Family Category

Canadian citizens and permanent residents aged 19 and over and living in Canada have the right to sponsor certain close relatives who wish to immigrate to Canada.

These sponsored relatives may include certain dependants on their application. All persons being sponsored, as well as their dependants, must meet the requirements of the Immigration Act and Regulations.

Relatives eligible for sponsorship in the family class include:
the sponsor's spouse
the sponsor's fiancé
the sponsor's dependent son or dependent daughter (see below)
the sponsor's parents or grandparents
the sponsor's brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces and grandchildren who are orphans, unmarried and under 19
children under 19 whom the sponsor plans to adopt
any other relative, if the sponsor does not have any of the above or any family in Canada.

Dependent son or dependent daughter

There are three ways sons or daughters can be "dependent" on their parents

Under age 19 and unmarried:
- must be under the age of 19 and unmarried when they apply for a visa and still unmarried when the visa is issued.

Full-time students:
- must be studying at a college, university or other educational institution; and
- must be studying or training when they apply for their visa and when the visa is issued; and
- must have been supported financially by their parents from age 19 or from the date of their marriage.

Children with a disability:
- must be supported mainly by their parents; and
- must be unable to support themselves because of the disability.

Unlike the independent class and other immigrants, family class applicants are not assessed under a point system. However, they must meet the basic standards of good health and character. As well, before an immigrant visa can be issued to applicants in the family class, the sponsoring relative in Canada is required to sign an undertaking of support. In this statement, the sponsor promises to provide for the housing, care and maintenance of the applicant and accompanying dependants for up to ten years.

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