Which relatives can be sponsored to become permanent residents?

You may be able to sponsor a relative if you're:

• a Canadian citizen, or
• a permanent resident.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has a policy that allows people who are defined as Status Indians under the Indian Act to sponsor relatives and family members. This policy was created because it was left out of the law.

You must also be:

• 18 years of age or older, and
• living in Canada

There are many other rules about who can be a sponsor that apply regardless of who you want to sponsor. For example, there are rules about what sponsors have to do help their family member financially and who's eligible to be a sponsor.

Minimum necessary income

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has income guidelines that say what minimum necessary income a sponsor must have. These amounts usually go up each year.

You have to meet the income guidelines if you're sponsoring anyone other than a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child.

Temporary programs

Sometimes, the Government of Canada creates temporary immigration programs with special rules to help people in a specific place that's in crisis. For example, these could be special rules that let Canadians sponsor relatives from a certain country.

Check to see if any current programs apply to you.

Spouse, partner, or child

There's more information about when you can sponsor a family member, such as your spouse, partner, or a child, in:

• Can I sponsor my spouse or partner who’s living outside Canada?
• Can I sponsor my spouse or partner who’s living with me in Canada?
• Can I sponsor my child or my spouse or partner’s child to become a permanent resident?