Sponsoring Parents and Grandparents

Under the Family Class, you may be able to sponsor your parents and grandparents to become permanent residents if you are 18 years of age or older, living in Canada, and are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada. It is important that you start the application early, because there are caps to how many individuals are selected per year. It is a lottery system where applicants indicate their interest to sponsor during a 30 days period. Applicants are randomly selected, and those selected will received an invitation to apply (ITA). After which, applicants will need to submit all completed forms and supporting documents. 

For those not eligible to sponsor their parents or grandparents, or would like an alternative to bringing their parents or grandparents to Canada for a longer stay, the Super Visa program may be a alternative choice program. 

In addition, both the person sponsoring a relative and the person wishing to immigrate to Canada must meet certain requirements. Applicants for permanent residence must go through medical exams, criminal checks, and background checks.  An applicant with a criminal record may not be allowed to enter Canada. People who pose a risk to Canada’s security are not allowed to enter Canada. The applicant may have to provide a certificate from police authorities in the home country.

In order to sponsor, you must:

• be 18 years of age or older;
• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
• be sponsoring a member of the family Class;
• live in Canada;
• sign an undertaking promising to provide for the basic requirements of the person being sponsored;
• sign an agreement with the person you are sponsoring that confirms that each of you understands your mutual obligations and responsibilities;
• prove that you have sufficient income to provide the basic requirements for your family members in Canada as well as the persons included in your sponsorship undertaking. You may also have a co-signer.

For each of the three consecutive taxation years preceding the date on which the application is submitted, the sponsor (and co-signer, if applicable) must meet the Minimum Necessary Income, which is based on the Low Income Cut-offs plus 30%.

The length of undertaking, is the length of time that you are financially responsible for the person you sponsor. It begins the first day the person you sponsor becomes a permanent resident.

• 20 years - parent or grandparents

*The rules for Quebec are different. 

There are certain situations in which you may not be eligible to sponsor your parent or grandparent, contact us to find out more. 

The Super Visa program is a great way to bring parents and grandparents to Canada for long periods of time. For Permanent Residents and Canadian Citizens who currently do not qualify for parental permanent resident sponsorship, or are waiting to sponsor their parents for permanent residence, this is a possible option to allow your parents be with you in Canada. 

Currently, most visitors to Canada may visit for up to six months when they first enter Canada. Visitors who wish to stay longer must apply for an extension, and pay a new fee. With the parent super visa, eligible parents and grandparents can visit family in Canada for up to two years without the need to renew their status.

The Super Visa is a multi-entry visa that provides multiple entries for a period up to 10 years. The key difference is that the Super Visa allows an individual to stay for up to two years at a time in Canada, while a 10-year multiple entry visa would only have a status period for each entry of six months only.

Dependants of parents and grandparents are not eligible for the super visa. However, they can apply for a regular visitor visa.

Find out more about the Super Visa Program here.