Immigration Complete guide

Family Sponsorship in Canada: Who Can Sponsor, Who Qualifies, Fees and Timelines

By Alex Francisco Updated Oct 11, 2026 Figures checked Oct 11, 2026 18 min read

Who can be sponsored through family sponsorship in Canada, and what does the sponsor commit to?

Family sponsorship in Canada lets a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person registered under the Indian Act, aged 18 or older, sponsor a spouse, partner, dependent child, parent, grandparent or, in narrow cases, another relative for permanent residence. The undertaking lasts 3 to 20 years, IRCC charges $1,260 per sponsored adult, and the parents and grandparents program is paused.

A sponsor must be at least 18, be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person registered under the Indian Act, live in Canada and sign an undertaking and sponsorship agreement.
IRCC runs four family routes: spouse, partner or dependent child; parents and grandparents (paused); orphaned or other relatives in very specific situations; and adopted children.
Siblings are not a general category: a brother or sister qualifies only as an orphan under 18, as a dependent child on a parent's application, or as the sponsor's 1 other relative.
The undertaking lasts 3 years for a spouse or partner, up to 10 years for a dependent child under 22, 10 years for other relatives and 20 years for parents and grandparents (10 in Quebec).
There is no income test for most spouse, partner and child sponsorships; parents and grandparents need the minimum necessary income for 3 tax years, starting at $47,549 for 2 people for 2024.
IRCC charges $1,260 for a sponsored adult including the right of permanent residence fee and $180 per dependent child, plus $85 for biometrics or $170 for a family.

— YieldMaple, figures checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Sources

Family sponsorship in Canada is how citizens and permanent residents bring close family to the country as permanent residents. It is run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as a small set of separate programs, each with its own list of who qualifies, its own income rule and its own length of financial commitment. This guide puts every program side by side, using rules, fees and timelines copied from IRCC’s program pages, application guides, fee list and processing times data, checked on October 11, 2026. It explains the rules; it is not immigration or legal advice, and only an IRCC officer decides an application. Files with a past refusal, a criminal record or an earlier sponsorship are the kind that licensed immigration consultants (RCICs) and lawyers handle.

What is family sponsorship in Canada?

Family sponsorship is a permanent residence route built on a relationship instead of points. A sponsor in Canada applies to sponsor, and the family member applies for permanent residence; IRCC requires the two applications to be sent together. If both are approved, the family member can live, study and work in Canada as a permanent resident, and the sponsor is bound by a legal promise of financial support called the undertaking.

Searches for “sponsorship Canada” usually mean this program, but IRCC splits it by relationship. The table shows each route, whether it is open, and the three things that differ most: the income rule, the length of the undertaking and how processing times are posted.

Family sponsorship programs in Canada at a glance

How to read this table: Each row is a separate IRCC route with its own application package. Status is the label IRCC shows on the program page. Undertaking lengths are for all provinces except Quebec unless the row says otherwise.

Who is sponsored	Status	Income rule for the sponsor	Undertaking	Processing time	IRCC guide
Spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child	Open	No income requirement in most cases	3 years for a partner; 3 or up to 10 years for a child, by age	Posted monthly for spouses and partners; by country for a dependent child	Guide IMM 5289
Parents and grandparents	Paused	Minimum necessary income for each of the 3 tax years before applying	20 years (10 years in Quebec)	Posted monthly	Guide IMM 5772
Orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild	Open	Minimum necessary income (low income cut-off table)	10 years	Varies by country	Guide IMM 5196
Other relative	Open	Minimum necessary income (low income cut-off table)	10 years	Varies by country	Guide IMM 5196
Adopted child	Open	No minimum necessary income when the child has no children of their own	Set by the child's age on becoming a permanent resident (3 years at 22 or older)	Varies by country	Guide IMM 5196

Two points frame everything below. First, the list of relatives is short and fixed by regulation: partners, dependent children, parents and grandparents, and a narrow group of other relatives. Second, the easiest program to qualify for financially (spouse, partner or child) is open, while the one with the heaviest income test and the longest commitment (parents and grandparents) is paused.

Every program starts from the same base. The sponsor must be at least 18, must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a person registered in Canada under the Canadian Indian Act, must live in Canada, and must sign the undertaking and the sponsorship agreement. The differences are in residence, income and whether a co-signer or an invitation is involved.

Sponsor requirements by family sponsorship program

How to read this table: Read across a row to compare the three programs. Quebec residents must also meet Quebec's sponsorship requirements and sign a Quebec undertaking, but only after IRCC says to.

Requirement	Spouse, partner or child	Parents and grandparents	Orphaned or other relatives
Minimum age	At least 18	At least 18	At least 18
Status	Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or person registered in Canada under the Canadian Indian Act	Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act	Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or person registered in Canada under the Canadian Indian Act
Living in Canada	Yes. A citizen living outside Canada must show a plan to live in Canada when the sponsored people become permanent residents; a permanent resident living outside Canada cannot sponsor	Yes. The primary residential address must be in Canada when the application is submitted and until IRCC decides it	Yes. The primary residential address must be in Canada when the application is submitted and until IRCC decides it
Income	No income requirement in most cases; one applies only when a sponsored dependent child has a dependent child of their own	Enough income for each of the 3 tax years before applying, shown with Canada Revenue Agency notices of assessment	Must meet set income guidelines (the low income cut-off table)
Co-signer	Not part of the published requirements	A spouse or common-law partner may co-sign to combine incomes	A spouse or common-law partner may co-sign to help meet the income requirement
Invitation	None needed	Must be invited to apply; the program is paused	None needed
Undertaking and sponsorship agreement	Required	Required	Required

The residence row matters most for Canadians abroad. A citizen living outside Canada can sponsor a spouse, partner or child by showing a plan to live in Canada once they become permanent residents. A permanent resident living outside Canada cannot sponsor at all. For parents, grandparents and other relatives the rule is tighter: the sponsor’s primary residential address has to be in Canada when the application is submitted and until IRCC makes its decision.

IRCC can also find a sponsor ineligible. These reasons appear on the eligibility page of every family program:

Situations that can make someone ineligible to sponsor family

How to read this table: IRCC says there may be other reasons and that it explains any refusal in writing. Several of these rows are worded slightly differently by program, and some do not apply to Quebec residents.

A person may not be able to sponsor if they are
In jail, prison or a penitentiary
Behind on an immigration loan, a performance bond or court-ordered family support payments (the support rule does not apply in Quebec)
Did not provide the support promised under an earlier sponsorship agreement
Declared bankruptcy and not yet discharged
Receiving social assistance for a reason other than a disability
Convicted of a violent crime, an offence against a relative or a sexual offence, depending on the details of the case
Under a removal order

Spousal sponsorship adds two bars of its own: a person who was sponsored as a spouse or partner and became a permanent resident less than 5 years ago, and a person still inside a 3-year undertaking for a previous spouse or partner, may not be eligible to sponsor a new partner.

Who can be sponsored through family sponsorship?

IRCC’s guide to the family class lists a sponsor’s spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, dependent child, parent, a person the sponsor intends to adopt, and “other relatives of the sponsor as defined by regulation”. Each has a definition, and the definition decides which program applies.

Who can be sponsored to Canada, and the rule each relative must meet

How to read this table: Every sponsored person must also be admissible to Canada, which means passing medical, criminal and security checks. Relatives who do not fit a row cannot be sponsored and need their own immigration route.

Relative	Rule as IRCC states it	Program
Spouse	Legally married to the sponsor, at least 18, in a genuine relationship and not inadmissible to Canada	Spouse, partner or child
Common-law partner	Not legally married to the sponsor, at least 18, and has lived with the sponsor for at least 12 consecutive months	Spouse, partner or child
Conjugal partner	At least 18, lives outside Canada, in an exclusive and mutually interdependent relationship with the sponsor for at least 1 year, and unable to live with or marry the sponsor for legal, immigration, social, cultural, religious or other reasons	Spouse, partner or child
Dependent child	Biological or adopted child of the sponsor or of the spouse or partner; under 22 with no spouse or common-law partner, or 22 or older and dependent on the parents since before 22 because of a mental or physical condition	Spouse, partner or child
Parent or grandparent	The sponsor's own parent or grandparent, related by blood or adoption; a spouse's parents and grandparents (in-laws) cannot be sponsored	Parents and grandparents (paused)
Orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild	Related by blood or adoption, under 18, both parents have passed away, and single (not married or in a common-law relationship)	Relatives
Other relative of any age	Related by blood or adoption; allowed only when the sponsor has no living spouse, partner, son or daughter, parent, grandparent, orphaned sibling, orphaned nephew or niece or orphaned grandchild to sponsor instead, and no relative who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian. Limit of 1 relative	Relatives
Adopted child	A child adopted outside Canada or a child the sponsor intends to adopt in Canada	Adopted child (Guide IMM 5196)

Some relationships that people expect to be on the list are not. A sponsor cannot sponsor a spouse’s parents or grandparents: IRCC states that in-laws are excluded, although a spouse who receives their own invitation can sponsor them with the other partner as co-signer. Adult children who are past the dependent child definition, adult siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles are covered only by the narrow relatives rules explained below.

How does spouse, common-law and conjugal partner sponsorship work?

The spouse, partner or child program is the largest family route and the only one with no income test in most cases. The three partner types are defined differently:

Spouse. Legally married to the sponsor, at least 18, and in a genuine relationship that is not only a way to get permanent resident status.
Common-law partner. Not legally married to the sponsor, at least 18, and has lived with the sponsor for at least 12 consecutive months. IRCC describes this as living together continuously for 1 year in a conjugal relationship, where any time apart was short and temporary, such as family obligations or business travel.
Conjugal partner. At least 18, living outside Canada, and in an exclusive and mutually interdependent relationship with the sponsor for at least 1 year, where the couple cannot live together or marry for legal, immigration, social, cultural, religious or other reasons.

Common-law sponsorship in Canada turns on proof of the 12 months. IRCC’s document checklist lists what it accepts as evidence of living together, and the relationship is treated as over if either partner chooses to end it. Partners of any gender qualify under all three definitions.

The sponsor’s commitment is the shortest in the system: a 3-year undertaking. The IRCC fee is $1,260 for the sponsored partner, including the right of permanent residence fee. A spouse or common-law partner who lives with the sponsor in Canada can also apply to work while the file is processed. The full requirements, the checklist and the inland and outland classes are in the spousal sponsorship guide, and the work side is in the spousal open work permit guide.

What counts as a dependent child for sponsorship?

Dependent child sponsorship in Canada rests on one definition, which IRCC applies in the same words to children included on a parent’s or relative’s application. A child qualifies as a dependant when they are the biological or adopted child of the sponsor, or of the sponsor’s spouse or partner, and meet one of two tests:

Under 22 with no spouse or common-law partner.
22 or older, unable to financially support themselves because of a mental or physical condition, and dependent on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22.

Apart from age, the child has to keep meeting the definition until IRCC finishes processing. A sponsor who is sponsoring only a child names the child as the principal applicant and has to show that the other parent or legal guardian agrees to the move. A child of a Canadian citizen may already be a citizen, even when born outside Canada, and a citizen cannot be sponsored for permanent residence; IRCC asks parents to check that first.

Declaring every child matters as much as sponsoring them. A sponsored partner’s children must be listed and examined even when they are not coming to Canada or live with another parent, and a grandchild of the sponsor has to be declared as a dependant too. The temporary public policy that let people sponsor family members they had not declared ended on September 10, 2026. It still covers eligible applications IRCC received from May 31, 2019 to that date, and IRCC now states that previously undeclared family members are not eligible for family sponsorship.

The Parents and Grandparents Program exists, but it is not open to new sponsors. IRCC’s program page shows the status as paused: no new interest to sponsor forms and no invitations until further notice, while applications already in the system keep moving.

When the program runs, it works differently from the others. A person can only apply after being invited. The sponsor can bring their own parents and grandparents, related by blood or adoption, along with a parent’s current spouse or partner and any dependent children. The sponsor has to meet an income requirement for each of the 3 tax years before applying, and the undertaking lasts 20 years, or 10 years for a Quebec resident. Anyone searching for how to sponsor parents to Canada today will find the same answer on IRCC’s page: wait for the program to reopen, or use a visit option in the meantime.

That visit option is the super visa. IRCC notes on the paused program page that parents and grandparents may be eligible for a super visa, which lets them stay in Canada for 5 years at a time and apply for extensions of up to 2 years while still here. It is a visitor document: it does not give permanent residence and does not authorize work or study. The host child or grandchild has to meet the low income cut-off table shown later in this guide, and the visitor needs private health insurance with at least $100,000 of emergency coverage, valid for a minimum of 1 year from the date of entry. The super visa income requirement page covers the income proof, super visa insurance options are compared separately, and the full permanent residence route is covered in the parents and grandparents sponsorship guide.

Not as a general category. There is no program for sponsoring a brother or sister the way there is for a spouse or a parent. IRCC’s wording on its relatives page is: “In very specific situations, you may be able to sponsor certain relatives.” A sibling reaches Canada through family sponsorship only by fitting one of the routes in this table.

The only ways a brother or sister can be sponsored to Canada

How to read this table: The first three rows are the routes IRCC describes; the last row is everyone else. The parents and grandparents route depends on that program reopening.

Situation	Rule	Result
Orphaned brother or sister	Under 18, related by blood or adoption, both parents have passed away, and single	Can be sponsored as an orphaned relative
Brother or sister as the sponsor's 1 other relative	Only when the sponsor has no living spouse, partner, child, parent, grandparent or orphaned relative to sponsor, and no relative who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian	Can be sponsored, limit of 1 relative
Brother or sister included on a parent's application	Only when the sibling qualifies as a dependent child of the parent or grandparent being sponsored	Added as a dependant; the parents and grandparents program is paused
Any other adult brother or sister	Fits none of the three routes above, for example an adult sibling whose sponsor has a spouse, child, parent or grandparent to sponsor, or a relative in Canada with status	Cannot be sponsored; IRCC says they have to immigrate on their own

The orphaned relative rule

IRCC says a sponsor can sponsor an orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild only if they meet all of the requirements: related by blood or adoption, under 18, both parents have passed away, and single. “Orphaned” is read strictly. The rule does not apply in any of these situations:

Situations where IRCC does not treat a relative as orphaned

How to read this table: Any one of these rows rules out the orphaned relative route, however close the relationship is.

The relative cannot be sponsored as an orphan if
1 or both of their parents is still alive
No one knows where their parents are
Their parents abandoned them
Someone other than their parents is taking care of them while 1 or both parents are alive
Their parents are in jail or otherwise detained

The “other relative” rule

The second route lets a sponsor bring 1 relative of any age, related by blood or adoption. It applies only when two conditions are both true. The sponsor has no living relative they could sponsor instead: no spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, son or daughter, parent, grandparent, orphaned sibling, orphaned nephew or niece, or orphaned grandchild. And the sponsor has no relative (an aunt, an uncle or any of those relatives) who is a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or a registered Indian under the Indian Act.

IRCC’s own examples show how narrow this is. A permanent resident with no partner, no children, deceased parents and grandparents and no relatives in Canada with status can sponsor an aunt, and the aunt’s spouse and dependent child can be included. An only child in the same position can sponsor a cousin. A citizen who wants to sponsor an uncle’s spouse cannot, because the two are not related by blood or adoption. If the relative has a spouse, partner or dependent children coming to Canada, they have to be on the same application.

How long does the sponsorship undertaking last?

The undertaking is the sponsor’s promise to support the sponsored people financially and to make sure they do not need social assistance. It begins on the day they become permanent residents, and its length depends on who is sponsored.

Sponsorship undertaking lengths by relationship

How to read this table: The length column applies to all provinces except Quebec. A child's age is the age on the day the child becomes a permanent resident. IRCC publishes the Quebec period only for parents and grandparents; Quebec's immigration ministry sets the others.

Person sponsored	Undertaking period	Quebec residents	Where IRCC states it
Spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner	3 years	Quebec sets its own period	Spouse, partner or child program
Dependent child 22 or older	3 years	Quebec sets its own period	Spouse, partner or child program; Guide IMM 5196
Dependent child under 22	10 years or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first	Quebec sets its own period	Spouse, partner or child program
Parent or grandparent, and accompanying family members	20 years	10 years	Parents and grandparents program
Any other person (for example brother, sister, uncle, aunt)	10 years	Quebec sets its own period	Guide IMM 5196

Hypothetical dates show how far the commitment reaches. A partner who becomes a permanent resident on March 1, 2028 is covered until March 1, 2031. A parent landing the same day would be covered until March 1, 2048. A child who becomes a permanent resident at age 17 is covered until age 25, which arrives after 8 years, sooner than the 10-year limit.

During the period the sponsor agrees to provide food, clothing, shelter and other everyday needs, plus dental care, eye care and other health needs that public health services do not cover. The sponsored adult, in turn, agrees to make every reasonable effort to be self-supporting; dependent children under 22 do not sign the agreement.

The undertaking is unconditional. Once the sponsored people are permanent residents, IRCC says there is no way to cancel or shorten it, even if:

Events that do not end a sponsorship undertaking

How to read this table: A sponsor can ask to withdraw only before the sponsored people become permanent residents.

The undertaking continues even if
The sponsored people become Canadian citizens
The relationship with the sponsored people changes
The sponsor or the sponsored people move to another province or country
The sponsor has financial problems, such as job loss or debt
A withdrawal request reaches IRCC after the sponsored people have become permanent residents

If a sponsored person receives social assistance during the period, the sponsor has to repay the amount and cannot sponsor anyone else until it is repaid. Where a spouse or common-law partner co-signs, IRCC’s guides say the co-signer is equally liable if the obligations are not met.

The undertaking also affects seniors’ benefits. Under Service Canada’s rules, a sponsored immigrant can receive the Old Age Security pension if they meet the age and residence tests, but not the Guaranteed Income Supplement or the Allowance for the entire length of the sponsorship agreement, which for parents and grandparents now counts as 20 years outside Quebec. The Old Age Security guide explains the exceptions.

Income is where the programs differ most. Some have no test at all, one uses a three-year history, and the rest use a single table.

Income requirements for family sponsorship, by program

How to read this table: These are the federal rules for sponsors outside Quebec. Quebec's immigration ministry assesses the financial capacity of sponsors who live in Quebec.

Program	Income rule	Table or form used
Spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner	No income requirement in most cases	None, unless the partner's dependent child has a dependent child of their own; then the Financial Evaluation form (IMM 1283)
Dependent child	No income requirement in most cases	None, unless the dependent child has 1 or more dependent children of their own; then the Financial Evaluation form (IMM 1283)
Parents and grandparents	Income requirement for each of the 3 tax years before applying; a spouse or common-law partner can co-sign	Parents and grandparents income table (latest published: 2025 intake)
Orphaned or other relative	Income must meet or exceed the minimum necessary income; a spouse or common-law partner can co-sign	Low income cut-off table (Federal Income Table)
Adopted child	The minimum necessary income does not apply when the child has no children of their own	None in that case

Parents and grandparents: the minimum necessary income

A sponsor of parents or grandparents has to show enough income for every person they will be financially responsible for, a number IRCC calls family size, in each of the 3 tax years before applying. The latest table IRCC has published is for the 2025 intake. No newer table exists because the program is paused.

Minimum necessary income to sponsor parents and grandparents (2025 intake)

How to read this table: Family size includes the sponsor, the sponsor's spouse or partner and dependent children, anyone covered by an earlier undertaking that is still in effect, and the people being sponsored with their own family members. The income has to be met in all three tax years. Sponsors in Quebec are assessed by Quebec.

Family size	Tax year 2024	Tax year 2023	Tax year 2022
2 people	$47,549	$44,530	$43,082
3 people	$58,456	$54,743	$52,965
4 people	$70,972	$66,466	$64,306
5 people	$80,496	$75,384	$72,935
6 people	$90,784	$85,020	$82,259
7 people	$101,075	$94,658	$91,582
Each additional person past 7	$10,291	$9,636	$9,324

Proof is the Canada Revenue Agency notice of assessment for each year, either by giving IRCC consent to get the tax information directly or by sending paper copies. A spouse or common-law partner can co-sign so that both incomes count. The income tax calculator can help a family estimate where the current year’s income is heading.

Other relatives and grandchild cases: the low income cut-off table

Sponsors of orphaned or other relatives must have income that meets or exceeds the minimum necessary income, which IRCC publishes as the Federal Income Table based on the low income cut-off (LICO). The same table applies in the less common spouse or child cases where a sponsored dependent child has a child of their own, and it is the table a super visa host has to meet.

Low income cut-off table for sponsoring other relatives (Federal Income Table, 2025)

How to read this table: Find the row for the total family size, counting the sponsor, the sponsor's own family, anyone under an earlier undertaking and the people being sponsored. Each person past 7 adds $8,224. The table applies to all provinces except Quebec.

Size of family unit	Minimum necessary income
1	$30,526
2	$38,002
3	$46,720
4	$56,724
5	$64,336
6	$72,560
7	$80,784

Source: Sponsor your parents and grandparents: Income requirements for the sponsor - Canada.ca; Guide 5772 – Application to Sponsor Parents and Grandparents - Canada.ca; How much income do I need to sponsor my parents and grandparents? - IRCC Help Centre; Sponsor your parents and grandparents - Canada.ca (program status); Guide 5196: Sponsorship of adopted children and other relatives - Canada.ca; Financial Evaluation Form (IMM 1283) - Canada.ca; Ministerial Instructions 89 (MI89): Parents and Grandparents - Canada.ca; Super visa: Proof of financial support - Canada.ca. In effect from January 1, 2025; checked October 11, 2026.

The minimum necessary income does not apply to a child adopted or to be adopted in Canada when that child has no children of their own.

How much does family sponsorship cost?

IRCC’s fees follow the age and role of each person on the application, not the program. A sponsored adult costs $1,260 with the right of permanent residence fee (RPRF) included, and a child costs $180.

Family sponsorship fees paid to IRCC

How to read this table: The first amount includes the right of permanent residence fee; the second is what is due at filing if that fee is paid later. Biometrics, medical exams, police certificates and Quebec's own undertaking fee are extra.

Application	Total with RPRF	Due at filing without RPRF	What to know
Sponsor a spouse or partner	$1,260	$660	Sponsorship fee, processing fee and right of permanent residence fee (RPRF)
Include any dependent child with a spouse or partner	$180	$180	Per child; no RPRF for dependent children
Independently sponsor a dependent child	$180	$180	Per child; also the fee for an adopted child or an orphaned relative
Sponsor a parent or grandparent	$1,260	$660	Program paused; fee applies to invited sponsors
Include the spouse or partner of a parent or grandparent	$1,260	$660	Processing fee plus RPRF
Include a dependent child of a parent or grandparent	$180	$180	Per child
Sponsor a relative 22 or older	$1,260	$660	Sponsorship fee, processing fee and RPRF
Sponsor a relative under 22 who is not the sponsor's dependent child	$780	$180	The RPRF still applies to this relative
Include the spouse or partner of a relative	$1,260	$660	Processing fee plus RPRF

The $1,260 is made up of a $90 sponsorship fee, a $570 processing fee and the $600 RPRF. The RPRF can be paid later, which drops the amount due at filing to $660, but it has to be paid before permanent residence is granted. Biometrics cost $85 per person, or $170 for a family applying at the same time, and IRCC asks for that fee to be paid with the application to avoid delays.

Hypothetical totals, including biometrics:

Family being sponsored	IRCC fees	Biometrics	Total paid to IRCC
A spouse applying alone	$1,260	$85	$1,345
A spouse and 2 dependent children	$1,620	$170	$1,790
One orphaned nephew aged 15	$180	$85	$265
An aunt and her spouse as the other relative	$2,520	$170	$2,690

Costs outside IRCC add up as well: the immigration medical exam, police certificates, certified translations and photos. The IRCC fee list for permanent residence, sponsorship and permits sets these fees beside other programs, and the family sponsorship fee estimator adds up a specific family.

How long does family sponsorship take?

IRCC publishes forward-looking estimates and updates them monthly. They run from the day IRCC receives a complete application to the final permanent residence decision. The spouse and partner figures below are from the data last updated September 3, 2026.

Spousal sponsorship processing time estimates (IRCC, updated September 3, 2026)

How to read this table: Estimates for an application submitted now. Quebec files take longer because the Government of Quebec also has to process them.

Application	Family will live	Estimated time	Queue
Partner living outside Canada (Family Class)	Outside Quebec	About 18 months	About 62,600 people waiting
Partner living inside Canada (in-Canada class)	Outside Quebec	About 26 months	About 54,700 people waiting
Partner living outside Canada (Family Class)	Quebec	About 33 months	About 19,200 people waiting
Partner living inside Canada (in-Canada class)	Quebec	About 32 months	About 14,200 people waiting

Source: IRCC forward-looking processing times data (permanent residence) - Canada.ca; IRCC forward-looking processing times data (people waiting) - Canada.ca; IRCC forward-looking processing times data (last update) - Canada.ca; Check processing times - Canada.ca (how the estimate is calculated); Check processing times - Canada.ca (application types); Check processing times - Canada.ca (Quebec split). In effect from September 3, 2026; checked September 30, 2026.

For the other family programs IRCC posts either a figure or a country-by-country lookup:

How IRCC posts processing times for each family sponsorship type

How to read this table: Parents and grandparents figures are for existing applications in a paused program, from the same September 3, 2026 data. Where a row has no figure, IRCC's Check processing times tool gives an estimate after the country is selected.

Application	Posted estimate	Queue
Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner	Posted monthly by IRCC, split by where the partner lives and by Quebec	See the spousal table
Parents or grandparents, living outside Quebec	About 28 months	About 37,500 people waiting
Parents or grandparents, living in Quebec	About 63 months	About 10,300 people waiting
Dependent child	Depends on the country where the child lives	Not posted as one figure
Adopted child or other relative	Varies by country	Not posted as one figure

IRCC says processing time depends on the type of application, whether it is complete, how quickly it expects to process applications already received, how easily information can be verified and how long the applicant takes to answer requests. It also warns that times can be affected when more people apply than Canada admits in a year. None of these figures is a promise for a single file.

How do you apply for family sponsorship?

The steps are the same in outline for every open program:

Confirm the route. Match the relative to a row in the “who can be sponsored” table, and the sponsor to the requirements table. A relative who fits no row cannot be sponsored.
Check the income rule. Most spouse, partner and child files have none. Relatives files need the low income cut-off for the full family size.
Get the right package. Spouses, partners and dependent children use the spouse, partner or child package and guide IMM 5289. Adopted children and other relatives use guide IMM 5196 and the sponsor’s document checklist, plus the instructions for the visa office that serves the relative’s country.
Complete the sponsor forms. The sponsor fills in and digitally signs the application to sponsor, and the person being sponsored signs it too. A sponsor may sign on behalf of a relative under 18.
Complete the applicant forms online. The sponsored person, or a guardian for a minor, fills in the digital forms in the Permanent Residence Portal and uploads the sponsor’s forms and supporting documents.
Pay the fees online and upload the receipt.
Submit both applications together. IRCC requires the sponsorship application and the permanent residence application to be sent at the same time.
Give biometrics. People aged 14 to 79 may need to give fingerprints and a photo, within 30 days of the date on IRCC’s letter.

Main forms in a family sponsorship application

How to read this table: The application package for each program lists the exact forms and the checklist for the relative's country. Spousal files have additional relationship forms, covered in the spousal sponsorship guide.

Form	Name	Used for
IMM 1344	Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking	Every family sponsorship; signed by the sponsor and the person sponsored
IMM 1283	Financial Evaluation	Sponsors who must meet the minimum necessary income (relatives, and spouse or child cases with a grandchild)
IMM 5768	Financial Evaluation for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship	Parents and grandparents: consent for IRCC to get tax information from the Canada Revenue Agency
IMM 5287	Document Checklist - Sponsor	Adopted children and other relatives
IMM 0133	Medical Condition Statement	Adopted children and orphaned relatives
IMM 0008	Generic Application Form for Canada	The sponsored person, filled in online
IMM 5669	Schedule A - Background/Declaration	The sponsored person, filled in online
IMM 5406	Additional Family Information	The sponsored person, filled in online

A representative is optional. An immigration consultant or lawyer can give advice and prepare forms for a fee, but IRCC says a representative cannot open the portal account for the applicant, sign in with the applicant’s password or electronically sign the application.

Quebec selects its own family class immigrants in step with IRCC. A sponsor living in Quebec has to meet Quebec’s sponsorship requirements, sign an undertaking with the Government of Quebec and pay Quebec’s own processing fee, in addition to the federal application. The order matters: IRCC tells sponsors not to send the undertaking application to Quebec until IRCC says so, because Quebec will not process an application that arrives early.

Three things change for Quebec residents. Quebec, not IRCC, assesses whether the sponsor has the financial capacity to sponsor. Quebec sets the undertaking period; the one figure IRCC publishes is 10 years for parents and grandparents. And processing is slower, which shows in the separate Quebec rows of both processing tables above. Several of the sponsor bars on IRCC’s lists, such as undischarged bankruptcy or unpaid family support, are marked as not applying in Quebec because Quebec applies its own rules.

What can go wrong, and what is the official route to fix it?

Incomplete application. IRCC returns or rejects applications with missing forms, signatures or fees. The fix is to correct and resubmit; the processing clock only starts with a complete file.
A request from IRCC goes unanswered. Requests for documents, biometrics or a medical exam carry deadlines. The route for questions and updates is IRCC’s online web form and the application status tracker.
Technical problems in the portal. IRCC asks applicants to use the web form, describe the problem and attach screenshots of the page and the error message.
The sponsor is found ineligible. IRCC explains the reason in writing. A sponsor who is in default of an earlier undertaking is refused and does not get the sponsorship fee back.
Circumstances change before landing. A sponsor can ask to withdraw only before the sponsored people become permanent residents; after that the undertaking runs its full length.
The applicant cannot apply online. Braille, large print and paper packages are available on request for people who need accommodations, including for a disability.

What changes next for family sponsorship?

Three things are worth watching. IRCC’s processing estimates are refreshed monthly, so the figures on this page are replaced each time a new update is posted. The parents and grandparents program stays paused until IRCC issues new instructions, and a new income table would be published with any future intake. The federal income table based on the low income cut-off is published yearly; the 2025 table was still the one on IRCC’s pages when this guide was checked. Fees are set on IRCC’s fee list, which is the final word on the amount due on the day an application is submitted.

What are the most common family sponsorship mistakes?

Assuming any relative can be sponsored. The list is fixed. Adult siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles qualify only under the narrow relatives rules.
Reading “orphaned” loosely. A child with one living parent, or whose parents are missing, abandoned them or are detained, does not qualify.
Using the other relative rule with family in Canada. One relative with citizenship, permanent residence or registered Indian status rules it out.
Leaving a family member off the application. Undeclared family members are not eligible for sponsorship later, and the public policy that allowed it has ended.
Underestimating the undertaking. It runs 3 to 20 years and survives separation, a move or a job loss.
Counting family size too small. People under an earlier undertaking, and the sponsored person’s family members who are not coming to Canada, all count.
Sponsoring from abroad as a permanent resident. A permanent resident living outside Canada cannot sponsor.
Waiting for the parents and grandparents program without a plan. While it is paused, the super visa is the route IRCC points to.
Sending the Quebec undertaking early. Quebec will not process it before IRCC’s confirmation.

What should a sponsored family set up after arriving?

Permanent residence starts the practical work. A new permanent resident needs a Social Insurance Number to work and file taxes, and the SIN application steps cover the documents. Provincial health coverage follows; the OHIP health card guide explains the Ontario process. A bank account comes next, and the bank accounts for newcomers comparison covers no-fee options. Filing a first return is what unlocks benefits and credits, and the Canadian tax guide for newcomers walks through it.

Longer term, the PR card renewal guide covers keeping status documents current, and the Canadian citizenship application guide covers the physical presence rule and the fee. Citizenship does not end the sponsor’s undertaking.

Family sponsorship guides on YieldMaple

Each program on this page has its own detailed guide:

Partners: spousal sponsorship in Canada for requirements, the checklist and the two classes, and the spousal open work permit for working during processing.
Parents and grandparents: the parents and grandparents sponsorship guide, the super visa income requirement and super visa insurance compared.
Costs: IRCC fees for permanent residence and sponsorship and the family sponsorship fee estimator.
After landing: SIN application steps, PR card renewal and the citizenship application.

All immigration pages are listed on the immigration hub.

Frequently asked questions

Who can be sponsored to come to Canada as family?

IRCC's family sponsorship programs cover a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, a dependent child, an adopted child, and the sponsor's own parents and grandparents. Other relatives qualify only in very specific situations: an orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild who is under 18 and single, or 1 relative of any age when the sponsor has no closer living relative to sponsor and no relative who is a citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian. Everyone sponsored must also be admissible to Canada.

Can you sponsor a sibling to Canada?

Only in narrow cases. IRCC says that in very specific situations a sponsor may be able to sponsor certain relatives. A brother or sister qualifies as an orphaned relative when under 18, single and with both parents deceased. A sibling can also be the sponsor's 1 other relative when the sponsor has no spouse, partner, child, parent or grandparent to sponsor and no relative in Canada with status. A sibling who is a dependent child can be included on a parent's application. Other adult siblings have to immigrate on their own.

How does common-law sponsorship work in Canada?

A common-law partner is someone who is not legally married to the sponsor, is at least 18 and has lived with the sponsor for at least 12 consecutive months in a conjugal relationship, with only short and temporary time apart. The sponsor applies under the spouse, partner or child program, there is usually no income requirement, and the undertaking lasts 3 years from the day the partner becomes a permanent resident. IRCC treats the relationship as over if either partner chooses to end it.

Can you sponsor your parents to Canada in 2026?

Not as a new applicant. IRCC lists the parents and grandparents program as paused: it is not accepting new interest to sponsor forms or inviting potential sponsors to apply until further notice, though it keeps processing existing applications. The option IRCC points to is the super visa, which lets a parent or grandparent stay for 5 years at a time, with extensions of up to 2 years while still in Canada. A super visa is a visit, not permanent residence.

How much income is needed to sponsor a family member?

It depends on the relationship. In most cases there is no income requirement to sponsor a spouse, partner or dependent child. Sponsors of parents and grandparents must meet the minimum necessary income for each of the 3 tax years before applying: for the 2025 intake that was $47,549 for a family of 2 for 2024. Sponsors of orphaned or other relatives must meet the low income cut-off table, which starts at $38,002 for 2 people. Quebec applies its own income rules.

How long is a sponsor financially responsible for a sponsored relative?

The undertaking period starts the day the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident. Outside Quebec it is 3 years for a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, 3 years for a dependent child 22 or older, 10 years or until age 25 (whichever comes first) for a dependent child under 22, 10 years for any other relative and 20 years for parents and grandparents. In Quebec the parents and grandparents period is 10 years, and Quebec sets the other periods.

How much does family sponsorship cost in Canada?

IRCC's fee to sponsor a spouse, partner, parent, grandparent or a relative 22 or older is $1,260, which includes the sponsorship fee, the processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee, or $660 if that last fee is paid later. A dependent child, adopted child or orphaned relative costs $180. Biometrics add $85 per person or $170 for a family applying together. Medical exams, police certificates and translations are paid to the providers, and Quebec charges its own undertaking fee.

What is the age limit for dependent child sponsorship in Canada?

A child qualifies as a dependant when under 22 and without a spouse or common-law partner. A child who is 22 or older still qualifies when unable to be financially self-supporting because of a mental or physical condition and dependent on the parents since before age 22. The child must be the biological or adopted child of the sponsor or of the sponsor's spouse or partner, and, apart from age, must keep meeting the definition until IRCC finishes processing.

How long does family sponsorship take?

IRCC posts estimates that it updates monthly. In the data last updated September 3, 2026, a new spousal application outside Quebec was about 18 months for a partner living outside Canada and about 26 months for a partner living in Canada. Parents and grandparents files were about 28 months outside Quebec and about 63 months in Quebec. For a dependent child, an adopted child or another relative, IRCC's tool gives an estimate by country.

Can a permanent resident sponsor family members?

Yes, a permanent resident of Canada can sponsor under every family program, as long as the permanent resident lives in Canada. IRCC states that a permanent resident living outside Canada cannot sponsor a spouse, partner or child. A Canadian citizen living abroad can sponsor a spouse, partner or child by showing a plan to live in Canada when the sponsored people become permanent residents. For parents, grandparents and other relatives, the sponsor's primary residential address must be in Canada until IRCC decides.

Can a sponsorship undertaking be cancelled?

Not after the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident. IRCC says there is then no way to cancel or shorten the undertaking period, even if the sponsored people become citizens, the relationship changes, someone moves to another province or country, or the sponsor has financial problems. A sponsor can only ask to withdraw before the people being sponsored become permanent residents. Social assistance paid to them during the period has to be repaid by the sponsor.

Can you sponsor a niece, nephew, cousin, aunt or uncle?

An orphaned nephew or niece can be sponsored when related by blood or adoption, under 18, single and with both parents deceased. A cousin, aunt or uncle can only be the sponsor's 1 other relative: IRCC allows that when the sponsor has no living spouse, partner, child, parent, grandparent or orphaned relative to sponsor instead, and no relative who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian. A relative by marriage only, such as an uncle's spouse, does not qualify.

Rules, rates and sources

Last verified: September 30, 2026
Next scheduled check: October 30, 2026

Rule or table	In effect from	Verified
Family sponsorship in Canada: who can sponsor, who can be sponsored, undertaking lengths, fees and posted processing times (IRCC)	September 10, 2026	October 11, 2026
Spousal sponsorship rules, undertaking and fees (IRCC)	April 30, 2026	September 30, 2026
Spousal sponsorship processing times posted by IRCC (estimated, for new applications)	September 3, 2026	September 30, 2026
Minimum necessary income to sponsor parents and grandparents (and LICO)	January 1, 2025	October 11, 2026
IRCC application fees	April 30, 2026	October 8, 2026
Super visa for parents and grandparents: host minimum income, proof, insurance, fees and length of stay	July 29, 2025	October 8, 2026
OAS, GIS and Allowance eligibility, how to apply, and payments while living outside Canada	October 1, 2025	September 30, 2026

Official sources

Sponsor your family members to immigrate to Canada - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Sponsor your spouse, partner or child: Check if you're eligible - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Sponsor your spouse, partner or child: Who you can sponsor - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Sponsor your spouse, partner or child: What it means to be a sponsor - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Sponsor your parents and grandparents - Canada.ca (program status) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Sponsor your parents and grandparents: What it means to be a sponsor - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Sponsor your parents and grandparents: Check if you're eligible - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Sponsor your parents and grandparents: Who you can sponsor - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Sponsor your parents and grandparents: Income requirements for the sponsor - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Sponsor your relatives: Who you can sponsor - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Sponsor your relatives: Check if you're eligible - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Sponsor your relatives - Canada.ca (status and processing time) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Sponsor your relatives: How to apply - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Guide 5196: Sponsorship of adopted children and other relatives - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Guide 5772 - Application to Sponsor Parents and Grandparents - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Fee list - Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (family sponsorship) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
IRCC forward-looking processing times data (parents and grandparents) - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Check processing times - Canada.ca (family sponsorship application types) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Sponsor your spouse, partner or child: How to apply - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Sponsor your spouse, partner or child: After you apply - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Guide 5289 - Sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child: Complete Guide - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Document Checklist: Spouse (Including Dependent Children) [IMM 5533] - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Citizenship and immigration application fees: Fee changes - IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Document Checklist: Common-Law Partner (Including Dependent Children) [IMM 5589] - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
How much income do I need to sponsor my parents and grandparents? - IRCC Help Centre — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Financial Evaluation Form (IMM 1283) - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Ministerial Instructions 89 (MI89): Parents and Grandparents - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Super visa: Proof of financial support - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Super visa for parents and grandparents: Who can apply - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Super visa for parents and grandparents: Forms and documents - Canada.ca (health insurance) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Super visa for parents and grandparents: Submit your application - Canada.ca (fees) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Super visa for parents and grandparents: How long you can stay in Canada - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Super visa for parents and grandparents - Canada.ca (overview) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Super visa for parents and grandparents: After you apply - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Old Age Security — Do you qualify (Canada.ca) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Guaranteed Income Supplement — Do you qualify (Canada.ca) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Allowance — conversion to the Allowance for the Survivor (Canada.ca) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Old Age Security pension recovery tax — non-resident tax cap (Canada.ca) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Allowance for the Survivor — overview and when to apply (Canada.ca) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Old Age Security — Apply, delay, or change your start date (automatic enrolment) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Guaranteed Income Supplement — Apply (GIS-only form) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Old Age Security — After you apply (processing times and reconsideration) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Old Age Security — When to start your retirement pension (retroactive payments) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (first payment and cancelling) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Guaranteed Income Supplement — Receiving your benefit (missing July payment) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Pensions and benefits if you have lived or are living outside Canada — social security agreements (Canada.ca) — Employment and Social Development Canada

How we check figures: our methodology and editorial policy.

General information for education, not financial, tax, legal or immigration advice. Rules change — confirm anything you act on with the official source or a licensed professional (for immigration, a lawyer or a licensed consultant registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants).

Who can be sponsored through family sponsorship in Canada, and what does the sponsor commit to?

What is family sponsorship in Canada?

Who can sponsor a family member?

Who can be sponsored through family sponsorship?

How does spouse, common-law and conjugal partner sponsorship work?

What counts as a dependent child for sponsorship?

Can you sponsor your parents and grandparents?

Can you sponsor a sibling to Canada?

The orphaned relative rule

The “other relative” rule

How long does the sponsorship undertaking last?

How much income does a sponsor need?

Parents and grandparents: the minimum necessary income

Other relatives and grandchild cases: the low income cut-off table

How much does family sponsorship cost?

How long does family sponsorship take?

How do you apply for family sponsorship?

What if the sponsor lives in Quebec?

What can go wrong, and what is the official route to fix it?

What changes next for family sponsorship?

What are the most common family sponsorship mistakes?

What should a sponsored family set up after arriving?

Family sponsorship guides on YieldMaple

Frequently asked questions

Rules, rates and sources