Sponsoring your family:
Eligible relatives—How to apply

The application process involves two steps:

1. You, as a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, must apply to be a sponsor and then be approved.
2. The eligible relative(s) must apply and be approved for permanent residence. Application forms for your relatives to fill out will be sent to you in Canada after the Case Processing Centre of Citizenship and Immigration Canada in Mississauga, Ontario, reviews your sponsoring application. You should ensure that the correct number of application forms are mailed overseas to the relatives you want to sponsor for permanent residence.

If you live in Quebec, you must also meet Quebec immigration sponsorship requirements. For more information see the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.

How to apply for sponsorship

1. Obtain an application package .
2. Read the guide.
3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
4. Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.
5. Mail the application form and documents.

1. Obtain an application package.

The package includes the application guide and all the forms you need to fill out. Download and print the application package.

2. Read the guide.

Read the guide carefully before you complete the application form. The fee for processing your form is not refundable, so make sure you are eligible to sponsor a relative before you apply.

3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.

Use the instructions in the guide to help you fill out the application form. Be sure to provide the necessary documents—these are listed in the Document Checklist in the kit. If information or documents are missing, your application may be delayed.

• As the sponsor, you must sign an agreement that commits you to supporting the relative for a certain time period. You will have to provide proof of minimum income.
• Your eligible relative must promise to make every effort to become self-supporting.
• If your relative has dependent children, they must be included on your sponsorship application and, later, on the application of your relative to come here as a permanent resident.

4. Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.

Depending on who you are sponsoring, the fees are:

• $75 for the sponsorship application
• $475 for the principal applicant
• $150 for a dependent child of the principal applicant, under age 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship
• $550 for a dependant of the principal applicant who is 22 or older, or who is under 22 and married or in a common-law relationship and
• $490 for the right of permanent residence fee, which is required before the status is granted. (Note: If you do not include the $490 fee when you submit your sponsorship application, you will be asked to provide it just before your relative’s visa is issued. This fee is the only fee that you do not need to include when you send in your sponsorship application.)

You can pay fees:

• at most banks. If you use this method, you must get an original receipt of payment (form IMM 5401) to bring with you when you pay. This form is not available online. You must have it mailed to you. See Order a receipt of payment (IMM 5401) under Related Links at the bottom of the page.
• online through Pay my application fees in the I Need To… section on the right-hand of this page. Once you have paid your fees online, you must print a receipt of payment form and include it with your application. Be sure to print the actual receipt, not the “payment confirmation form” page. See Payment of fees on the Internet under Related Links at the bottom of the page for more information.

If you live outside Canada, but submitted your application in Canada, online payment is recommended.

If you cannot pay online, you may pay fees with an international money order or a bank draft made payable to the Receiver General for Canada. It must be in Canadian funds.

To ensure the bank draft or money order can be cashed at a Canadian financial institution (such as a bank or Western Union) you must include some information. On the front, you must clearly write the financial institution’s

• name and complete address (not a post office box number) and
• account number(s).

It is very important to include this information. If you do not, your application may be delayed or returned to you.

5. Mail the application form and documents.

The mailing address will be in the sponsorship application form.

You can find information on how long it will take to process your application in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page.

How to apply for permanent residence

After CIC receives your application, you will be notified of the results of the assessment of your sponsorship application. You will also be sent the permanent residence application kit to send to your relative(s) overseas.

You must send the kit to the relatives you are sponsoring and tell them to complete the permanent residence application forms. They must send these forms, with all the required documents, to the Canadian visa office responsible for processing their application in their home country. For information about overseas visa offices, go to the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page.

Your relative(s) must complete the medical examination requirements. Instructions are in the application kit. You can take this step once all necessary documents have been gathered to support the applications. For information about the medical examinations, go to the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page.

Information on forms

If you apply to sponsor or to be a permanent resident in Canada, you must not misrepresent your situation in any way because it can make you inadmissible to Canada. You cannot misrepresent any relevant facts in your application. You cannot misrepresent your family members and marital status, and you must inform CIC of any change in circumstances. You must disclose all your family members in the application. If you fail to disclose and/or have examined any of your close family members at any time between the date of the original application and the date your family member is granted permanent residence, then you will be barred from sponsoring those members in the future.

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Related Links

• Immigrating to Quebec (ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles)
• Spouses, Partners and Dependent Children
• Payment of fees on the Internet
• Order a receipt of payment (IMM 5401)