Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada can sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, dependent child (including adopted child), or other eligible relatives (such as a parent or grandparent) to become a Canadian permanent resident.

To act as a sponsor, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, 18 years old or older, live in Canada without receiving social assistance, and be able to show that you can provide the basic needs for your family member. If you are a Canadian citizen living outside Canada with your family, you can still submit a sponsorship application.

When you arrive in Canada as a permanent resident, you can live, study, and work here, as well as must make every reasonable effort to provide for your own and those of your family’s essential needs.

If you sponsor a relative to come to Canada as a permanent resident, you are responsible for supporting your relative financially when he or she arrives here. As a sponsor, you must make sure your spouse or relative does not need to seek financial assistance from the government.