If you are a permanent resident or a citizen of Canada and have a family member who wishes to immigrate to Canada, you may be able to assist them in obtaining permanent residency. Family reunion continues to be a cornerstone of Canada’s immigration system.

Basic requirements for family sponsorship:

To be a sponsor:

• You must be 18 years of age or older.
• you must be a Canadian citizen, or a permanent resident or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
• 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 says the person becoming a permanent resident will make every effort to support her or himself.
• Depending on the person you sponsor, additional obligations may be imposed.

Who you can sponsor:

• A spouse, a common-law partner or a conjugal partner
• Your dependent children
• Your parents and grandparents
• Your brothers or sisters, nephews or nieces, granddaughters or grandsons who are orphaned, under 18 years of age and not married or in a common-law relationship
• Another relative of any age or relationship but only under specific conditions
• Certain accompanying relatives of the above