Family Reunification
Spouse, Dependent Children, Parents/Grandparents Sponsorship
Bringing Your Loved Ones to Canada
Others Services
Canada’s Family Reunification program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor eligible relatives—such as spouses or common-law partners, dependent children, parents and grandparents—to immigrate and settle in Canada as permanent residents.
A sponsor must be at least 18 years old, and must sign a financial undertaking to support the relative for a prescribed period (for example, three years for spouses and up to twenty years for parents/grandparents), repaying any provincial social assistance given to the sponsored person during that period.
The program treats family reunification as one of the three pillars of Canada’s immigration system and aims to deliver on the objective “to see that families are reunited in Canada.”
There are different streams: the largest is spousal/common-law partner sponsorship, followed by parents and grandparents, with smaller portions for dependent children and other eligible relatives. Due to demand exceeding available spaces, especially for the parents and grandparents stream, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses intake limits and a random selection of sponsors to invite applications. Wait-times for processing can vary significantly by category and destination (notably longer for Quebec-destined applicants under the Family Class).
As an alternative for parents and grandparents who cannot be sponsored immediately, the “Super Visa” offers multi‐entry temporary residence allowing stays of up to five years per entry and multiple entries over a ten-year validity period. The program contributes not only socially and culturally—by helping maintain family ties and cultural traditions—but also supports Canada’s economic and immigration objectives by enhancing integration and retention of newcomers.
For businesses or community organizations working with newcomers, understanding the Family Reunification program is critical to assist clients or employees who seek to bring family members to Canada under the Family Class sponsorship.