Family sponsorship in Canada lets citizens and permanent residents sponsor a spouse, partner, dependent child, parent, grandparent, or in limited cases another relative, for permanent residence. One thing has changed more than anything else in this family sponsorship program recently: the Parent and Grandparent Program has been paused for new applicants since January 1, 2026, confirmed directly by IRCC, with no reopening date announced as of this writing. This Brightlight Immigration guide covers every family sponsorship category, who qualifies as a sponsor, current costs, the sponsorship undertaking, and what to expect if you’re asked to attend an interview.
Who Is Eligible to Sponsor
Who Is Eligible to Sponsor a Family Member?
Not everyone qualifies as a sponsor, and the rules go both ways: there are requirements you need to meet, and separate situations that disqualify you outright, regardless of how genuine your relationship with the person you want to bring to Canada actually is.
What Are the Basic Sponsor Requirements?
To sponsor a family member for Canadian permanent residence, you generally must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a person registered as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
- Sign a sponsorship agreement committing to financially support the person you sponsor so they do not need to rely on social assistance
- Live in Canada, or, if you’re a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, provide proof that you intend to live in Canada once the person you’re sponsoring becomes a permanent resident
Who Cannot Sponsor a Family Member?
You may be ineligible to sponsor if you:
- Are currently incarcerated
- Have failed to pay child support or alimony
- Are in an undischarged bankruptcy
- Receive social assistance for reasons other than a disability
- Defaulted on a previous immigration loan or sponsorship undertaking
- Were convicted of certain violent or sexual offences
- Were yourself sponsored by a partner and became a permanent resident less than five years ago
IRCC reviews sponsorship eligibility carefully, particularly where a previous sponsorship default or a criminal conviction is involved. Residents of Quebec must also meet the province’s own sponsorship requirements through the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration.
Which Family Members Qualify
Which Family Members Can You Sponsor to Canada?
The Family sponsorship class covers four main categories, each with its own eligibility rules and, in some cases, its own application process entirely.
Spouse, Common-Law, or Conjugal Partner
The most common category, covered in detail below.
Dependent Children
Including children you plan to adopt or have already adopted.
Parents and Grandparents
Currently affected by the 2026 program pause explained below.
Another Relative
In limited circumstances, covered under what’s often called the “Lonely Canadian” rule.
Sponsoring a Spouse or Partner
How Do You Sponsor a Spouse, Common-Law, or Conjugal Partner?
This is the most common family sponsorship category, and also the one with the most room for a relationship to be questioned. What qualifies, which stream to apply under, and where to find the full process all matter before you submit anything.
What Counts as a Genuine Relationship for Sponsorship?
A spouse must be legally married to you, with the marriage recognized both in the country where it took place and in Canada. Canada recognizes same-sex marriages and common-law relationships on exactly the same terms as opposite-sex ones for sponsorship purposes, there’s no separate category or additional requirement. A common-law partner must have lived with you in a conjugal relationship continuously for at least one year, demonstrated through shared housing, mutual financial and emotional support, and presenting as a couple publicly. A conjugal partner has maintained a committed relationship with you for at least one year but faces a genuine obstacle to living together or marrying, often immigration, religious, legal, or cultural barriers, and must be living outside Canada to qualify under this specific category.
| Relationship Type | What Must Be Shown |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Legally married, with the marriage recognized both where it took place and in Canada |
| Common-law partner | Lived together in a conjugal relationship continuously for at least one year |
| Conjugal partner | Committed relationship for at least one year, a genuine obstacle to living together or marrying, and living outside Canada |
Does Marrying a Canadian Automatically Grant Permanent Residence?
"Marrying a Canadian gives you PR."
Marriage alone doesn’t grant any immigration status.
Sponsorship Is a Separate Application
Your sponsorship still needs to be submitted, assessed, and approved by IRCC.
No, and this is one of the more common misconceptions in this entire topic. Marriage alone doesn’t grant any immigration status. Sponsorship is a separate application that still needs to be submitted, assessed, and approved, and it can still be refused if the relationship isn’t considered genuine or if either of you doesn’t meet the eligibility requirements. A marriage certificate is strong evidence toward a successful application, not a substitute for one.
Inland vs. Outland: Which Stream Applies to You?
If you and your partner already live together in Canada, you can apply under Inland sponsorship, which allows your partner to remain in Canada during processing and, in many cases, to apply for a spousal open work permit. If your partner lives outside Canada, Outland sponsorship applies instead, generally offering full appeal rights if refused and more travel flexibility during processing.
| Factor | Inland Sponsorship | Outland Sponsorship |
|---|---|---|
| Where your partner lives | With you in Canada | Outside Canada |
| During processing | Partner can remain in Canada | More travel flexibility |
| Work authorization | Often eligible for a spousal open work permit | — |
| If refused | Federal Court judicial review | Full appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division |
Where Can You Find the Complete Spousal Sponsorship Guide?
The spousal sponsorship stream has enough depth to warrant its own complete set of guides:
- Our dedicated spousal sponsorship guide covers the full application process
- Current spousal sponsorship processing times are tracked separately and updated regularly
- What first stage approval actually means today is explained in its own guide
Sponsoring Your Spouse or Partner?
Loveneet Paneswar, RCIC, reviews relationship evidence, helps you choose between Inland and Outland, and prepares your file before submission.
Protections From Abuse
What Protections Exist for Spouses or Partners Experiencing Abuse?
Your immigration status is not automatically tied to staying in an abusive relationship, and IRCC has pathways that don’t require your abuser’s cooperation or consent.
If you’re in Canada on a sponsored application, or already a permanent resident through sponsorship, and you’re experiencing abuse or violence from your spouse or partner, your immigration status is not automatically tied to staying in that relationship. IRCC maintains separate immigration options specifically for people in this situation, including pathways that don’t require your abuser’s cooperation or consent to proceed. If you’re unsure whether leaving an abusive relationship will affect a pending or approved sponsorship, speak with a licensed consultant or a victim support organization before making any decisions based on immigration status alone, your safety comes first, and support exists that doesn’t require you to wait.
Sponsoring Dependent Children
How Do You Sponsor Your Dependent Children?
Whether a child counts as a dependent isn’t always obvious, especially once age or a disability enters the picture, and timing matters more here than most sponsors expect, both for when an application is submitted and when an adoption is still in progress.
What Is the Legal Definition of a Dependent Child?
A child is considered dependent if they are not married or in a common-law relationship and are under 22 years of age. A child 22 or older can still qualify if they relied on their parents for financial support before turning 22 and are incapable of supporting themselves due to a mental or physical condition. This definition applies whether the child is your biological child or a child you’ve legally adopted.
What If Your Child Turns 22 While the Application Is Processing?
Your child’s age is locked in on the date IRCC receives a complete application, not the date a decision is made. A child who was 21 when the application was submitted still qualifies as a dependent even if they turn 22 before the application is finalized, a genuinely important rule that gets misunderstood often enough to cause real, avoidable anxiety during a long wait.
What Documents Do You Need to Sponsor a Child?
You’ll need to prove your relationship to the child through a birth certificate or adoption certificate, and both you and the child must be approved by IRCC for the application to proceed. If the child has dependents of their own, those children can typically be included in the same application.
Can You Sponsor a Child You're in the Process of Adopting?
You don’t necessarily need to wait until an adoption is fully finalized before beginning the sponsorship process, though the specific requirements depend on whether the adoption is domestic or international and which province’s adoption laws apply. Given how much this varies by situation, confirming your specific timeline with our Surrey immigration consultant before starting is worth the time it takes.
PGP Pause in 2026
Is the Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) Still Open in 2026?
No. This is the single most important update in family sponsorship right now, and it’s worth understanding in full before planning around this pathway.
2025: Limited Intake
IRCC processed only applications invited in previous cycles, drawn from 2020 interest to sponsor forms.
January 1, 2026: Paused for New Applicants
No new interest to sponsor forms and no new invitations to apply.
March 31, 2026: Super Visa Income Test Flexibility
New income test options for the Super Visa only, not for PGP sponsorship.
July 15, 2026: IRCC Confirms the Pause
Intake paused until further notice. No reopening date announced.
What Did IRCC Announce About the PGP Pause?
On July 15, 2026, IRCC confirmed it is pausing the intake of new applications under the Parent and Grandparent Program. No new interest to sponsor forms are being accepted, and no new invitations to apply are being issued, until further notice. IRCC stated this measure is intended to help manage demand responsibly and improve processing predictability, since interest in the program has consistently exceeded the spaces available under the Immigration Levels Plan. As of this writing, no reopening date has been announced.
What Happens to Applications Already in the System?
IRCC is continuing to process applications from sponsors who were invited during the 2025 intake, drawn from the pool of interest to sponsor forms submitted back in 2020. That pool is now exhausted, and the 2025 invited cohort was capped at a limited number of complete applications. IRCC plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the program in 2026, consistent with the 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan, entirely from applications already in the system.
This isn’t the first time PGP intake has been restricted either. IRCC limited openings in 2025 as well, processing only applications invited in previous cycles, which means the current pause is a continuation of a multi-year pattern of managing demand against limited annual space, not a sudden, isolated decision.
Is the Super Visa a Real Alternative While PGP Is Paused?
Yes, and it’s currently the active path for most families in this situation. The Super Visa lets parents and grandparents visit for extended periods, up to five years at a time, with multiple entries over a validity period of up to ten years, without becoming permanent residents. As of March 31, 2026, IRCC introduced real flexibility to the Super Visa’s income test, allowing a host’s income to be assessed against either of the two most recent tax years and letting some of the visiting parent’s or grandparent’s own income count toward the threshold. These changes apply only to the Super Visa, not to the Minimum Necessary Income test used for permanent PGP sponsorship itself.
| Feature | Super Visa | PGP Sponsorship |
|---|---|---|
| Status in 2026 | Open | Paused for new applicants |
| Leads to permanent residence | No | Yes |
| Length of stay | Up to five years at a time, multiple entries over up to ten years | Permanent |
| Income test | More flexible since March 31, 2026 | Minimum Necessary Income (unchanged) |
If bringing your parents or grandparents to Canada is the goal and PGP isn’t currently an option, talk to a licensed consultant about your specific situation to understand whether a Super Visa now, with PGP sponsorship once intake reopens, is the right sequence for your family.
Want Your Parents in Canada While PGP Is Paused?
Find out whether a Super Visa now, with PGP sponsorship once intake reopens, is the right sequence for your family.
The "Lonely Canadian" Rule
Can You Sponsor Another Relative? The "Lonely Canadian" Rule
This category exists for a specific, narrow situation: someone with genuinely no other family member in Canada they could sponsor instead. It isn’t a backup option for a relative who simply doesn’t fit the other categories.
Who Qualifies Under the Lonely Canadian Rule?
In limited circumstances, you may be able to sponsor an orphaned brother, sister, niece, nephew, or grandchild under 18, or one other relative of any age, if you have no other family member you could otherwise sponsor. This category exists specifically for Canadians and permanent residents who would otherwise have no path to family reunification at all, and IRCC applies it narrowly. Income requirements apply to this category the same way they apply to parent and grandparent sponsorship.
Costs & Fees in 2026
What Does Family Sponsorship Cost in 2026?
Government fees changed earlier this year, and they differ depending on whether the Right of Permanent Residence Fee applies to your category. Income requirements also vary more than most sponsors expect, not every sponsorship type needs one.
What Are the Government Fees by Sponsorship Category?
Effective April 30, 2026:
| Sponsorship Type | Total With RPRF | Total Without RPRF |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse or partner, inside or outside Canada | $1,260 | $660 |
| Parent or grandparent | $1,260 | $660 |
| Spouse or partner of a sponsored parent or grandparent | $1,260 | $660 |
| Each dependent child included | $180 | $180 |
The Right of Permanent Residence Fee, $600, is paid on approval where it applies, and can be paid upfront or closer to the end of processing. Biometrics, where required, cost $85 per person or a maximum of $170 per family. These figures change periodically under the Service Fees Act, confirm the current amounts on IRCC’s official fee list before submitting payment.
Are There Income Requirements for Every Sponsorship?
Spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child. You must still show you can meet your undertaking obligations and aren’t receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability.
Parent, grandparent, or a relative under the Lonely Canadian rule. LICO plus 30% for your family size, over the three tax years before you apply.
No. If you’re sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child, there’s generally no minimum income requirement, you must still show you can meet your undertaking obligations and that you’re not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability. Sponsoring a parent, grandparent, or a relative under the Lonely Canadian rule is different, you and any co-signer must meet the Minimum Necessary Income, calculated from Statistics Canada’s Low Income Cut-Off plus 30 percent for your family size, assessed over the three tax years immediately before your application.
Processing Times by Category
How Long Does Family Sponsorship Take by Category?
There’s no single processing time in Canada across family sponsorship, each category moves at its own pace and depends on factors specific to that stream, from province of residence to whether intake is even open right now.
How Long Does Spousal Sponsorship Take?
Spousal and partner sponsorship processing times move monthly and depend heavily on stream and province of intended residence. Our dedicated spousal sponsorship processing time guide tracks current figures for Inland, Outland, and Quebec cases specifically.
How Long Does Dependent Child Sponsorship Take?
Processing time for a dependent child sponsored on their own, rather than as part of a parent’s application, varies based on the child’s country of residence and application completeness, confirm the current estimate directly on IRCC’s processing times tool before planning around a specific timeline.
How Long Do PGP Applications Currently Take?
Since intake is paused, only the 2025 invited cohort’s applications are moving through the system. For sponsors in that cohort, processing follows the same general PR admissibility review as other family class applications, medical exams, police certificates, and background checks all apply the same way they would for any other sponsorship category.
The Sponsorship Undertaking
What Is the Sponsorship Undertaking, and How Long Does It Last?
Every sponsor signs an undertaking, a legally binding commitment to financially support the person you sponsor for a set period. This obligation remains in effect even if you divorce, separate, face financial hardship, or the sponsored person becomes a Canadian citizen.
| Sponsored Person | Federal Undertaking Length | Quebec Undertaking Length |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner | 3 years | 3 years |
| Dependent child under 22 | 10 years, or until age 25, whichever comes first | Minimum 10 years, or until age 18, whichever is longer |
| Dependent child 22 or older | 3 years | Minimum 3 years, or until age 25, whichever is longer |
| Parent or grandparent | 20 years | 10 years |
| Other relative | 10 years | 10 years |
What Happens If the Sponsored Person Needs Social Assistance?
If the person you sponsor later receives social assistance during the undertaking period, you’re responsible for repaying that amount, and you won’t be able to sponsor anyone else until the debt is repaid. The undertaking cannot be cancelled or shortened once permanent residence is granted, regardless of what changes in your circumstances afterward.
How to Apply
How Do You Apply for Family Sponsorship?
The actual mechanics of applying follow a similar sequence no matter who you’re sponsoring, though the specific documents and forms differ by category, and knowing whether you can still change your mind partway through matters too.
What Are the Steps From Start to Finish?
The application process follows roughly the same sequence regardless of which category you’re sponsoring under:
Confirm you meet the sponsor eligibility requirements for your specific category.
Confirm the person you want to sponsor meets the eligibility requirements for that category.
Marriage or birth certificates, adoption records, or other relationship evidence depending on who you’re sponsoring.
Complete the correct application package and pay the applicable fees.
Submit your sponsorship application and the sponsored person’s permanent residence application together, through the Permanent Residence Portal where available, or by paper for categories that still require it.
Respond promptly to any requests for additional documents, medical exams, or biometrics.
Can You Withdraw a Sponsorship Application After Submitting It?
Yes, but only before a final decision is made, and the withdrawal must be approved by IRCC. Once you’ve submitted a withdrawal request, you may be eligible for a refund of the Right of Permanent Residence Fee if IRCC hadn’t yet begun processing that part of your application, though the base processing fee itself is generally not refunded once review has started.
If Your Application Is Refused
What Happens If Your Sponsorship Application Is Refused?
A refusal isn’t automatically the end of the process, but what happens next depends on which stream you applied under. Outland sponsorship carries full appeal rights to the Immigration Appeal Division, a genuine, substantive review of the decision. Inland sponsorship doesn’t carry the same right of appeal, the available option is a narrower Federal Court judicial review, which examines whether the process was fair rather than re-deciding the merits of your case. Given how differently these two paths work, understanding which one applies to your situation before you apply, not after a refusal arrives, is worth real consideration if there’s any genuine uncertainty about your file’s strength.
Full Appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division
A genuine, substantive review of the decision itself.
Federal Court Judicial Review
A narrower review of whether the process was fair, not a re-decision on the merits of your case.
If you’ve received a refusal and aren’t sure which option actually fits your circumstances, talk to a licensed consultant about your specific file before deciding how to respond.
The Sponsorship Interview
What Happens at a Sponsorship Interview?
Not every application requires an interview, IRCC generally calls one only when there’s a specific concern about relationship validity or application details, or when a couple’s history is genuinely complex.
What Documents Should You Bring?
Bring whatever directly supports your relationship. Tick off each item as you prepare:
Interview Document Checklist
What Questions Does an Officer Typically Ask?
Expect questions about how you met, how long you’ve been together, your partner’s occupation and background, how often and how you communicate, your partner’s family members, details about your proposal or wedding, and practical day-to-day details like household routines and shared plans. You and your partner will typically be questioned separately, and officers are looking for answers that align naturally, not rehearsed or identical wording.
Reunite Your Family in Canada With an RCIC Strategist
A family sponsorship is not just paperwork. It is a legal commitment backed by relationship evidence, a binding undertaking, and eligibility rules on both sides. One weak piece of evidence or a missed requirement can lead to delays, a refusal, or a limited right of appeal.
With 14+ years of Canadian immigration experience, Loveneet Paneswar has guided thousands of families, skilled professionals, and international graduates through spousal and family sponsorship, Express Entry, BC PNP, study and work permits, and complex refusals. Every file at Brightlight is strategist-managed and personally reviewed before submission.
- Head Office: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
- +1 (604) 503-3734
- info@brightlightimmigration.ca
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers from Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) Loveneet Paneswar to the most common family sponsorship questions.
Who can be sponsored under Canada's Family Class?
A spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, dependent children, parents and grandparents, and in limited circumstances another relative with no other family member available to sponsor them.
Is the Parent and Grandparent Program open in 2026?
No. IRCC paused new PGP intake effective January 1, 2026, confirmed July 15, 2026. No new interest to sponsor forms or invitations are being issued, and no reopening date has been announced.
What can parents and grandparents do while PGP is paused?
The Super Visa remains active and allows extended visits of up to five years at a time, with recently improved income test flexibility as of March 31, 2026, though it does not lead to permanent residence.
Do I need a minimum income to sponsor my spouse?
No. Spousal, common-law, conjugal partner, and dependent child sponsorship generally have no minimum income requirement, though you must still demonstrate you can meet your undertaking obligations.
How much does it cost to sponsor a family member in 2026?
Sponsoring a spouse, partner, or parent and grandparent costs $1,260 total including the Right of Permanent Residence Fee, or $660 without it, plus $180 per dependent child and biometrics of $85 per person.
How long does a sponsorship undertaking last?
Three years for a spouse or partner, 10 years or until age 25 for a dependent child under 22, 20 years for a parent or grandparent federally, and 10 years in Quebec.
What is the difference between Inland and Outland spousal sponsorship?
Inland applies when your partner already lives in Canada and allows them to remain here during processing, often with open work permit eligibility. Outland applies when your partner lives abroad and generally offers full appeal rights and more travel flexibility.
Can a sponsored child have their own dependents included?
Yes. Dependent children of your sponsored child can typically be included in the same application, provided they also meet the relevant eligibility requirements.
Do I need to wait until an adoption is finalized to sponsor my child?
Not necessarily. The exact requirement depends on whether the adoption is domestic or international and which province’s laws apply, confirming your specific situation before starting is worth doing given how much this varies.
Can I sponsor my brother or sister to come to Canada?
Only in limited circumstances, generally if they are orphaned and under 18, or if you have no other family member you could otherwise sponsor. This category is applied narrowly by IRCC.
What happens if my sponsored family member needs social assistance?
You become responsible for repaying that amount to the government, and you will not be able to sponsor anyone else until the debt is fully repaid, regardless of changes to your relationship or finances.
Can I sponsor my fiancé or fiancée to come to Canada?
Not directly, Canada doesn’t have a dedicated fiancé category. You’d typically need to marry first and sponsor as a spouse, or qualify as a conjugal partner if a genuine obstacle prevents marrying or living together.
What happens if my sponsorship application is refused?
It depends on your stream. Outland refusals carry full appeal rights to the Immigration Appeal Division. Inland refusals carry only a narrower Federal Court judicial review rather than a full appeal.
References
References
- IRCC, sponsor your family members: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship.html
- IRCC, official announcement on the Parent and Grandparent Program pause, July 15, 2026: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/responsibly-manage-parent-grandparent-program.html
- IRCC, fee list for permanent residence applications: ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp
- IRCC, Super Visa for parents and grandparents: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/parent-grandparent-super-visa.html
- IRCC, 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/corporate-initiatives/levels.html