Parent & Grandparent Sponsorship

Sponsoring your parents and grandparents to become permanent residents of Canada is a popular family reunification program. The Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada.

Eligibility Requirements 

·   You’re invited to apply for Parent and/or Grandparent sponsorship.

·   Be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.

·   Be 18 years of age or older.

·   You live in Canada.

·   Meet the minimum income requirements. Income of married couples can be included to calculate the income requirements.

·   The sponsor and the sponsored person must sign a sponsorship agreement that commits the sponsor to provide financial support for the sponsored persons, if necessary. This agreement also states that the person becoming a permanent resident will make every effort to support himself or herself. Dependent children under age 22 do not have to sign this agreement. Quebec residents must sign an “undertaking” with the province of Quebec – a contract binding the sponsorship; and

·   The sponsor must promise to provide financial support for the sponsored relative for a period of 20 years. This time begins on the date the sponsored relative becomes a permanent resident.

Who is not eligible to sponsor a parent(s) or grandparent(s)

You may not be eligible to sponsor your parents and grandparents if you:

·   haven’t been invited to apply.

·   Are less than 18 years old.

·   Are in prison.

·   Defaulted on an immigration loan (late or missed payments).

·   Have declared bankruptcy and have not been released from it yet.

·   Received government financial assistance for reasons other than a disability.

·   Did not pay a court-ordered support order, such as alimony or child support.

·   Did not provide the financial support you agreed to when you signed a sponsorship agreement to sponsor another relative in the past.

·   Were convicted of a violent criminal offence, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence.

·   Can’t legally stay in Canada and must leave the country because you received a Removal Order.

Income required for the 3 tax years before the date you apply (if you’re applying for the 2024 intake)

                         Family Size                                                                     2023                                            2022                                        2021

                              2 people                                                                     $44,530                                   $43,082                                  $32,898

                             3 people                                                                      $54,743                                    $52,965                                  $40,444

                            4 people                                                                       $66,466                                   $64,306                                 $49,106

                            5 people                                                                       $75,384                                     $72,935                                   $55,694

                            6 people                                                                      $85,020                                      $82,259                                  $62,814

                            7 people                                                                      $94,658                                      $91,582                                   $69,934

                           If more than 7 people,

                           for each additional person,      add:     $9,636                                          $9,324                                        $7,120 

This table applies to you, as a sponsor and co-signer, if you live in any province or territory except Quebec. If you live in Quebec, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) will assess your income.  

Family class sponsors will be able to count the following benefits in their income calculations for the 2020 and 2021 tax year: 

·   Regular Employment Insurance (EI) 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 if they are not part of provincial social assistance programs.

Processing Time

20 – 24 months. Check processing times.

Government Fee

·   Sponsorship fee ($85.00 CAD)

·   Principal applicant {$1120.00 CAD (Processing Fee $545.00 + Right of Permanent Fee $575.000}

·   Spouse or partner of your parent or grandparent ($1210.00 CAD)

·   Biometric fee ($85.00 CAD per person, $170.00 per family (2 or more people)