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Family Sponsorship in Canada
Parent and Spouse sponsoring 
LICO for sponsorship

FAMILY SPONSORSHIP CANADA

As a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident in Canada, you will be able to start a sponsorship program for your parents and certain family members to come to Canada if you are at least 18 years old. This means that the person you sponsor will become a permanent resident (PR) of Canada. This page will help you understand how to sponsor a family member to Canada and LI for sponsorship.

How does parents and family sponsorship work in Canada ?

You may sponsor your spouse, partner, or dependent children. As well as sponsor your parents and grandparents. In some specific cases, you may sponsor an orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild (they must be unmarried, under 18 years old and be related by blood or adoption).

The requirements to sponsor your parents, spouse, partner, child, or grandparents to Canada

The requirement may vary depending on whether you are sponsoring your parents, spouse, partner, child, or grandparents. But the following conditions will always need to be met:

  1. The sponsor must be at least 18 years old

  2. The sponsor must live in Canada (obligatory if they are a Permanent Resident); or must plan to return to Canada (if the sponsor is a Canadian Citizen and lives abroad) once your family member becomes a permanent resident of Canada

  3. For family members sponsorship income requirement the sponsor must be able and willing to provide for the basic financial needs of their family member for a specific period.

Requirements to sponsor

Requirements to sponsor spouse, partner, and/or dependent children to Canada

  • You’re at least 18 years old.

  • You’re a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.

  • If you’re a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must show that you plan to live in Canada when the persons you want to sponsor become permanent residents.

  • You can’t sponsor someone if you’re a permanent resident living outside Canada.

  • You’re able to prove that you’re not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability

  • you can provide for the basic needs of any persons you want to sponsor.

  • There is no financial requirement to sponsor (LICO) your spouse or partner or dependent children unless: 

  • You are sponsorship a depending child that has 1 or more dependent children of their own, OR

  • You are sponsoring a spouse or partner that has a dependent child, and their dependent child has 1 or more children of their own.

Requirements to sponsor a conjugal partner to Canada

  • A conjugal partner is:

  • a person who is living outside Canada,

  • in a conjugal relationship with the sponsor for at least one year, and

  • could not live with the sponsor as a couple because of reasons beyond their control (e.g. immigration barrier, religious reasons or sexual orientation).

  • This term applies to both opposite and same-gender couples.

  • You can sponsor a conjugal partner if:

  • there is a significant degree of attachment between the two of you, implying not just a physical relationship but a mutually interdependent relationship, and

  • you’ve been in a genuine (real) relationship for at least 12 months where marriage or cohabitation (living together) hasn’t been possible because of barriers such as sexual orientation, religious faith, etc.

  • The couple must submit proof of the obstacles or restrictions that are preventing them from living together or getting married.

  • IMPORTANT to note: your conjugal partner cannot be living in Canada when you apply.

Requirements to sponsor a parent or grandparent to Canada

  • you’re invited to apply

  • you’re at least 18 years old

  • you live in Canada

  • you’re a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act

  • you have enough money to support the people you want to sponsor

    • to show that you have enough, you’ll have to provide your proof of income

    • you may have a spouse or common-law partner co-sign to combine your incomes

Go through step by step Eligibility Criteria for Family member Sponsorship: Everything You Need to Know for Family sponsorship in Quebec

lico canada sponsorship

LICO for sponsorship requirement for all provinces except Quebec

Family sponsorship income required for the 3 tax years right before the day you apply (sponsors applying in 2021)

Table for LICO Canada sponsorship:

Note: To prove they meet the MNI requirement, potential sponsors must provide their Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency CRA for the last 3 taxation years before applying (2020, 2019 and 2018).

LMRT IMMIGRATION CAN TAKE CARE OF YOUR SPONSORSHIP APPLICATION!

LMRT immigration company 433-Chabanel-Rue-O-Montréal-QC

OUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Retaining our services means you are being supported by a result-driven team who are specialized in the field and have years of experience working on sponsorship applications. Our licensed immigration consultants (RCICs) and team will take care of your file as their own and ensure the submission of a complete and strong application to increase your chances of approval.

 

Sponsorship applications may be returned to the applicants or rejected for various reasons including missing signatures, signing in the wrong place, missing a check mark, missing documentation, lack of information, and much more other things. Hiring our professional services means you don’t have to worry about anything and leave the stress and hours of paperwork to us.

 

To request our services call us now at +1 (438) 700 6165, email us at Agent@Lmrtimmigration.com or book a consultation here on our website.

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We speak English, French, Arabic, Farsi and Spanish!

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Canada immigration sponsorship

  • Can my spouse sponsor my parents?
    Your spouse cannot sponsor your parents. You will sponsor them, and your spouse will be your co-signer/co-sponsor for the financial requirement (LICO) to sponsor your parents.
  • How to sponsor my spouse in Canada?
    There are two types of applications for sponsorship, in-land sponsorship application and out-land sponsorship application. You can apply under the Spouse or Common-Law partner in Canada Class (Inland application) if: The foreign national (the “Applicant”) lives with the sponsor in Canada at the moment of application The foreign national holds a valid immigration status in Canada (tourist, worker, student, etc.) Note: if your spouse or common-law partner does not have a legal status in Canada, you may still sponsor them in Canada BUT they will not be able to apply for an open work permit until their permanent residence application is approved and should refrain from travelling outside of Canada while their application is in progress. The foreign national would like to have an open work permit to work in Canada while the application is being processed. You need to apply under the Family Class Outland sponsorship process if: The foreign national (the Applicant) lives outside of Canada or If the Applicant is currently living in Canada with the sponsor but does not plan to stay in Canada while their application is being processed.
  • Can I sponsor my conjugal partner to Canada?
    Yes, you may sponsor your conjugal partner. Additional supporting documents will be required to prove the obstacles or restrictions that are preventing you from living together or getting married.
  • What is a conjugal partner in Canada?
    A conjugal partner is a person who is living outside Canada, in a conjugal relationship with the sponsor for at least one year, and could not live with the sponsor as a couple because of reasons beyond their control (e.g. immigration barrier, religious reasons or sexual orientation). This term applies to both opposite and same-gender couples. The key to determining whether an individual is a conjugal partner is whether they are in a conjugal relationship with their sponsor and whether there is a compelling barrier to continuous cohabitation. If you are unsure about meeting the requirements as conjugal partner book a consultation with one of our experts.
  • Can you sponsor a conjugal partner if one of us is not divorced?
    Yes, you may sponsor your conjugal partner if they are not divorced or if you are not divorced but certain conditions apply: Persons who are married to third parties may be considered conjugal partners provided their marriage has broken down and they have lived separate and apart from their spouse for at least one year, during which time they must have cohabited in a conjugal relationship with their current partner. Although a couple in a conjugal partner relationship might have known one another while one or both was still with their legally married spouse, they could not be in a conjugal relationship until there was a separation from the legally married spouse and the new conjugal relationship established.
  • How much does it cost to sponsor a family member to Canada?
    -Sponsor your spouse of partner: $1,080 -Sponsor your dependent child: $150 -Sponsor your parent or grandparent: $1,080 -Include the spouse or partner of your parent or grandparent: $1,085 -Include a dependent child of your parent or grandparents: $155 Other fees: -Medical exam -Biometrics -If sponsoring in Quebec: Sponsorship of a person Quebec: $301 Each additional person sponsored to Quebec: $120
  • How long does family sponsorship take in Canada?
    The application processing time may vary but on average it takes up to 12 months.
  • Where to submit/send spousal sponsorship application?
    You can submit your application in IRCC’s new permanent residence application portal or in paper in two ways: 1.Submit your application by mail: Application for spouses, common-law partners or conjugal partners outside Canada and all dependent child sponsorships: CPC Sydney P.O. Box 9500 Sydney, NS B1P 0H5 Note: Choose this option if your spouse or common-law partner is living in Canada with you, but you have chosen to use the overseas sponsorship. OR Application for spouses or common-law partners currently living in Canada applying under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class: CPC Mississauga P.O. Box 5040, Station B Mississauga, ON L4Y 4H0 2.Submit your sponsorship application by courier service: Application for spouses, common-law partners or conjugal partners currently living outside Canada and all dependent child sponsorships: CPC Sydney 49 Dorchester Street Sydney, NS B1P 5Z2 Note: Choose this option if your spouse or common-law partner is living in Canada with you, but you have chosen to use the overseas sponsorship. OR Application for spouses or common-law partners currently living in Canada applying under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class: CPC Mississauga 2 Robert Speck Parkway, Suite 300 Mississauga, ON L4Z 1H8
  • Can I work in Canada while my spousal sponsorship application is been processed? Can I apply for an open work permit if my spouse or partner is sponsoring me to Canada?
    -You can apply for an open work permit if you apply under the inland Canada sponsorship stream (application inside Canada). -You can apply at three different points of the process depending on your circumstances: If you have not submitted the sponsorship application and you want an open work permit, you will need to include the work permit application together with the sponsorship and permanent residence application. You will send all the applications at the same time, as well as the corresponding application fees. If you already submitted the application and you have not received the approval in principle, you may submit an open work permit application if you are in Canada, to the corresponding processing center in Canada. If you already submitted the application and have received the approval in principle, you may submit an open work permit application online or in paper to the corresponding processing center in Canada
  • How to cancel or withdraw a sponsorship application Canada?
    You can withdraw your sponsorship application at any time before the person you’re sponsoring becomes a permanent resident of Canada. If your sponsored relative becomes a permanent resident before IRCC gets your cancellation request, they can’t cancel your application. You will have to respect your sponsorship obligations. If your sponsored relative has not been approved for permanent residence, you may cancel/withdraw your application to sponsor by submitting a request through a webform. You will need to submit a copy of the electronic payment receipt OR a copy of both sides of the payment receipt (form IMM54 01).
  • Can I get a refund if I withdraw my sponsorship application?
    If IRCC did not start the sponsor’s application: You will get all fees back. If IRCC started the sponsor’s application: You will not get the C$75 sponsorship fee back. You will get all other fees back. If IRCC finished processing the sponsor’s application, but did not start processing the permanent residence application for the sponsored person: You will not get the C$75 sponsorship fee back. You will get all other fees back. If IRCC finished processing the sponsor’s application and started the permanent residence application for the sponsored person: You will get the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (C$490 per person) back, if applicable. If your application was refused: You will not get any fees back.
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