Family Reunion
Why live in Canada with your family?
Country of rights and freedoms
Good life expectancy
Cultural diversity
A safe country for your family
Good healthcare system
A strong and stable economy
Thinking of sponsoring a family member?
CANADA RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY SUPPORT
Did you know that Canada is a country that values and encourages the personal development of its citizens so that they can in turn contribute to the economic development and well-being of society?
Immigration SLG offers you support and immigration advice throughout the process of sponsoring a family member to simplify your steps and prepare you for any eventuality.
THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT OFFERS TO ITS CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REUNITE WITH THEIR LOVED ONES THROUGH THE FAMILY REUNION PROGRAM
The Family Reunion Program contains a number of conditions and particularities that require the assistance of an expert, due to the complexity of the documentation to be completed.
The following members are eligible for the program:
● Spouses, common-law partners, dependent children, parents, and grandparents
● Adopted children or children to be adopted
● Other members of the same family
SPONSOR A FAMILY MEMBER
Our family reunion consultation service
According to the Canadian government website, you must meet certain conditions in order to sponsor a family member.
HERE ARE THE GENERAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE SPONSOR (PERSON IN CHARGE) :
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Must reside in Canada or be a Canadian citizen
- Must not have a criminal record
- Must be able to prove financial capacity to meet the basic needs of the sponsored person:
- Food
- Housing
- Clothing
- Public services (e.g. healthcare)
- Health services not provided by the state, such as dental care or optometrists.
- Not having benefited from the sponsorship program during the previous 5 years.
Other canadian immigration consulting services
Canadian citizenship
You see your future in Canada and you want to become a citizen? Let us guide you in your application for Canadian citizenship.
According to the Canadian Governement website, to become a Canadian citizen, you must
There are additional or different requirements if you are:
- applying for a minor (under age 18)
- a Canadian applying for your adopted child born outside Canada
- a current or former Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member applying under the fast-track process
- a past Canadian citizen who want your Canadian citizenship back(including current and former CAF members)
Spouses of Canadian citizens
You don’t automatically become a citizen when you marry a Canadian.
If you’re the spouse of a Canadian citizen, you must meet the same requirements listed above (no exception).
Refugee status
Is your country currently experiencing political and economic difficulties?
We can help you with your application for refugee status.
Permanent residence
Vous voyez votre avenir au Canada et vous désirez devenir citoyen, laissez-nous vous guider dans votre demande de citoyenneté canadienne.
Selon le site du gouvernement canadien, vous devez au préalable :
- être résident permanent;
- avoir habité au Canada pendant au moins 3 des 5 dernières années;
- avoir produit votre déclaration de revenus, si vous étiez tenu de le faire;
- prouver vos compétences linguistiques;
- réussir un examen pour la citoyenneté;
- prêter le serment de citoyenneté.
Il existe d’autres exigences si l’une des situations suivantes s’applique à vous :
- vous présentez une demande pour un enfant mineur (de 18 ans et moins);
- vous êtes Canadien et vous présentez une demande pour votre enfant adopté né hors du Canada;
- vous êtes un membre actuel ou antérieur des Forces armées canadiennes (FAC) qui demande la citoyenneté dans le cadre d’un processus accéléré;
- vous êtes ancien citoyen canadien qui souhaite reprendre sa citoyenneté canadienne (y compris les membres actuels et antérieurs des FAC).
Époux de citoyens canadiens
Vous n’obtenez pas automatiquement la citoyenneté canadienne lorsque vous épousez un citoyen canadien.
Si vous êtes l’époux d’un citoyen canadien, vous devez satisfaire aux mêmes exigences énumérées ci dessus (sans exceptions).
Enfants et petits enfants de citoyens canadiens
Si vous avez un parent ou grand-parent canadien, vous pourriez être citoyen canadien.
- Vérifiez si vous pourriez être citoyen canadien.
- Pour en être certain, obtenez une preuve de citoyenneté (certificat)
Are you ready to live the Canadian dream ?
Let us guide you!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a common-law partner?
According to the government website, a common-law partner is a person who is not legally married to you. He or she may be of either sex; is 18 years of age or older; has lived with you for at least twelve (12) consecutive months, which means: you have lived together for one year.
How much income do I need to sponsor my parents and grandparents?
According to the government website, you, the sponsor (and your co-signer, if you have one) must prove you have enough income to support all the people you’ll be financially responsible for once you become a sponsor. This includes yourself.
If you’re invited to apply, you have to provide proof that you meet the income requirements for each of the 3 tax years before the date you apply.
We can’t assess whether you meet the income requirements until you apply (if you’re invited).
Note: For the 2022 process, we’ll assess sponsors on their income for tax years 2021, 2020 and 2019.
This table applies to you if you live in any province or territory except Quebec. If you live in Quebec, the Quebec ministry in charge of immigration will assess your income.
Consult the gouvernement website to know more about the Income required for the 3 tax years right before the day you apply (sponsors applying in 2022)
Since many sponsors may have been affected financially by the COVID-19 pandemic, the income requirement for the 2020 and 2021 tax years have been reduced to the minimum necessary income, instead of the minimum necessary income plus 30%.
Also, family class sponsors will be able to count these benefits in their income calculations for the 2020 and 2021 tax years:
- regular Employment Insurance benefits (rather than just special Employment Insurance benefits)
- any Canada Emergency Response Benefits issued under the
- Employment Insurance Act or
- Canadian Emergency Response Benefit Act
- other temporary COVID-19 related benefits
- as long as they’re not part of provincial social assistance programs
Note: This does not affect the income requirements for the 2019 tax year.
Combined proof of income between the sponsor and co-signer (for example the sponsor submits 2 years of notices of assessment and the co-signer submits 3 years) does not meet the requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Both the sponsor and co-signer (if there is one) must submit 3 notices of assessment, or equivalent documents, issued by the Minister of National Revenue. The assessments must be for the 3 taxation years immediately before the sponsorship application date.
Can I sponsor a child who is over the age limit for a dependant?
According to the government website, on October 24, 2017, the age limit for dependants changed from “under 19” to “under 22.” You can sponsor a child who is 22 years of age or older if they meet both of these requirements:
- they have depended on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22, and
- they are unable to financially support themselves because of a mental or physical condition
Use our online tool to check if your child qualifies as a dependant.
How do I include a dependent child in my application?
According to the government website, before you include a dependent child on your application, use our online tool to make sure they qualify. If they do, you will see specific instructions on how to include them on your application or send us a request to add your dependant to your existing application.
To include your child on your application
Follow the instructions in your application guide to properly fill out the forms and submit the correct fees for your dependant.
To add your child to an existing application
You must send us a request to add your child. When we receive your request, we will tell you, by mail or email, what documents you need to submit. For example, you may need to send us:
- new forms – we’ll tell you which ones to fill out
- proof of payment for your dependant
- supporting documents such as proof of income, a birth certificate, a medical or police certificate
To reduce delays, please send us the information we need to process your dependent child as soon as possible.
We may refuse your application if your child is inadmissible to Canada.
You can’t add a child to your application if we finished processing your application and you have already become a permanent resident.
How long am I financially responsible for the family member or relative I am sponsoring?
According to the government website, to become a sponsor, you must promise to financially take care of the persons you are sponsoring for a period of time. We call this promise an undertaking.
The “length of undertaking” is the time period you’re financially responsible for the person you sponsor. It starts on the day the person you sponsor becomes a permanent resident.
The length of undertaking depends on:
- the age of the person you sponsor
- their relationship to you, and
- Where you live. The length of undertaking for residents of Quebec is slightly different
You are still financially responsible even if:
- Your relationship with the person you sponsored changes (for example, divorce or separation).
- The person you sponsored becomes a Canadian citizen.
- Your financial situation gets worse (for example, job loss or debt).
- You sent us a request to withdraw your sponsorship application and we received it after the person you sponsored has become a permanent resident.
| Person you sponsor | Length of undertaking for all provinces except QuebecFootnote1 |
|---|---|
| Spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner | 3 years |
| Dependent child (biological or adopted) or child to be adopted in Canada under 22 years of ageFootnote2 | 10 years, or until age 25, whichever comes first |
| Dependent child 22 years of age or olderFootnote2 | 3 years |
| Parent or grandparent | 20 years |
| Other relative | 10 years |
The length of undertaking changed on October 24, 2017, to match the new age limit for dependent children. It went from “under 19” to “under 22.”
| Person you sponsor | Length of undertaking in all provinces except Quebec | Length of undertaking in Quebec |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner | 3 years | 3 years |
| Child under 13 years of age | 10 years | 10 years, or until age 18, whichever is longer |
| Child 13 to 19 years old | until age 22 | 3 years, or until age 22, whichever is longer |
| Child over 19 years of age | 3 years | 3 years, or until age 22, whichever is longer |
| Parent or grandparent | 20 yearsFootnote3 | 10 years |
| Other relative | 10 years | 10 years |
How can my common-law partner and I prove that we have been living together for 12 months?
According to the government website, the Items that can be used as proof of a common-law relationship include:
- shared ownership of residential property
- joint leases or rental agreements
- bills for shared utility accounts, such as:
- gas
- electricity
- telephone
- joint utility accounts
- important documents for both of you showing the same address, such as:
- driver’s licenses
- insurance policies
- identification documents
You don’t need to include all these items to prove your relationship is real. We may consider other proof as well. Use the document checklist to find out what to submit with your application.
We don’t return photos, telephone bills or letters. Don’t send videos or CD-ROMs. We’ll return original documents such as marriage certificates and passports. However, you should send certified photocopies unless your checklist or country-specific requirements ask you to submit originals.