adım 2: Ensure that the relatives you intend to sponsor meet eligibility criteria.
Step 3: You will need to apply at the federal level to the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and, if you are a Quebec resident, at the provincial level to the Ministry of Immigration, Francization, and Integration (MIFI). You must submit your sponsorship application and the permanent residence (PR) status applications of your family members or relatives together. Once you have been deemed eligible to sponsor, your PR application will be reviewed.
Step 4: You will be required to pay the family sponsorship application fee.
Step 5: Send your application to the right address. You will find this information in the sponsorship guide that is available for download on the government website.
Spouse or Common Law-Partner Sponsorship
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada you may sponsor:
- your spouse (you are legally married)
- common-law partner (you are not legally married but have been living together for at least 12 months in a conjugal relationship).
- conjugal partner (you are not legally married or in a common-law relationship and they are living outside Canada)
To be eligible for spousal or common-law partner sponsorship, you must:
- be 18 year of age, a Canadian permanent resident living in Canada or Canadian citizen,
- demonstrate that you can provide for the basic needs for yourself and your spouse or partner,
- Prove your relationship with the sponsored person is genuine by providing supporting documentation.
To be eligible for spousal or common-law partner sponsorship, the sponsored person must:
- be at least 18 years of age and not too closely related to you.
There are two types of spousal or common-law sponsorship applications:
- Inl,: The application can be made from within Canada because the person you wish to sponsor is currently in Canada. This type of sponsorship allows applicants to continue to live in Canada while their application for permanent residence is being processed.
If the application is made from within Canada, the person you are sponsoring may apply for an open work permit that would allow them to work for any employer in Canada while the sponsorship application is being processed.
It is possible for spouses or partners to come to Canada by first applying for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).
- Outland: The application is made from abroad through an Embassy or Consulate.
In this case, the person you are sponsoring and who resides abroad will normally wait for permanent residence outside of the country but may visit you in Canada.
Dependent Child Sponsorship
You can sponsor your dependent children, whether natural or adopted, to live with you as permanent residents in Canada.
Children must meet the following definition of a dependent child to be eligible for sponsorship:
- A child is considered a dependent if he or she is not married or in a common-law relationship and is under 22 years of age.
- If a child is over 22 years of age, they may be considered a dependent if they have a physical or mental condition that prevents them from being able to support themselves.
To be eligible under this program, you:
- and your child abroad must be approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to receive a visa,
- must prove your relationship with the child you are sponsoring, either by a birth or adoption certificate.
The Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program (PGP) and the Super Visa Program are two programs that offer Canadian citizens and permanent residents the opportunity to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada.
To be eligible under the Parents and Grandparents Program, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada,
- be at least 18 years of age,
- be the child or grandchild of the person(s) you are sponsoring,
- meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) required for the size of their family unit and provide Canada Revenue Agency issued notices of assessment as proof,
- sign a sponsorship agreement that acknowledges your promise to provide for the basic needs of family member(s) for a period of 20 years,
- sign an additional agreement if you live in Quebec.
Your spouse or common-law partner can help you meet the income requirement by co-signing the undertaking.
If a co-signer is helping you meet the MNI requirements, the co-signer must meet the same eligibility criteria as you, the sponsor. In addition, your co-signer must:
- not be the person being sponsored,
- have cohabited with you in a conjugal relationship for at least one year.
Super Visa Program
The Super Visa program allows parents and grandparents to come to Canada on extended multiple-entry visas that can last up to 10 years in total. This program is always open, and it is possible to apply at the same time as the to PGP.
To be eligible under the Super Visa Program, you must:
- be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada,
- have signed a letter of invitation from your child or grandchild,
- have medical insurance
- apply for the super visa from outside Canada.
In addition, your Canadian child or grandchild will have to prove that their household meets the minimum necessary income.