Certain individuals sponsored to come to Canada by their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner are granted conditional permanent resident status aim at ensuring relationships are genuine.

There were formerly two conditions, namely a five-year ban on sponsoring a new spouse or partner and a two-year requirement for certain couples to remain living together.

As of April 28, 2017, the two-year cohabitation condition has been removed.

Basic Requirements For Family Sponsorship

To be a sponsor:

• You must be 18 years of age or older.
• 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.
• You must provide financial support for a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner for three years from the date they become a permanent resident.
• You must provide financial support for a dependent child for 10 years, or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first.

Canada Family Sponsorship: Who Can Be Sponsored?

• Spouse.
• Common-law partner.
• Conjugal partner.
• Dependent children.
• Parents.
• Grandparents – (Additional conditions apply)
• 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.
• Accompanying relatives of the above (for example, spouse, partner, and dependent children).

If you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, age 18 or over, you can sponsor certain family members to become Canadian permanent residents. If you become a permanent resident, you can live, study and work in Canada. 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.