Family Sponsorship - Parents and Grandparents
Embassy required
- Processing time
- Approximately 24 months
- Fee
- CAD $1,205 (sponsor fee) + $575 (RPRF) + $85 (biometrics) = CAD $1,865 per parent
- Validity
- Permanent residence
- Entry
- Single entry
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor parents and grandparents for permanent residence. Limited intake: 10,000 complete applications accepted for 2025. Sponsor must meet minimum necessary income (MNI) for 3 consecutive tax years. Sponsor undertaking lasts 20 years. Co-signer (spouse/partner) income can be combined. Interest-to-sponsor process opens periodically.
Eligibility
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Nationality
Sponsor must be Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, living in Canada. Must meet Minimum Necessary Income for 3 consecutive tax years.
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Financial
Sponsor must meet Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) threshold for 3 consecutive tax years (2022, 2023, 2024 for 2025 intake). Income includes employment income, self-employment, EI, pensions, but excludes social assistance and provincial child benefits.
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Health
Sponsored person must pass immigration medical examination.
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Criminal record
Sponsored person must be admissible to Canada.
Documents you need
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Passport
Blank pages required: 1; Validity months: 0
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Police clearance
Countries required: All countries where sponsored person lived 6+ months since age 18; Validity months: 12
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Biometrics appointment
Booking url: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/campaigns/biometrics/where-to-give-biometrics.html; Location: Visa Application Centre
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Birth certificate
Must be notarized: Yes; Must be translated: Yes
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Sponsor financial
Minimum income: Varies by family size: 1 person $30,526; 2 persons $38,002; 3 persons $46,720; 4 persons $56,724; 5 persons $64,336; 6 persons $72,560; 7 persons $80,784; Required documents: Notice of Assessment (NOA) from CRA for 3 consecutive tax years, T4 slips, employment letters
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Health exam
Panel physician required: Yes; Validity months: 12
How to apply
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Online application
Submit interest to sponsor through IRCC portal during open intake period. If selected, receive Invitation to Apply.
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Document gathering
After invitation, gather sponsor's tax documents (3 years), proof of relationship (birth certificates), sponsored person's police certificates, and medical exam results.
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Document submission
Submit complete sponsorship and permanent residence application within specified deadline.
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Fee payment
Pay CAD $1,205 sponsorship fee plus CAD $575 RPRF per sponsored adult.
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Biometrics
Sponsored person provides biometrics.
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Processing wait
Processing takes approximately 24 months for applications destined outside Quebec.