Canada - Family Visa
Canada - Family Visa
Canada encourages family reunification. The Family Visa programs that Canada offers range of programs and opportunities for Canadian citizens and permanent Canadian residents to sponsor their Spouse / Common Law or Conjugal Partner, Dependent children of their own or of their spouse, and their parents /grandparents for Permanent residence in Canada.
1. Spousal Visa:
A person who is a Permanent Resident of Canada can sponsor a person as his/ her spouse if that person is married to the Permanent Resident (and the marriage performed in a legal service). Your spouse must be 18 years of age at the time of sponsorship for Canadian Permanent Residence.
Eligibility
You must meet the following requirements in order to sponsor your Spouse or Dependent Children:
- You must be either a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
- The sponsor must be at least 18 years old.
- If you are a permanent resident, you must be living in Canada to sponsor your spouse.
- If you are a Canadian resident living outside of Canada, you can apply for Spousal Sponsorship; but, you must demonstrate your intention to live in Canada with your spouse in order to meet the conditions for sponsoring your spouse once your spouse obtains permanent status.
- You are also required to show your ability to satisfy basic necessities and manage basic expenses for yourself, your spouse, and any dependent children (if any).
2. Dependent Child Visa:
Canada promotes familial bonds. The Dependent Child visa allows children to be reunited with their Canadian parents. This visa permits Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor themselves or their partner’s dependent or adopted children who are 19 years old or younger. Dependent children can join their sponsoring parent(s) in Canada once they have been accepted. Dependent children are granted permanent residence and are permitted to live, study, and work in Canada.
Eligibility
You must meet the following requirements in order to sponsor your Spouse or Dependent Children:
- You must be either a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
- The sponsor must be at least 18 years old.
- If you are a permanent resident, you must be living in Canada to sponsor your spouse.
- If you are a Canadian resident living outside of Canada, you can apply for Spousal Sponsorship; but, you must demonstrate your intention to live in Canada with your spouse in order to meet the conditions for sponsoring your spouse once your spouse obtains permanent status.
- You are also required to show your ability to satisfy basic necessities and manage basic expenses for yourself, your spouse, and any dependent children (if any).
3. Parental & Grandparental Visa:
A Parental and Grandparental visa program allows parents and grandparents to be sponsored to live in Canada by their Canadian children and grandchildren. Sponsors must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The Canadian sponsor must be willing to reside in Canada with the applicant and support them financially without access to public subsidies. In addition to permanent residency, the applicant will be allowed to live, study, and work in Canada if their application is approved.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Family Class sponsorship, the sponsor must be a Canadian citizen and meet the following criteria:
- The sponsor must be either a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
- The sponsor must be at least 18 years old.
- The sponsor must sign an undertaking to return any provincial social assistance benefits paid to the sponsor and accompanying family member(s), if any, for a period of 20 years, if necessary; and an extra "undertaking" must be made if the sponsor resides in Quebec.
- The sponsor's salary must be greater than the minimum required for this program (if married or in a common-law relationship, both incomes can be included).
