Citizenship & PR

One of the goals of Canadian immigration policy is to make family reunion easier. Under certain conditions, if you are a Canadian permanent resident or a Canadian citizen, you may sponsor your spouse, dependent children, parents, grandparents, and others.

a) Spousal & Common law Sponsorship :

One of the three foundations of Canada's immigration system is family reunification. This program enables spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents.

To apply to sponsor your spouse, partner or child, there are two applications:
1. You must apply to become a sponsor.
2. Your spouse, partner or child must apply for permanent residence.

Send both the sponsorship and the permanent residence applications together at the same time.

If you want to sponsor your adopted child or an orphaned family member, follow the instructions to sponsor your adopted child instead.

If you live in Quebec, find out the steps to take to sponsor your spouse, partner, or child in Quebec.


Who is eligible to sponsor their spouse, partner or child You can sponsor your spouse, partner or dependent child if:

• 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

Income requirement
In most cases, there isn’t an income requirement to sponsor your spouse or partner or dependent child. You only need to show that you have enough money to meet the income requirements if:

• you’re sponsoring a dependent child that has 1 or more dependent children of their own, or
• you’re sponsoring a spouse or partner that has a dependent child, and their dependent child has 1 or more children of their own.

There are some circumstances which prohibit you from sponsoring your spouse, partner or a child. Contact us for more details.

b) Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship:

Family reunion has long been a priority in Canadian immigration policy. Canadian citizens and permanent residents, both new and long-established, can sponsor their parents and grandparents to immigrate to Canada permanently.

If you’re invited to apply, there are 2 applications that are submitted and reviewed for the parents and grandparents’ program

• the sponsorship application and
• the permanent residence application

If both applications are approved, you’ll sign an agreement called an undertaking that starts on the day the person you’re sponsoring (and their family members, if this applies) becomes a permanent resident of Canada.

Check if you are eligible to sponsor a parent or grandparent

You can sponsor your own parents and grandparents if

• 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
• you meet all other requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations

Who you can’t sponsor
You can’t sponsor

• your spouse’s parents and grandparents (your in-laws)
• however, you can be a co-signer on your in-laws’ application
• someone who is inadmissible to Canada (someone who is not allowed to come to Canada)

a) Express Entry:

Express Entry is Canada's largest economic program, and it is one of the quickest methods to get permanent residency in the country. This initiative is intended to identify individuals who will satisfy Canada's future labour market demands.

Express Entry is an online system that we use to manage immigration applications from skilled workers.
There are 3 immigration programs managed through Express Entry:

• Canadian Experience Class
  • for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience
  • work experience must have been gained in the 3 years before you apply
• Federal Skilled Worker Program
  • for skilled workers with foreign work experience
  • must meet criteria for education and other factors
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
  • for skilled workers who are qualified in a skilled trade
  • must have a valid job offer or a certificate of qualification

b) Provincial Nominee Program:

Apart from federal programs, Canadian provinces, except Nunavut and Quebec, offer various immigration streams which help nationals to gain Permanent residency.
In 11 provinces and territories, there are now more than 80 provincial immigration streams available. Provinces and territories with a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) can nominate individuals through the Express Entry pool, or applicants can apply directly to the province provided they match the qualifying conditions.

If a province or territory nominates you through an Express Entry stream, it will be listed on your nomination certificate. You can confirm this with the province or territory.

This program is for workers who:

• have the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory
• want to live in that province, and
• want to become permanent residents of Canada

Each province and territory has its own “streams” (immigration programs that target certain groups) and requirements. For example, in a program stream, provinces and territories may target:

• students
• business people
• skilled workers
• semi-skilled workers

There are two ways to apply:

• You contact the province or territory and apply for a nomination under their Express Entry stream.
• If the province or territory agrees to nominate you, you create an Express Entry profile (or update your profile if you already have one) and show you have been nominated.
• You get a nomination through your account, which you accept electronically.

OR

• You create an Express Entry profile and show the provinces and territories you are interested in.
• If a province or territory sends you a “notification of interest” to your account, you contact them directly.
• You apply to their Express Entry stream.
• If you are nominated, they will offer it to you through your account, and you accept it electronically.

In both cases, you will need to create an Express Entry profile during the process, so you should do it right from the start.

This program facilitates experienced home childcare providers, and home support workers move to Canada to work and get Permanent residency.
You may be able to apply for permanent residence through the Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot if you:

• meet the eligibility requirements, and
• have a job offer to work in one of these occupations

Through these pilots, you’ll get an open work permit to come to Canada and work temporarily. This work permit:

• is occupation-restricted (so you must work in that specific occupation)
• doesn’t need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
• let’s you get the work experience you need to be eligible for permanent residence

If you recently worked as a home childcare provider or support worker, your experience may count towards your eligibility for permanent residence.