The Family Class Sponsorship Program reunites families by enabling adult permanent residents or citizens to sponsor a relative for immigration to Canada. To be eligible, the person seeking sponsorship must be a:

• Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner
• Dependent child
• Parent
• Grandparent
• Sibling, nephew, niece, or grandchild under 18 years who is unmarried and whose parents are deceased

The person sponsored must live outside Canada, unless they are residing legally in Canada temporarily, for example with a work or study permit.

Individuals under these categories are eligible for sponsorship:

• Spouse: legally valid marriage in country of origin and under Canadian law
• Common-law partner: At least 1 year of uninterrupted cohabitation in a conjugal relationship
• Conjugal partner: Conjugal relationship for at least 12 months (permanence and commitment similar to marriage or common-law) where couple is prevented from living together due to immigration barriers, religious reasons, sexual orientation or marital status (e.g. married to someone else, where divorce is not possible in country of origin)
• Same-sex relationships: considered valid for immigration purposes under these categories

If you have questions or concerns relating to Sponsorship Visas please contact us and a member of our Team will be happy to discuss your options.