Canada’s family‑sponsorship program lets Canadian citizens and permanent residents bring certain relatives to live with them as permanent residents. The program is not a single stream, but rather a group of pathways with different rules for spouses, partners and dependent children, parents and grandparents, and other relatives. This guide summarizes the latest requirements and answers common questions potential sponsors ask.
Important update for 2026: Family Sponsorship Program Status
As of 2026, Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is not accepting new applications. The most recent intake occurred in 2025, when Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada invited potential sponsors from the existing Interest-to-Sponsor pool submitted in 2020. That intake is now closed, and IRCC has not announced when the next PGP intake will open or what eligibility criteria will apply.
At this time, sponsors cannot submit new Interest-to-Sponsor forms or parent/grandparent sponsorship applications until IRCC issues further instructions. Applications submitted during previous intakes continue to be processed.
The Super Visa remains available in 2026 and continues to be the primary option for parents and grandparents seeking extended stays in Canada while the PGP intake is paused.
Consult with us to see if your parent or grandparent may have other avenues to come to Canada or remain in Canada.
Who can sponsor a family member?
To sponsor any relative, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada. Sponsors living outside Canada can only apply for spouses, partners or dependent children if they are citizens who will return to Canada when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.
- Sign an undertaking and sponsorship agreement. The undertaking commits you to financially support the sponsored person’s basic needs (food, clothing, shelter and health needs not covered by public insurance). The sponsorship agreement requires you and the sponsored relative to agree that they will try to support themselves once they become permanent residents. It is important to understand that this is a legally binding agreement with the government of Canada. It means that, for instance, you could be liable for any social assistance the sponsored individual receives, for the term of the undertaking. The length of the undertaking varies:
- 3 years for spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, and dependent children over 22;
- 10 years or until a child turns 25 for dependent children under 22, and
- 20 years for parents and grandparents.
- Meet income requirements where they apply. Spousal/partner sponsorship normally has no minimum income requirement (unless the sponsored person has dependent children of their own), but sponsoring parents, grandparents or other relatives requires proof of meeting the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the previous three tax years. You can combine your income with that of a spouse or common‑law partner who will co‑sign the undertaking.
- In addition, even where there is no minimum necessary income, the sponsored individual could be found to be financially inadmissible if an immigration officer believes that they lack the financial means to support themselves without relying on Canadian social assistance.
- In addition, you cannot sponsor anyone if you are receiving social assistance for any reason other than for a disability.
- Not be barred from sponsoring. You cannot sponsor if you failed to pay child or spousal support, defaulted on previous sponsorship undertakings, are in prison, declared bankruptcy and have not been discharged, or were convicted of certain crimes.
Which family member are you sponsoring?
Family sponsorship in Canada is not one‑size‑fits‑all. Different rules apply depending on whether you are sponsoring a spouse or partner, parents or grandparents, or more distant relatives. Click on the family member category below to jump to the section that applies to your situation:
Family member category
- Spouse, common‑law or conjugal partner and dependent children (link to corresponding section)
- Parents and grandparents
- Other relatives (orphaned siblings/nieces/nephews/grandchildren or one relative under the lonely Canadian rule)
Sponsoring Your Spouse, Common‑Law or Conjugal Partner and Dependent Children
Canada strongly supports spousal and partner reunification and processes these applications as a priority. Here is what potential sponsors need to know:
Who counts as a spouse, partner or child?
| Relationship | Key definition/requirements |
| Spouse | You are legally married and both at least 18 years old. The marriage must be legally valid and genuine. |
| Common‑law partner | You are not married but have lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months (with proof like joint leases). Time apart must have been short and temporary. |
| Conjugal partner | You have been in a committed relationship for at least one year but could not live together or marry due to barriers like immigration rules, religion or sexual orientation. It is not recommended to apply under this category unless it is impossible for you to meet the spouse or common-law partner definitions. |
| Dependent child | Your biological or adopted child who is under 22 and not married/partnered, or 22 or older and has depended on their parents for financial support since before 22 due to a disability. |
Sponsor responsibilities and duration of support
- Undertaking period – You must support your spouse or partner for three years; dependent children aged under 22 for ten years or until they turn 25 (whichever comes first); dependent children aged 22 or older for three years.
- Financial support – During the undertaking, sponsors must provide basic needs and ensure the sponsored person does not need social assistance. Your responsibility continues even if your relationship ends.
Sponsoring Parents And Grandparents – Most Recent Intake (2025) and Current Status (2026)Current program status (2026)
As of 2026, the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is not open to new applications. IRCC has not announced a new intake, and no new Interest-to-Sponsor (ITS) submissions or sponsorship applications are currently being accepted.
The most recent PGP intake took place in 2025, when IRCC invited potential sponsors from the pool of individuals who had submitted an Interest-to-Sponsor form in 2020. That intake is now closed. Individuals who did not receive an invitation in 2025 must wait for IRCC to announce a future intake before they can apply.
Program details from the 2025 intake
- Invitation‑only process. For the 2025 intake, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will invite 17,860 potential sponsors from the pool of people who submitted an Interest‑to‑Sponsor (ITS) form in 2020. The goal is to accept 10,000 complete applications.
- Invitations began on July 28 2025. If you submitted an ITS in 2020, watch your email (and spam folder) for an invitation. You cannot apply without an invitation.
- Alternative for those without an invitation. Parents or grandparents can apply for a super visa, which allows multiple entries over up to 10 years with stays of five years at a time and the option to extend for up to two more years.
Sponsor eligibility and income requirements (2025 intake)
| Requirement | Details |
| Age and status | Sponsors must be at least 18 years old, live in Canada, and be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. |
| Invitation | Only those invited to apply may submit a PGP sponsorship in 2025. |
| Income threshold (MNI) | Sponsors must prove they met the Minimum Necessary Income for their family size for the previous three tax years (2024, 2023, 2022). IRCC uses the Low‑Income Cut‑Off (LICO) plus 30 %. For example, the 2025 MNI table shows that a sponsor with a family size of 4 (including themselves and sponsored individuals) must have at least $70,972 in annual income; for 5 people, $80,496; and for each extra person, add $10,291. |
| Undertaking | Sponsors must sign a 20‑year undertaking (10 years in Quebec) committing to support the parent or grandparent financially and repay any social assistance they receive. |
Who you can sponsor
- Parents or grandparents (biological or adopted), including the spouse/partner of your parent/grandparent.
- Dependent children of your parent/grandparent (siblings, half‑siblings or step‑siblings under 22 who are unmarried). Dependents over 22 with a disability may also qualify.
- You cannot sponsor your spouse’s parents (your in‑laws) unless your spouse submits their own invitation, nor can you sponsor someone who is inadmissible on criminal or health grounds.
If you are not invited to sponsor your parents or grandparents, the super visa offers a long‑term visitor option:
- Longer stays and multiple entries. It allows stays of five years per entry (extensions up to two years) and multiple entries over up to 10 years.
- Sponsor requirements. The child or grandchild in Canada must provide a written invitation, meet MNI based on family size, show proof of having purchased private medical insurance for at least $100,000 coverage valid for one year, and prove their Canadian citizenship or permanent residency. For super visas, the child or grandchild in Canada must only meet the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) is lower than the MNI needed for sponsoring a parent or grandparent. For instance, a host child with a family size of 4 must have at least $56,724 in income (as of July 2025).
- Application process. Parents/grandparents apply from outside Canada, provide biometrics and medical exams, and show they will leave Canada at the end of their visit. IRCC considers ties to the home country and financial support.
Sponsoring other relatives
Canadian immigration law allows the sponsorship of relatives other than immediate family only in limited circumstances:
Orphaned siblings, nieces/nephews or grandchildren
You can sponsor a brother, sister, niece, nephew or grandchild if they meet all of the following conditions:
- They are orphaned, under 18 years old and unmarried.
- They are related to you by blood or adoption.
- No parent is alive; you cannot sponsor them if a parent’s whereabouts are unknown, if they were abandoned but a parent is alive, or if someone else is taking care of them.
The “Lonely Canadian” exception
If you have no living spouse/partner, no children, no parents or grandparents, no aunts or uncles who are Canadian and no orphaned siblings/nieces/nephews/grandchildren you could sponsor, and you have no other relatives in Canada (aunts, uncles) who are citizens or permanent residents, you may sponsor one relative of any age. This rule is designed for Canadians without immediate family members.
Sponsor requirements and income
- The sponsor must meet the general eligibility criteria (age, status, residence in Canada and no disqualifying issues) and sign an undertaking.
- Undertaking period: 10 years for a relative under 22; 3 years for a relative 22 or older.
- Minimum income: The MNI for sponsoring other relatives is the same as the super visa (LICO). Quebec has its own thresholds and may require a psychosocial assessment when sponsoring an orphaned minor.
- Application process: Sponsors file a sponsorship application and the relative submits a permanent residence application. IRCC will request biometrics and medical exams.
Tips for a strong sponsorship application
- Ensure you are eligible. Review the criteria carefully and verify you meet age, status and income requirements for your category.
- Gather clear documentation. Provide proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificates, photos), identity documents, police certificates and financial evidence.
- Pay the correct fees. Applications are returned if fees are missing or insufficient.
- Submit biometrics and medical exams promptly. IRCC often requires these within 30 days of the request .
- Seek professional help if needed. Immigration lawyers and regulated consultants can help avoid mistakes, especially in complex cases or if you have prior refusals.
- Consider timing. Processing times vary depending on application type and volume. Use IRCC’s online tool to check current timelines.
Contact us to help you navigate Canada’s Immigration Process
Family sponsorship remains a core component of Canada’s immigration system. While 2025 brings changes such as invitation‑only parent‑and‑grandparent sponsorships and extended super visa stays, Canada continues to prioritize family reunification.
Bringing your family to Canada shouldn’t feel out of reach. Whether you’re sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, dependent child, or other relative, navigating the immigration process can be overwhelming. At Clivio Law, we make it manageable.
Our experienced immigration lawyers are here to guide you every step of the way—with clear, compassionate legal advice tailored to your situation.
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