Processing Times: Family Sponsorship

This information is updated weekly (step 1) and quarterly (step 2) and shows the time it takes to process an application after we receive a complete application package.

There are two steps in processing family sponsorship applications. In order to know the total approximate time it may take for your application to be processed, ADD the time in step 1 to the time in step 2 (the two steps are consecutive).

Last update: May 14, 2012

Person to be sponsored lives outside of Canada
Type of application Step 1

Assessment of Sponsor		 Step 2

Assessment of Person Being Sponsored (applicant)
Status available online
Spouse, common‑law partner or dependent child

90 days


Working on applications received on February 7, 2012

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Parents and grandparents

39-55 months

  • Working on applications received on September 11, 2007*
  • Issuing acknowledgement letters for applications received on April 29, 2011

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Adopted children, children to be adopted, orphans and other family classes Processed daily on a priority basis

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*Sponsors who submitted sponsorship applications to CPC-M between 11 September 2007 and February 18, 2009, should have received a letter at the end of November requesting additional forms, documents, and information required for case processing.  If you did not receive such a letter and have evidence that you submitted your sponsorship application during this period (September 2007 to February 2009), please contact the Call Centre to inform them of your situation.

 
Person to be sponsored lives in Canada
Type of sponsorship application Step 1 — Assessment of sponsor and person being sponsored Step 2 —  Medical, security, background checks and other verifications for person being sponsored
Status available online
Spouse, common-law partner in Canada

11  months
(initial assessment)


Working on applications received on April 30, 2011

8 months

Notes

  • For sponsorship OUTSIDE of Canada
    • For Step 1: If you live inside Canada and it has been longer than the time shown above since you applied, please contact the Call Centre.
    • For Step 2: If you have questions about Step 2, you must contact the appropriate visa office. Call Centre agents cannot answer questions about Step 2.
  • For sponsorship INSIDE of Canada
    • If you live inside Canada and it has been longer than the time shown above since you applied, please contact the Call Centre.
    • Call Centre agents cannot speed up the process of your application or make decisions on your case.
  • The processing times are calculated in calendar days.