Your Professional Centre

Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Canada, 18 years of age or older, may sponsor close relatives or family members who want to become permanent residents of Canada. Sponsors must promise to support the relative or family member and their accompanying family members for a period of 3 to 10 years to help them settle in Canada.

The following persons are eligible sponsors:

• Spouse, common-law or conjugal partners 16 years of age or older

• Parents and grandparents

• Dependent children, including adopted children

• Children under 18 years of age whom you intend to adopt

• Brothers, sisters, nephew, nieces or grand children who are orphans; under the age of 18 and not married or in a common-law relationship; or

A person may also sponsor one relative of any age if he/she does not have an aunt, uncle or family member from the list above who he/she could sponsor or who is already a Canadian citizen, Indian or permanent resident.

Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class

You may also sponsor a spouse or common-law partner from within Canada if they have been living with you in Canada. Sponsorship of a spouse or common-law partner includes their dependent children whether inside or outside of Canada.

There is a change on this class on 18 February 2005, the new spousal policy sets out that most spouses and common-law partners in a genuine relationship with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, regardless of status, are able to apply for permanent residence while remaining in Canada.