Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship

Canadian Citizens and/or Permanent Residents may sponsor their parents and grandparents to Canada as a Permanent Resident through this program.

Eligibility Requirements

• Be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Be 18 years of age or older.
• 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:

• 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.

Minimum income requirements

Since many sponsors may have been affected financially by the COVID-19 pandemic, the income requirement for the 2020 tax year has been reduced to the minimum necessary income, instead of the minimum necessary income plus 30%.

Family class sponsors will be able to count the following benefits in their income calculations for the 2020 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 ($75.00 CAD).
• Principal applicant ($975.00 CAD)
• Spouse or partner of your parent or grandparent ($1050.00 CAD)
• Biometric fee ($85.00 CAD per person)