FAMILY SPONSORSHIP

Sponsor your parents and grandparents

 

 

 

 

 

 

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You can sponsor your parent or grandparent if you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada and if you are 18 years of age or older.

 

 

Determine your eligibility

 

To be a sponsor:

 

• You and the sponsored relative must sign a sponsorship agreement that commits you to provide financial support for your relative if necessary. This agreement also states that the person becoming a permanent resident will make every effort to support themselves. Dependent children under age 19 do not have to sign this agreement. Quebec residents must sign an “undertaking” with the province of Quebec—a contract binding the sponsorship.

• You must promise to provide financial support for the relative and any other eligible relatives accompanying them for a period of three to ten years, depending on their age and relationship to you. This time period begins on the date they become a permanent resident.

• you must be living in Canada.

 

If you live in Quebec, you must also meet Quebec’s immigration sponsorship requirements after Citizenship and Immigration Canada approves you as a sponsor.

 

Who is not eligible to sponsor

 

You may not be eligible to sponsor your parent or grandparent if you:

 

• failed to provide the financial support you agreed to when you signed a sponsorship agreement to sponsor another relative in the past

• defaulted on a court-ordered support order, such as alimony or child support

• received government financial assistance for reasons other than a disability

• were convicted of a violent criminal offence, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence—depending on circumstances, such as the nature of the offence, how long ago it occurred and whether a record suspension (formerly called “pardons” in Canada), was issued

• defaulted on an immigration loan—late or missed payments

• are in prison or

• have declared bankruptcy and have not been released from it yet.

 

Other factors not mentioned in this list might also make you ineligible to sponsor a relative.

 

When you sponsor a parent or grandparent to become a permanent resident of Canada, you must promise to support that person and their dependants financially. Therefore, you have to meet certain income requirements. If you have previously sponsored relatives who later turned to the Canadian government for financial assistance, you may not be allowed to sponsor another person. Sponsorship is a big commitment, so you must take this obligation seriously.

 

 

Minimum Necessary Income requirement for sponsors of parents or grandparents

 

If you are sponsoring a parent or a grandparent, you must submit a Notice of Assessment issued to you by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for each of the three years immediately preceding the date of your application. The sponsor (and co-signer, if applicable) must meet the Minimum Necessary Income, which is based on the Low Income Cut-offs plus 30%. The following table applies to residents of all provinces except Quebec.

 

Federal Income Table for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Prepare for arrival 

When you arrive in Canada, you must show your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and your permanent resident visa to a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) officer at the point of entry to Canada. The officer will make sure your travel and immigration documents are correct.

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• The CIC officer will check that your permanent resident visa has not expired. The expiry date is shown on the visa. You cannot use the visa after it expires. A permanent residence visa cannot be extended, so make sure you use it within the time limit.

• You must bring a valid passport from your home country with you. Your passport must be a regular, private passport. You cannot immigrate to Canada with a diplomatic, government service or public affairs passport.

• You will have to answer questions like the ones you answered on your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada. The CIC officer asks these questions to verify information on the application.

• You must inform the CIC officer of any funds you are bringing into Canada (cash, stocks, bonds, money orders, traveller’s cheques, etc.)

 

If there are no problems when you arrive in Canada, the CIC officer will authorize you to enter Canada as a permanent resident. The officer will also use the address on your COPR to have your permanent resident card mailed to you. Make sure your Canadian address on the COPR is correct.

Permanent residents are given the permanent resident card as proof of their status in Canada. Your card will be mailed to your Canadian address after you arrive in Canada as a permanent resident.

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This video will help you get ready for your new life in Canada.

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