Canada Immigration Family Class

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Family Class Program Objective

A key objective of Canada's immigration policy is to help families reunite in Canada. Family class immigrants are the persons sponsored by relatives to come to Canada.

Qualifications

To qualify as a member of a Family Class the principal applicant must be a sponsor's:

spouse 16 years of age or older;
fiance(e);
dependent child(ren) including a child adopted before age of 22, who are:
- under age 22 and unmarried; or
- have been continuously enrolled and in attendance as a full time student in educational institution and financially supported by their parents since turning 22 (or from the date of marriage if married before the age of 22);
- unable to support themselves due to a medical conditions and are financially supported by their parents.
parent or grandparent
brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild who is an orphan, under age 22 and unmarried;
child under age of 22 who will be adopted in Canada and who is an orphan, or an abandoned;
child whose parents cannot be identified, or child who has been placed with a child welfare authority for adoption because:
- a child was born out of wedlock;
- the child's parents are separated;
- one of the child's parents is deceased.
relative, regardless of the age or relationship to the sponsor, where the sponsor does not have any relatives (a spouse, son, daughter, mother, father, brother, sister, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew) but the relative which sponsor intents to sponsor.

Note: Students who interrupt their full time studies continue to be considered dependents as long as they are not away from school for a total of more than 12 month and continue to be supported by parents during that time. School holidays need not be included.

Note: Family Class applicants and ALL their dependents (including those not immigrating) must:

undergo and pass medical examination;
not to be criminally or otherwise inadmissible;
be bona fide immigrants:
- the Family Class does not include a spouse who entered into the marriage primarily for the purpose of gaining admissions to Canada as a member of the family class and not with intention of residing permanently with the other spouse;
- the family Class does not include a person who is adopted, or is intended to be adopted otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention.

Where a sponsor does not have any relatives, listed above, to sponsor, and where he or she has no close relatives in Canada who are permanent residents or Canadian citizens, he or she may sponsor one relative regardless of his or her age or relationship to him or her.

To be eligible as a sponsor an applicant must:

be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident;
be 19 years of age or older;
reside in Canada unless sponsoring a spouse or child under 22;
sign an undertaking to provide for the relative's essential needs for the period of 10 years;
provide the government of Canada with statement that shows financial resources and obligations for the period of 12 months prior to the date of sponsorship application submission;
meet the Low Income Cut Off figures unless sponsoring a spouse or child under 22;
sign an agreement with the sponsored relatives agreeing to meet the terms of the undertaking.