Last verified: June 28, 2026 · Official source: canada.ca/family sponsorship
General information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed RCIC or immigration lawyer.
Who can sponsor and who can be sponsored
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor certain family members for Canadian permanent residence. The four main categories:
| Who you can sponsor | Program |
|---|---|
| Spouse or common-law partner | Spouse / partner sponsorship |
| Dependent children (biological or adopted) | Dependent child sponsorship |
| Parents and grandparents | PGP (closed to new applications in 2026 — see below) |
| Other eligible relatives (limited cases) | Confirm eligibility on canada.ca |
Spouse / common-law partner sponsorship
Who qualifies to sponsor
To sponsor a spouse or common-law partner you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old
- Live in Canada (or, if a citizen, intend to return to Canada after the sponsored person becomes a PR)
- Not be under a sponsorship undertaking yourself or in default on a previous undertaking
- Not have been convicted of certain serious offences (confirm the full list on canada.ca)
Who qualifies to be sponsored
The person you are sponsoring must be:
- Your legally married spouse, or
- Your common-law partner — meaning you have lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 continuous months, or
- Your conjugal partner — for those in a conjugal relationship who cannot live together or marry due to reasons beyond their control
Income requirement
There is generally no minimum income requirement for sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner. This is different from the Parents & Grandparents Program.
The undertaking
When you sponsor a spouse or common-law partner, you sign an undertaking — a legal commitment to support them financially if they cannot support themselves. The undertaking lasts 3 years from the date they become a PR.
Confirm current fees and processing times at canada.ca/sponsor spouse or partner.
Dependent child sponsorship
You can sponsor a dependent child (biological or adopted) if the child is:
- Under 22 years old and not a spouse or common-law partner, or
- 22 or older and has depended on a parent for financial support since before age 22 due to a physical or mental condition
Children of the principal applicant can typically be included as co-applicants on the same sponsorship application. Confirm current dependent child eligibility rules on canada.ca — age rules and exceptions can change.
Parents & Grandparents Program (PGP) — closed in 2026
The PGP is IRCC's pathway for Canadian PRs and citizens to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence.
The PGP is closed to new applications in 2026. No reopening date has been announced.
What this means
- If you already submitted a PGP application before the closure, your application continues to be processed.
- If you have not yet applied, you cannot submit a new PGP application at this time.
- Watch canada.ca/sponsor parents and grandparents for any future reopening announcement.
Income requirement for existing applicants
PGP sponsors must meet the MNIMNI: Minimum Necessary Income — the income threshold a sponsor must meet to sponsor parents or grandparents for PR. Based on Statistics Canada's Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) and varies by family size and location. For PGP, the threshold is MNI + 30%. + 30% for 3 consecutive tax years immediately before the application. This is verified using notices of assessment from the CRA.
→ canada.ca — PGP income requirement
Super Visa — the alternative for parents and grandparents
While the PGP is closed, the Super Visa lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and PRs visit Canada for extended periods: up to 5 years per entry, renewable from outside Canada.
The Super Visa is a visitor status, not a PR pathway. Your parents or grandparents can stay in Canada long-term, but they would not become permanent residents.
Who can apply
The visitor (parent or grandparent) must:
- Be admissible to Canada
- Pass a medical exam
- Have at least $100,000 in Canadian medical insurance valid for at least 1 year, from a Canadian insurance company
The host (the Canadian child or grandchild) must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or PR
- Meet the income requirement for the Super Visa (based on LICOLICO: Low-Income Cut-Off — Statistics Canada's threshold for low income, updated annually. Used by IRCC to assess income requirements for family sponsorship and the Super Visa. The cut-off varies by family size and whether you are in a large urban centre, small city, or rural area.)
Income calculation eased from March 31, 2026
IRCC updated how hosts prove their income for the Super Visa, effective March 31, 2026:
- More ways to meet the income threshold are now accepted, compared to the previous single-year LICOLICO: Low-Income Cut-Off — the income floor used to assess Super Visa host income eligibility. method
- Multiple income sources and household income can be considered more flexibly
⚠️ Confirm the current Super Visa income calculation rules on canada.ca/Super Visa — the March 2026 changes are recent.
Super Visa vs PGP at a glance
| Super Visa | PGP | |
|---|---|---|
| What it provides | Visitor status (multi-year) | Permanent residence |
| Can the visitor work? | No | Yes (with open work permit) |
| Healthcare | Private insurance required | Access to provincial health care |
| Currently accepting applications? | Yes | No (closed in 2026) |
Can permanent residents sponsor family members?
Yes. PRs can sponsor spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children. When the PGP is open, PRs can also sponsor parents and grandparents.
Key restrictions for PRs (vs. citizens):
- Must be living in Canada to sponsor (with limited exceptions)
- Must meet any applicable income requirements
Canadian citizens have slightly more flexibility — for example, a citizen living abroad can still sponsor a spouse if they intend to return to Canada when the sponsored person becomes a PR.