Apply to sponsor other relatives

There are two steps to the application process for your other eligible relatives to become permanent residents.

  1. As a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you must apply to sponsor a member of your family.
    • Your sponsorship application is processed by the Case Processing Centre (CPC).
    • You will be notified in writing by the CPC about the decision on your sponsorship application.
    • If your sponsorship application is approved, a CPC officer will advise you to download the Part 2: Immigrant’s Guide (IMM 3998) and the necessary forms for your family to fill out. You are responsible for sending the guide and the application forms overseas to your family. Make sure you have the correct number of applications.
  2. Your eligible relatives must apply for permanent residence.
    • They must send the forms, with all the required documents, to the Canadian visa office responsible for processing their application in their home country.
    • They will need to complete the medical examination requirements. Instructions will be in the application package.

How to apply

There are three steps to apply to sponsor your other eligible relatives:

1. Get the application package

The package includes the application guide and all the forms you need to fill out. Download the application package. You can print the guide and use it to help you fill out the forms correctly.

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

Use the instructions in the guide to help you fill out the application forms. Be sure to provide all the documents listed in the Document Checklist. If information or documents are missing, your entire application will be returned to you and you will need to re-submit a new application with the missing information or documents.

  • 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 the application of your relative to come here as a permanent resident.

Note: You cannot misrepresent any relevant facts in your application. You cannot misrepresent your family members and marital status, and you must inform Citizenship and Immigration Canada of any change in circumstances. You must identify all your family members in the application. The person you are sponsoring must also disclose and have each of their close family members examined for security checks, criminality checks and medical exam by CIC or the sponsored person will be barred from sponsoring those members in the future.

2. Pay your application fees

Depending on who you are sponsoring, the fees are:

  • $75 for the sponsorship application
  • $475 for the principal applicant
  • $75 for the principal applicant, if under age 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship
  • $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
  • $490 for the right of permanent residence fee, which is required before the status is granted. If you do not include the $490 right of permanent residence 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.

Note: The following persons are exempt from paying the right of permanent residence fee of $490:

  • your dependent children;
  • you, if you are the principal applicant and the dependent child of a permanent resident or Canadian citizen;
  • you and your family members, if you are a protected person.

Pay your fees online

To pay your fees on the CIC website, you must:

  • have a PDF Reader;
  • have a printer;
  • have a valid email address;
  • have a Visa®, MasterCard® or American Express® credit card;
  • print the “receipt of payment” page and include it with your application; and
  • pay your fees online when you are ready.

Pay your fees at a financial institution in Canada

To pay your fees at a financial institution in Canada, you must do the following:

  • Get an original payment receipt form (IMM 5401). Order it online or contact the Call Centre.
  • Fill the receipt form and bring it with you when you go to pay your fees.
  • Include the completed payment receipt form (IMM 5401) with your application.

Pay your fees from outside Canada

If you live outside Canada, you must do the following:

OR

  • Obtain an international money order or bank draft, in Canadian funds, made payable to the Receiver General for Canada. On the front of the money order or draft, write the financial institutions’ name, its complete address (not a post office box number) and the account number(s). Submit the money order or draft with your application.

For more detailed instructions, read the Pay the fees section of the application guide.

3. Submit your application

The mailing address will be in the sponsorship application form. Find information on how long it will take to process your application.

If information or documents are missing, your entire application will be returned to you and you will need to re-submit a new application with the missing information or documents.

Related links

Where to send your application