Family Sponsorship
Canadian citizens and permanent residents may sponsor close family members for permanent residence. The most common categories are spouses/partners, dependent children, and parents and grandparents. Specific income thresholds and undertaking lengths apply.
What this section covers
- Spousal sponsorship — inland vs outland
- Common-law and conjugal partner sponsorship
- Dependent child sponsorship
- Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) — current status
- Super Visa — 10-year multi-entry alternative to PGP
- Super Visa medical insurance requirements
- LICO and MNI income thresholds
- Undertaking length
- Genuine relationship evidence
- Procedural fairness letters
- 5-year sponsorship bar after self-sponsorship
- Sponsorship refusal and IAD appeals
Latest in Family Sponsorship
50 articles
The last-remaining-relative sponsorship rule
Guide to the last-remaining-relative sponsorship rule in Canada
Read article →Married to a Canadian as a US Citizen: Sponsorship Guide
Guide to spousal sponsorship for US citizens, covering inland vs outland processing, open work permits, and relationship evidence requirements.
Read article →IMM 5532 Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation explained
Guide to completing the IMM 5532 form for family sponsorship applications
Read article →Conjugal partner sponsorship: when you actually qualify
Conjugal partner sponsorship is a category for couples who cannot marry or live together due to immigration barriers, marital status, or persecution.
Read article →Common-law sponsorship: proving 12 months living together
Guide to common-law sponsorship in Canada, including proving common-law partnership and handling gaps in cohabitation
Read article →The 5-year bar: sponsoring a new spouse after being sponsored
The 5-year bar in family sponsorship prevents a person from sponsoring a new spouse until 5 years after they became a PR through spousal sponsorship.
Read article →Missed the PGP interest-to-sponsor window? Your options
Missed the PGP interest-to-sponsor window? Explore alternatives like the Super Visa and re-submitting interest in future rounds.
Read article →Full cost breakdown of sponsoring your spouse for PR
Guide to the full cost breakdown of sponsoring a spouse for PR in Canada
Read article →Withdrawing a spousal sponsorship after a breakup
Guide to withdrawing a spousal sponsorship application after a breakup, including how to withdraw, fees, and consequences
Read article →What the spousal sponsorship undertaking makes you liable for
Spousal sponsorship undertaking in Canada: what it means and what you're liable for
Read article →Super Visa for Pakistani Parents: Requirements Explained
Guide to Super Visa for Pakistani parents, including requirements and comparison with PGP
Read article →Sponsoring a Spouse or Fiancé from Pakistan to Canada
Guide to sponsoring a spouse from Pakistan to Canada, including proving a genuine relationship and handling arranged marriages
Read article →Sponsoring a Spouse From Nigeria to Canada
Guide to sponsoring a spouse from Nigeria to Canada, including proving a genuine relationship and handling traditional marriages
Read article →Proving a genuine relationship to IRCC: evidence that works
Proving a genuine relationship to IRCC is crucial for family sponsorship. Learn about the genuineness test and the strongest evidence categories.
Read article →The 20-year PGP undertaking and what you promise
The PGP undertaking is a 20-year financial commitment for sponsoring parents and grandparents in Canada.
Read article →Sponsoring Your Spouse in India for Canadian PR
Guide to sponsoring a spouse in Canada from India, including inland and outland processing, proving a genuine marriage, and assessing arranged-marriage relationships.
Read article →Sponsoring Parents, Grandparents, and the Super Visa From Africa
Guide to sponsoring parents and grandparents from Africa, including the Parents and Grandparents Program and Super Visa options.
Read article →Quebec spousal sponsorship: the CSQ and separate undertaking
Quebec spousal sponsorship requires a two-step process
Read article →Canada Pauses New Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Intake — Other Family Sponsorship Streams Unaffected
IRCC announced on July 15, 2026 that it will stop accepting new interest-to-sponsor forms and pause invitations under the Parents and Grandparents Program until further notice. Applications already in the system continue, with up to 15,000 PGP admissions planned for 2026. Spousal
Read article →How to Bring Your Parents to Canada When PGP Is Closed
New PGP intake is paused. Here are the legitimate ways to reunite with your parents in Canada now — Super Visa, visitor visas, and staying ready for the next intake.
Read article →How the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) Works in 2026
How Canada's Parents and Grandparents Program works — the sponsorship lottery, income rules, why 2026 intake is paused, and how to prepare.
Read article →Super Visa vs the Parents and Grandparents Program (2026)
PGP intake is paused in 2026, but the Super Visa is open. Compare permanence, income rules, insurance, and timelines to bring your parents to Canada.
Read article →PGP paused in 2026: what parents-and-grandparents sponsors can do now
Canada paused new PGP intake in July 2026, but existing applications continue. Your real options now: the Super Visa, a visitor visa, and staying ready to reapply.
Read article →Canada Pauses New Parents and Grandparents Program Applications
A pause has been implemented for new interest-to-sponsor forms under the Parents and Grandparents Program in Canada. The program, which allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence, is affected by this pause.
Read article →Inland spousal sponsorship and maintained status while you wait
Guide to inland spousal sponsorship and maintaining legal status in Canada while waiting for application processing
Read article →Emigrating From South Africa to Canada as a Family
Guide to family sponsorship in Canada for South African families
Read article →Can you leave Canada during an inland spousal application?
Inland spousal applicants face travel restrictions, but understanding the risks and proper documentation can help
Read article →Canada Pauses New Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Intake; Super Visa Remains an Option
IRCC announced on July 15, 2026 that it is pausing the intake of new Parents and Grandparents Program applications until further notice. Applications already submitted will continue to be processed, with about 15,000 permanent-residence approvals planned for 2026, and the Super V
Read article →Philippines Along With India, China, Nigeria and Other Global Destinations as Canada Revises 2026…
The Canadian government announced a revision to the 2026 immigration framework on July 17, 2026. The revised framework takes effect immediately. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is the department behind the announcement.
Read article →Age lock-in: how your child's age is frozen for sponsorship
Age lock-in in family sponsorship: how it works and its importance
Read article →Visiting Family in Canada for the 2026 World Cup: Visa vs Super Visa
Planning to visit family during the 2026 World Cup? Learn the differences between a standard Visitor Visa and a Super Visa to choose the right option.
Read article →Getting Married in Canada During the World Cup: Can You Stay?
Explains that marrying in Canada during the 2026 World Cup does not grant automatic right to stay, detailing spousal sponsorship.
Read article →BREAKING: Canada shuts door to sponsoring parents and grandparents for permanent residence
Canada has paused new Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) applications, affecting family sponsorship for permanent residence.
Read article →Super visa medical insurance requirements 2026
Super Visa medical insurance requirements for family sponsorship in Canada
Read article →How to sponsor parents and grandparents (PGP) 2026
Guide to sponsoring parents and grandparents in Canada through the PGP
Read article →How long does spousal sponsorship take in 2026?
Spousal sponsorship processing time in Canada varies, learn about the factors affecting it and the requirements
Read article →Dependent Children and Age Lock-In: How Timing Protects Eligibility
Guide to dependent children and age lock-in in Canadian family sponsorship
Read article →Proof of Relationship for Spousal Sponsorship: Evidence That Works
Guide to proof of relationship for spousal sponsorship in Canada
Read article →Super Visa vs Visitor Visa for Parents and Grandparents
Guide to Super Visa vs Visitor Visa for parents and grandparents
Read article →Inland vs Outland Spousal Sponsorship: Trade-offs
Inland vs Outland Spousal Sponsorship: understanding the trade-offs
Read article →Applying for Canada’s Super Visa? Indians get major relief as processing time drops to 50 days -…
The Canadian government has announced a significant reduction in processing time for Super Visa applications from India, effective immediately. The new processing time is 50 days, as announced on July 3, 2026.
Read article →Canada Slashes Wait For Super Visa Applicants: How Will It Affect Indians? - News18
The Canadian government announced a reduction in wait times for Super Visa applicants on July 3, 2026. The new measure is set to take effect immediately.
Read article →Dependent Children in Canadian Immigration Applications, Explained
Guide to dependent children in Canadian immigration applications
Read article →The Sponsorship Undertaking: What Sponsors Actually Commit To
This article explains the sponsorship undertaking in Canada's family sponsorship program, detailing the sponsor's commitments and requirements.
Read article →Spousal Sponsorship in Canada: How the Process and Requirements Work
A plain-language guide to Canadian spousal sponsorship: who can sponsor, the three relationship categories, the inland vs. outland routes, the step-by-step application and relationship-evidence requirements, and the three-year financial undertaking after approval.
Read article →Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP): How It Works
A plain-language guide to Canada's Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP): what it is, who can sponsor, eligibility and income rules, the interest-to-sponsor and invitation process, the Super Visa alternative, and steps to prepare while you wait.
Read article →The Super Visa for Parents and Grandparents: Who Qualifies and How It Works
A plain-English guide to Canada's Super Visa for parents and grandparents: what it is, who qualifies (including the host income rule), the mandatory medical insurance, and how to apply step by step. Volatile figures are described qualitatively with a pointer to IRCC.
Read article →Minimum Income for Family Sponsorship (LICO) Explained
A plain-language guide to the Low Income Cut-Off for Canadian family sponsorship: what LICO is, when it applies (parents/grandparents) versus when it doesn't (spouses/partners/kids), how household size is counted, and how to prove your income with tax records.
Read article →Quebec announces July 2026 intake for family sponsorship, exempts adult dependent children from cap
Quebec announces July 2026 intake for family sponsorship, exempts adult dependent children from cap
Read article →Super Visa vs Visitor Visa for Parents and Grandparents (2026)
If you want a parent or grandparent to spend long stretches of time with you in Canada, the Super Visa is usually a better fit than a regular visitor visa. The Super Visa is a multi-entry temporary resident visa built specifically for parents and grandparents, and it can allow lo
Read article →Processing times by country
Live IRCC processing-time tracking for family sponsorship applications.
Frequently asked questions
How long does spousal sponsorship take in Canada?
IRCC publishes a service standard of approximately 12 months for spousal sponsorship applications, but actual processing times vary by visa office and case complexity. Inland and outland applications can have different timelines. Check IRCC's processing times tool for the current figure for your visa office.
Is the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) open?
PGP intake is announced periodically and has been paused or run via lottery in recent years. The Super Visa — a multiple-entry visa valid up to 10 years for parents and grandparents — has remained available regardless of PGP status.
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