Family Class Sponsorship

Only a Canadian Citizen or a Canadian permanent resident can apply to sponsor a family member.

1. Spouse, common-law spouse, conjugal partner;
2. Dependent children;
3. Parents;
4. Grandparents;
5. Brothers/sisters,nephews/nieces, grandsons/granddaughters, who are orphaned, under 18 years of age and NOT married or in a common-law relationship;
6. Another relative of any age or relationship, provided that none of the relatives mentioned above could be sponsored, and the sponsor does not have any other relatives who are Canadian citizens or permanent resident.

In order for a Canadian citizen or Canadian permanent resident to sponsor family members, he or she must meet income requirements. 

There are also some bars to sponsorship. These include potential sponsors whom are on governmental financial assistance (other than for medical/disability reasons), sponsors whom have declared bankruptcy and have not yet been released, sponsors whom failed to provide financial support in a previous sponsorship agreement and sponsors whom are convicted of certain crimes, in particular violent crimes, crimes against the person or any sexual offence against a family member.