Family class sponsorship application forms and guides

When does a family class application exist?

For all family class categories, except parents and grandparents, the following forms must be completed by the sponsor and/or family class members being sponsored and submitted directly to the CPC:

• Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344)
• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008GEN)
• Additional Dependants/Declaration (IMM 0008DEP), if applicable
• Sponsorship Evaluation (IMM 5481)
• Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union (IMM 5409), if applicable
• Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation (IMM 5532), if applicable
• Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
• Police certificates for persons 18 or older
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406), if applicable
• Use of a Representative (IMM 5476), if applicable
• Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475), if applicable
• Proof of payment of fees

For parents and grandparents, the following forms must be completed by the sponsor and/or family class members being sponsored and submitted directly to the CPC:

• Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344)
• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008GEN)
• Additional Dependants/Declaration (IMM 0008DEP), if applicable
• Financial Evaluation for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship (IMM 5768)
• Income Sources for the Sponsorship of Parents and Grandparents (IMM 5516), if applicable
• Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union (IMM 5409), if applicable
• Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
• Police certificates for persons 18 or older
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
• Use of a Representative (IMM 5476), if applicable
• Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475), if applicable
• Proof of payment of fees

All forms must be properly completed and signed. If any of the required forms or supporting documents are missing, the CPC will return the application to the sponsor on the grounds that it is incomplete.

Roles and responsibilities of sponsors (all categories)

Sponsors are expected to read instructions and information provided in the application guide (see Family Class Application) specific to the principal applicant’s category of permanent residence, to ensure they submit a complete and fully documented application, including applicable fees. The sponsorship fee and processing fees for the principal applicant and any accompanying dependants must be included with the application fee. Principal applicants and dependants have the option of paying the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) upfront – if they do not, they will be required to pay it later as a condition of being granted permanent residence. Dependent children – whether they are the principal applicant or an accompanying dependant – are not required to pay the RPRF.

Suspension of processing

Processing of a sponsorship application may be suspended if any of the following applies to a sponsor or co-signer:

• is in the process of citizenship revocation proceedings [R136(1)(a)]
• is the subject of an A44(1) inadmissibility report [R136(1)(b)]
• has been charged with a serious criminal offence (i.e. punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 10 years) [R136(1)(c)]
• has filed an appeal of a negative decision made outside Canada on their residency obligation [R136(2)]

In such cases, an officer will assess sponsorship requirements only when the respective matter has been dealt with conclusively, i.e. there is no regulatory or administrative impediment to sponsorship. As income requirements may no longer be met because of the amount of time that has passed since submission of the undertaking, sponsors and co-signers will be required to submit updated information as required to allow IRCC to assess MNI based on the Low Income Cut-off Figures (LICO) in effect on the date the suspension is deemed to be lifted.

Reviewing sponsorship and applications for permanent residence

What to review for applications for the following:

• Spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, dependent children and parents and grandparents
• Adopted children or children to be adopted
• Other members of the family class

Spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, dependent children and parents and grandparents

The CPC reviews all sponsorship and application for permanent residence forms and supporting documents to confirm that the application is complete:

• sponsorship forms, including completed and signed Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344)
• application for permanent residence forms (IMM 008), completed and signed
• all required supporting documents and forms in accordance with the Document Checklist for the applicable family class category and sponsored family member
• correct sponsorship and permanent residence fees

Adopted children or children to be adopted

See OP 3: Adoptions (PDF, 472.4 KB) for additional details on adoptions, including:

• responsibilities of provincial and federal adoption authorities
• requirements for adoptions
• assessment by officers

This includes information that, in some instances, a Canadian citizen may apply for an adopted child to be processed for Canadian citizenship without the need for them to first become permanent residents.

The CPC can process a sponsorship application for a child who is adopted or a child to be adopted (including an as-yet unnamed child). For children to be adopted, parent(s) must initiate proceedings with the applicable P/T adoption authorities in advance of submitting the sponsorship application. For children who are not yet named, it is the sponsor’s responsibility to notify IRCC once the child has been identified and to provide the child’s full name and date of birth. The office processing the application will ensure the file is updated with the new information. More detailed instructions are available in application guide IMM 5196, Appendix A: Sponsoring an adopted child or a child you intend to adopt.

Changing the name of a child to be adopted on the sponsorship

In some cases, where a sponsor has named the child to be adopted, that child may no longer be available for adoption and authorities will identify a new child. Sponsors who did not identify a child on the original application must do so when a child is identified. In such cases, sponsors must contact IRCC and request that a name be changed or added on the IMM 1344. The CPC will reply to the sponsor, instructing them to submit additional forms or supporting documents as needed. No additional fees apply. If the application for permanent residence has been forwarded to a processing office, it is the responsibility of the CPC to provide that office with the new name.

Other members of the family class

The CPC reviews all sponsorship and application forms to confirm that all of the following are included and complete:

• sponsorship forms, including completed and signed Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344), completed and signed
• all required supporting documents in accordance with the applicable Document Checklist
• correct sponsorship and permanent residence fees

If the application does not include all of the forms and information specified in the Document Checklist, the CPC contacts the sponsor or applicant to request that they submit the missing documents.

Applications for Permanent Residence from spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners and dependent children

To be complete, applications must include completed and signed forms and all supporting documents, in accordance with the Document Checklist and instructions in the application guide in effect at the time the application is received by IRCC. This includes any country-specific forms that are required based on the applicant’s country of residence. Applicants can use an online country-specific requirements tool that allows them to select a country and identify any additional forms or documents they need to submit as part of their application, with instructions on how to obtain them.

In addition, to be complete, the application must contain proof of payment of correct fees.

If any of the above information is missing, the application must be returned as incomplete and no processing fees will be processed.

Applications for permanent residence from parents and grandparents

To be complete, applications must include completed and signed forms and all supporting documents, in accordance with the Document Checklist and instructions in the application guide in effect at the time the application is received by IRCC.

In addition, to be complete, the application must contain proof of payment of correct fees.

If any of the above information is missing, the application must be returned as incomplete and no processing fees will be processed.

New family members added during processing

The sponsor or applicant is expected to advise IRCC of changes in family circumstances by web form. New family members may include:

• newborns
• family members previously ineligible who become eligible due to regulatory amendment
• a previously single family member’s spouse or common-law partner
• previously non-accompanying family members who become accompanying

Depending on the stage of processing and application category, this information will be assessed by the CPC or the office processing the application for permanent residence to determine whether MNI is still met. If it is, processing will proceed as usual. If not, it is the CPC’s responsibility to reassess the sponsor’s financial circumstances and update GCMS to indicate the maximum number of persons for whom MNI is met.

The CPC will instruct the sponsor to complete and submit any necessary forms or supporting documents (including proof of income), and pay the fee for the additional family member. The CPC will reassess financial circumstances based on the 12-month period that precedes the day the officer receives the information. No reassessment is required where the sponsor is exempt from having to meet it or where IRCC is satisfied that the addition of a family member will not prevent the sponsor from meeting MNI, which may be confirmed by information from the initial assessment of the maximum number of family members the sponsor’s income could support. In cases where a sponsor or applicant notifies IRCC of a death or divorce of a family member, where a sponsor was previously deemed unable to meet MNI, but may meet the requirements based on a smaller family size, the CPC should similarly reassess the sponsor’s financial circumstances.

Sponsors and co-signers cannot request IRCC to reassess their income after the application has been submitted. Income can only be reassessed during processing in one of the following circumstances:

• more than 12 months have elapsed since receipt of the sponsorship application [R134(2)(b)]
• the sponsor gets married after they submit a sponsorship application – IRCC must include the spouse in calculating the family size, and include the spouse’s income in their reassessment
• new information is received or brought to an officer’s attention that indicates that the sponsor may no longer meet MNI requirements [R134(2)(a)], such as:
  • MNI was met with the assistance of a co-signer and information is received indicating that the co-signer is no longer able or willing to provide financial assistance due to a relationship breakdown or because they lost their job
  • the sponsor submitted a sponsorship application and provided a Notice of Assessment (NOA) or Option C printout issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and it was later established that they were no longer employed.

For parent and grandparent applicants, where a sponsor’s or co-signer’s circumstances change, they will be expected to provide a more recent NOA or Option C printout if one was provided by CRA since the original submission of the application, and their income will be reassessed based on the three taxation years immediately preceding the date the sponsorship application was filed.

If the income available is less than the applicable MNI, a permanent resident visa may not be issued and/or permanent resident status may not be granted [R133(1)(j)]. The application for a permanent resident visa or for permanent resident status is refused under A11(2).

Humanitarian and compassionate requests with spousal applications

Applicants in the family class whose sponsor is ineligible may request H&C consideration to overcome the requirement to have an eligible sponsor.

Applicants who know or suspect that they may be inadmissible may include a request for H&C consideration.

See also Humanitarian and compassionate consideration.

How to submit a Super Visa application for your parents and grandparents

The Super Visa gives parents and grandparents multiple entries to Canada over the course of 10 years.

The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents of Canadians to come to Canada. Initially, they can come for up to two years without having to renew their status, and can enter multiple times over a 10 year period.

This visa is available all year, and is an alternative to the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for those seeing to reunite with their parents and grandparents temporarily. Since the PGP has high demand and limited space, the Super Visa offers more certainty of family reunification. It is especially useful for citizens of countries that need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to travel to Canada, as it means they do not have to constantly re-apply for a visitor’s visa.

Parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to apply for the Super Visa. They cannot be inadmissible to Canada on the basis of health or criminality, and they may be required to meet other conditions specified by the visa office.

The visa is only open to parents or grandparents of Canadians. Spouses or common-law partners, may be included on an application for the Super Visa, but not dependents.

How to apply for a Super Visa?

Applicants have to apply from outside Canada. The Super Visa process is similar to the regular TRV process, however, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) needs to ensure that the parents and grandparents will be well supported during their time in Canada. Some of these additional documents include a signed letter from their Canadian child or grandchild, and medical insurance of at least $100,000 from a Canadian insurance company.

The letter must include a promise of financial support throughout the duration of the visit. The Canadian must prove their citizenship or permanent residency status with documentation, and include a list of the people in their household.

The medical insurance must be valid for at least one year from the date of entry. To get the visa the applicant has to prove the insurance has been paid, since IRCC does not accept quotes.

Immigration officers will also consider whether or not the applicant will actually leave the country at the end of the authorized stay. According to the government website, they will examine the applicant’s ties to their home country, the purpose of their visit, family and finances, and the overall political stability of their home country.

Immigration pathway for parents and grandparents

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) allows Canadians to sponsor their parents and grandparents for immigration.

This year, PGP applicants will be chosen by a lottery that will take place the week of September 20. IRCC will invite candidates to apply for the PGP over the course of two weeks.

The 30,000 candidates who will be invited had previously submitted Interest to Sponsor forms between October 13 and November 3, 2020.

The date for the next intake window is currently unknown, but is expected to be sometime in 2022.