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Parental Sponsorship

The Parental Sponsorship category has recently reopened with renewed popularity as the 2014 5,000 application cap for this application filled within the month of its reopening. Under this category of family sponsorship, you are able to sponsor your parents and/or grandparents for permanent residence in Canada.

Those who qualify as sponsors will finally be able to be united with their parents and grandparents abroad. In order to qualify as a sponsor for parental sponsorship, you will need to meet certain qualifications as well as financial requirements.

Parental Sponsorship in Canada

In order to qualify as a sponsor, you must:

  • be 18 years of age or older,
  • be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident,
  • be sponsoring a member of the Family Class,
  • live in Canada and continue to live in Canada after the sponsored person obtains Permanent Resident status,
  • sign an agreement with the person you are sponsoring confirming that each of you understands your obligations and responsibilities, promising to provide for your family member’s basic requirements and, if applicable, those of his or her dependent children,
  • prove that you have sufficient income to provide basic requirements for your family members in Canada as well as the persons included in your Sponsorship Undertaking

Bars to Sponsorship

If you, as a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada is contemplating sponsoring a family member, such as your Spouse, Parent or Grandparent, you need to be aware of factors that can prohibit you from being a Sponsor.

The following are circumstances which will make you ineligible to Sponsor a member of your family:

  • You are subject to a removal order. This includes stayed orders, departure orders, exclusion orders, and deportation orders.
  • You are detained in a penitentiary, jail, reformatory or prison. If you are held in a correctional or pre-trial holding facility, you will not likely be able to support a family member.
  • You are convicted of a sexual offense against anyone or an offence against a family member under the Criminal Code of Canada.
  • You are in default of child support or spousal support payments ordered by the court. This includes payments ordered by a court outside of Canada. In this case, you will have to demonstrate that you resolved the matter to the satisfaction of the responsible authorities before you can be eligible as a Sponsor.
  • You are in default of a debt owed under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. An immigration debt includes a transportation, adjustment assistance, admissibility or Right of Permanent Residence Fee loan; a deposit or guarantee of performance of an obligation; costs incurred to remove a foreign national.
  • You are an undischarged bankrupt under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
  • You are in receipt of social assistance other than for reasons of disability. However, you may become eligible to Sponsor a family member once you are no longer receiving social assistance. Also, this bar to sponsorship can possible be waived for Humanitarian and Compassionate or public policy reasons.
  • You are in default of a previous Sponsorship Undertaking. You will be considered in default if you have not honoured a previous Sponsorship Undertaking. You will also be in default if an applicant of an Undertaking you previously sponsored received social assistance during the period when the Undertaking was valid and you have not repaid this.

What You will Need

Aside from these qualifying factors to sponsorship, unlike other categories of family sponsorship, you (as the sponsor) will need to demonstrate that you meet the minimum necessary income as per your family size and the number of people you intend to sponsor. The minimum necessary income is determined based on the Low Income Cut off which is updated based on information gather by Statistics Canada. Currently, the Minimum Necessary Income for sponsoring your parents or grandparents is as follows: 

Size of Family Unit Minimum Income 2012 Minimum Income 2013 Minimum Income 2014
2 persons $36,637 $35,976 $35,881
3 persons $45,040 $44,229 $44,113
4 persons $54,685 $53,699 $53,557
5 persons $62,023 $60,905 $60,745
6 persons $69,950 $68,689 $68,509
7 persons $77,879 $76,475 $76,275
More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add $7,929 $7,786 $7,766

Co-Signer

You can also co-sign with your spouse or common-law partner and share the responsibility. These means that both your incomes will be considered together and therefore you would also share the responsibility of the Undertaking when sponsoring.

In order to demonstrate the minimum necessary income when sponsoring your grandparents, you must submit a Notice of Assessment or Option C printout. These can be obtained by contacting the Canadian Revenue Agency.

When assessing your Parental Sponsorship application and whether or not you qualify under the Minimum Necessary Income, an Immigration Officer making a decision on your matter will only review government documents to demonstrate your finances.

You should also note that when it comes to sponsoring your parents or grandparents, you will have to have met your Minimum Income requirement for the last three years preceding your application as well as throughout the application process.

Medical Exam

When applying for permanent residence, the applicant (your parent or grandparent) will also have to undergo a medical exam by a panel physician. This doctor, who is designated to perform such exams, will conduct a medical exam and provide the results to Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

The applicant will not see the results of this exam. From there, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will determine whether or not you are considered inadmissible on medical grounds.

You can be found inadmissible on medical grounds if:

  • You have a health condition that is likely to be a danger to public health
  • You have a health condition that is likely to be a danger to public safety
  • You have a health condition that might reasonably be expected to cause excessive demand on health or social services

If you are found to be inadmissible for any reason, you will require a Temporary Resident Permit to overcome this inadmissibility.

How We Can Help

When sponsoring your parents for permanent residence in Canada, demonstrating your qualifications as a sponsor and that you have the necessary financial capabilities to support their status in Canada is essential. Beyond this, it should be a momentous occasion. Let us help you reunite with your family and become whole again in Canada.  

We will assist you:

  • Draft the necessary forms;
  • Draft appropriate supporting documentation like employment reference letters, personal statements, reference letters from friends and family;
  • Help you gather the documents that adequately demonstrate your available finances like taxation documents and bank statements;
  • Assist you with gathering important documentation that demonstrate your familial ties;
  • Compile the strongest possible case as per your unique situation;
  • Prepare you for your for any interview should one be requested;
  • Follow up with Citizenship and Immigration Canada on your matter to ensure the fastest possible processing time; and
  • Of course, be with you every step of the way.

For more information on Parental Sponsorship, feel free to browse our vast collection of information on the subject or contact us directly at 1-877-622-8182 or 416 477 2570. You can also email at Info@ToImmigrate.com.

How can you sponsor your parent to come to Canada?

You may be able to sponsor your parent(s) to come to Canada as a Permanent Resident if:

  • You are currently living in Canada
  • You are 18 years or older
  • You are a Canadian Citizen or a Permanent Resident
  • You do not receive any government financial assistance
  • You are a responsible tax payer
  • Your credit history is in good standing
  • You meet the minimum necessary income needed in order to sponsor- must meet this requirement for the 3 years prior to applying to sponsor
  • You are able to show you can provide all basic needs for your parent(s) upon arrival- this includes: food, shelter, clothes and transportation. On top of all the basic need requirements your parent(s) will be able to take advantage and have access to Canada’s healthcare benefits once they are here.

When would I not be able to sponsor my parent(s) to come to Canada?

You may NOT be eligible to sponsor your parents if:

  • You have failed to prove that you can financially support your parent(s)
  • You haven’t paid any court-ordered supports- such as child support or alimony
  • You happen to receive any government assistance for anything other than disability
  • You have been convicted of a criminal offence- and have yet to have a pardon
  • You are in prison, or;
  • You have declared bankruptcy and have not been released of it yet

What do you need to know about being a parental sponsor?

In order to be able to sponsor your parent(s) to come to Canada you first must have an agreement signed that will show your commitment to provide financial support if it is needed. Within the same agreement there should be a section that states that your parent(s) will make every effort possible to try to support themselves. This agreement is for a period of 3-10 years which will depend on their relationship to you as well as their age. The time will start the day that they become Permanent Residents.

Unlike other sponsorship types there is a large financial requirement that needs to be met before you will be able to sponsor your parents. Your financial situation can be shown in many different ways such as:

  • Submitting your banking information
  • Statement(s) of income
  • Pay stubs
  • Tax information
  • Proof of any of your assets

How much money do I need to have in order to have a successful sponsorship?

The annual financial requirements that have to be met for parental sponsorship are set out below as per the size of the family unit:

  • 1 person- $23,298
  • 2 people- $29,004
  • 3 people- $35,657
  • 4 people- $43,292
  • 5 people- $49,102
  • 6 people- $55,376
  • 7 people- $61,656
  • There is also an additional charge of $6,268 per any extra person after 7 people.

We understand that this process includes a lot of different steps that maybe other sponsorship applications may not have. These different financial steps can be tricky and confusing. We have the experience and ability to help you along any step of the way. We have had the pleasure in helping many other families in the same situation as you, whom have had positive outcomes.

Parental sponsorship was closed for a while but re-opened in 2014. The parental sponsorship has re-opened but there is a cap on how many applications will be accepted under the parental sponsorship program. The cap is extremely low. Only 5000 parental sponsorship applications are accepted each year. It means once the number of applications reached 5000 then you cannot sponsor you parents as permanent resident under this class. So if you want to sponsor your parents then you have to sponsor them before the cap is reached.

We recommend that you start the process of collecting and gathering your documents under the Parental Sponsorship Application in September of each year. This way, when January hits, you have all the documents and you can file the application right away.

Parental sponsorship program gives you permanent resident status. When you sponsor your parents or grandparents under parental sponsorship class that means they will immigrate to Canada permanently and they are also eligible for Canadian citizenship. If they wish to apply for Canadian citizenship they can, once they have completed the time period for citizenship.

However, super visa is a temporary resident visa. When parental sponsorship program was closed, Canadian Immigration Canada started the super visa program for Canada citizens and permanent residents who wish to apply for a lengthy stay for their parents.

Super visa is only for parent and grandparents not for visitors. Super visa is good for ten years. Once parents and grandparents received their super visa, they can live in Canada for up to ten years. However, they need can stay 2 years at a time. After 2 years they simply need to exist for one day and they can reenter without reapplying for the super visa. This is a great way to be reunited with your loved once while the parental sponsorship application is in process.

There are few qualifications for super visa:

  • You have to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor your Parents and grandparents
  • You must provide the letter which proves that you will financial support your parents or grandparents called an invitation letter
  • You must obtain medical insurance coverage for at least one year for the person you are bringing over
  • They will need to undergo a valid medical exam
  • You will need to meet the Low Income Requirement (LICO)

If you have further question about super visa and/or parental sponsorship program then please contact us today and we will help you move forward!

If you are intent on sponsoring your Parent(s) or Grandparent(s), part of the application involves a financial responsibility. Meaning, there is an income requirement in order for you to be considered eligible to sponsor. This income requirement is known as the Minimum Necessary income and is directly correlated to the Low Income Cut-Off.

Before you decide on sponsoring your parents or grandparents, you should make sure that you meet your Minimum Necessary Income. The Minimum Necessary Income is different for everyone and depends on the size of your family plus the people you intend on sponsoring.

Low Income Cut-Off

Your Minimum Necessary Income is easily calculated as per the Low Income Cut-Off chart:

Size of Family Unit

Minimum necessary income

1 person (your child or grandchild)

$23,647

2 persons

$29,440

3 persons

$36,193

4 persons

$43,942

5 persons

$49,839

6 persons

$56,209

7 persons

$62,581

More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add

$6,362

You should note that this chart is updated on a yearly basis as it takes into account the current economic situation of Canada.

Using this chart above, for example, if you have a spouse and two children and you wish to sponsor your parents, your family size would be six (6). You would count yourself, your spouse, your children AND your parents. This means that you, as the applicant, must have a Minimum Necessary Income of $56, 209.

Co-Signer

You can also co-sign with your spouse or common-law partner and share the responsibility. These means that both your incomes will be considered together and therefore you would also share the responsibility of the Undertaking when sponsoring.

In order to demonstrate the minimum necessary income when sponsoring your grandparents, you must submit a Notice of Assessment or Option C printout. These can be obtained by contacting the Canadian Revenue Agency.

When assessing your Parental Sponsorship application and whether or not you qualify under the Minimum Necessary Income, an Immigration Officer making a decision on your matter will only review government documents to demonstrate your finances.

You should also note that when it comes to sponsoring your parents or grandparents, you will have to have met your Minimum Income requirement for the last three years preceding your application as well as throughout the application process.

After being closed down for two years, the Parents and Grandparents Program has been re-opened in 2014. As of 2014, the cap on this program is five thousand, which means that, those who wish to sponsor their parents or grandparents as Permanent Residents, must do so quickly before the cap is reached.

As I earlier mentioned, sponsoring your parents or grandparents in this program will give them Permanent Resident status and therefore, they will be eligible for Canadian citizenship. It is important to differentiate this program with the Super Visa. As opposed to the Parents and Grandparents Program, the Super Visa is essentially an extended Visitor’s Visa.

Before applying to sponsor your parents or grandparents, you should determine whether or not the person you sponsor simply wish to see you occasionally, and without the hassle of making an application every time they wish to visit, or if it is their intent to remain in Canada permanently. If it is permanence that they seek, then this program will be an option for them.

If you wish to sponsor your parents or grandparents, there are some requirements you should keep in mind. Some conditions are as follows,

  • You must be at least eighteen years old
  • You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • You must live in Canada
  • You must sign an undertaking which states that you will provide the basic necessities for the person you are sponsoring
  • You must sign an agreement with the person you are sponsoring stating that each of you understand your shared duties and responsibilities
  • You must show that you meet the minimum income requirement as set out on the Low Income Cut-Off table

It is important to note that, similar to other sponsorships, you know that you are not barred from sponsoring. In addition to this, you may want to consider having a co-sponsor, if you do not meet the minimum income requirement.

If you wish to find out more, at Akrami & Associates, our experienced legal representatives can help you. Call us today to book a consultation.

In order to sponsor your parents you must first determine that you qualify as a sponsor, your parent(s) are known as the main applicant(s).

The Parental Sponsorship application is broken into two main parts:

  • The Sponsor: Canadian permanent resident or citizen who intends to sponsor their spouse abroad and;
  • The Applicant: The spouse abroad who is applying for their permanent resident status is considered to be the applicant or primary applicant

In order to qualify as a sponsor you must:

  • Ÿ be 18 years of age or older,
  • Ÿ be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident,
  • Ÿ be sponsoring a member of the Family Class,
  • Ÿ live in Canada and continue to live in Canada after the sponsored person obtains Permanent Resident status,
  • Ÿ sign an agreement with the person you are sponsoring confirming that each of you understands your obligations and responsibilities
  • Ÿ prove that you have sufficient income to provide basic requirements for your family members in Canada as well as the persons included in your Sponsorship Undertaking

You may not sponsor if you:

  • Ÿ receive social assistance for a reason other than disability,
  • Ÿ are in default of an undertaking, an immigration loan, a performance bond, or family support payments,
  • Ÿ are an undischarged bankrupt,
  • Ÿ were convicted of an offence of a sexual nature, a violent criminal offence, an offence against a relative that results in bodily harm or an attempt or threat to commit any such offences—depending on circumstances such as the nature of the offence, how long ago it occurred and whether a pardon was issued
  • Ÿ are under a removal order,
  • Ÿ are detained in a penitentiary, jail, reformatory or prison,
  • Ÿ In undischarged bankruptcy


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