Spousal & Family Sponsorship.
Spouses, Partners, Children, Parents & Grandparents
NK International Consultants assists eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents with family sponsorship matters, including assessment of sponsor eligibility, relationship category, family composition, admissibility and supporting immigration documentation.
Start Your Assessment Discuss Your Sponsorship Case WhatsApp NKICFamily sponsorship for qualifying relationships.
Canada's family reunification programs allow eligible sponsors to sponsor certain close family members for permanent residence, provided the sponsor and the person being sponsored meet the applicable requirements.
Spouse
A legally married spouse may qualify for sponsorship where the marriage is legally recognized, the relationship is genuine and the applicant otherwise meets the applicable immigration requirements.
Common-Law Partner
A common-law partner may qualify where the couple has lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months and the other applicable requirements are satisfied.
Conjugal Partner
Conjugal-partner sponsorship is a distinct and limited category that may apply where a genuine committed relationship exists but serious barriers have prevented the couple from marrying or living together.
Dependent Children
Eligible biological or adopted dependent children may be sponsored where they meet the applicable definition of a dependent child and other immigration requirements.
Parents & Grandparents
Parents and grandparents may be eligible for sponsorship through the Parents and Grandparents Program where the sponsor is invited to apply and meets the applicable income and other requirements.
Other Relatives
Certain other relatives may be sponsored only in limited circumstances set out in Canadian immigration law. These cases require careful eligibility assessment.
Canadian Family & Spousal Sponsorship
Request NKIC's practical guide to spouse, partner, dependent child, parent and grandparent sponsorship, including Super Visa planning and application preparation.
Request the 2026 Program Guide →The correct sponsorship category matters.
Spousal and partner sponsorship applications can proceed under different classes depending on where the applicant lives and the circumstances of the case. Choosing the correct category affects eligibility, processing and procedural options.
Family Class
The Family Class may be used for eligible spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners and dependent children who are being sponsored for permanent residence under the applicable federal rules.
It can be particularly relevant where the person being sponsored lives outside Canada, although some applicants living in Canada may also proceed under the Family Class where appropriate.
Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class
Eligible spouses or common-law partners who live together in Canada may qualify under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class, provided the applicable requirements are met.
The applicant's immigration status, residence, relationship and other circumstances should be reviewed before selecting the application category.
The sponsor must also qualify.
General Sponsor Requirements
- Generally be at least 18 years old
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or otherwise qualify under the applicable legislation
- Meet the residence requirements applicable to the sponsor's status
- Sign the required sponsorship undertaking and agreement
- Not be subject to a disqualifying sponsorship restriction
Possible Sponsor Restrictions
- Certain previous sponsorship undertakings can affect eligibility
- Undischarged bankruptcy may be relevant outside Quebec
- Receiving certain forms of social assistance can affect eligibility
- Certain criminal convictions may prevent sponsorship
- Failure to meet previous sponsorship or family-support obligations may be relevant
- Some sponsors who were themselves previously sponsored as spouses or partners may be subject to a waiting period
A genuine relationship must be properly documented.
IRCC assesses whether the relationship fits the legal category claimed and whether the relationship is genuine rather than entered into primarily for immigration purposes.
Relationship History
A coherent account of how the relationship began and developed, including important dates, periods together and major life events.
Shared Life
Evidence may include shared residence, financial arrangements, communication, travel, family involvement and other documentation that reflects the couple's life together.
Legal & Civil Status
Marriage certificates, divorce documents, civil-status records and other evidence should correspond to the legal relationship category being claimed.
Consistency
Application forms, personal histories, dates, addresses and supporting documents should be complete, accurate and internally consistent.
Previous relationships and family members must be reviewed carefully.
Family sponsorship applications require accurate disclosure of the applicant's and sponsor's family circumstances. Prior marriages, children and other family members can affect documentation, admissibility and future sponsorship rights.
Previous Marriages or Partnerships
Prior marriages, divorces, separations and common-law relationships should be documented accurately and consistently with civil-status records and immigration history.
Children & Dependants
Dependent and non-accompanying children must be reviewed carefully. Applicable medical, custody, consent and documentary requirements may arise depending on the circumstances.
Previously Undeclared Family
A family member who was not properly declared or examined in an earlier immigration process can create significant future sponsorship issues. These cases should be assessed individually before filing.
Sponsorship creates financial responsibility.
The sponsor signs a legally binding undertaking to provide financial support for the sponsored family member for the applicable undertaking period.
Spouse or Partner
Outside Quebec, the undertaking for a sponsored spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner is generally three years beginning when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.
Children, Parents & Other Family
The undertaking period depends on the family relationship and, for certain children, age. Parents and grandparents are subject to longer undertaking periods. Quebec has separate undertaking rules.
Sponsorship and permanent residence are assessed together.
Review sponsor eligibility, relationship category, applicant admissibility, family composition and immigration history.
Prepare the documents required for the sponsor and establish that the sponsor meets the applicable sponsorship requirements.
Prepare the sponsored person's permanent-residence forms, relationship evidence, identity documents and applicable family documentation.
Address applicable biometrics, medical, background, document and procedural requirements during processing.
An open work permit may be available in qualifying sponsorship cases.
A spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner living in Canada and being sponsored for permanent residence may be eligible to apply for an open work permit where the applicable requirements are satisfied. Accompanying dependent children may also qualify in certain cases.
In many cases, the principal applicant must have received confirmation that the permanent-residence application is being processed and must meet the applicable temporary-resident-status requirements. Limited exceptions may apply where current status is close to expiring.
Sponsors residing in Quebec have an additional provincial process.
Family sponsorship to Quebec involves both the federal immigration process and a separate undertaking process with the Government of Quebec. The federal and provincial stages must be completed in the proper sequence.
Quebec Undertaking
After the appropriate federal stage, qualifying sponsors may be required to submit a separate undertaking application to Quebec and the sponsored person may require a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), depending on the category and process.
Quebec-Specific Rules
Quebec applies its own sponsorship conditions, undertaking rules and, in some categories, financial requirements. Intake limits or other provincial restrictions may also apply at the time an application is made.
Parent and grandparent sponsorship follows a separate process.
The Parents and Grandparents Program differs from spousal and child sponsorship. Sponsors generally must be invited to apply and must meet applicable financial and other eligibility requirements.
Invitation & Eligibility
A person cannot simply submit a Parents and Grandparents Program application at any time. The applicable IRCC invitation process and current intake rules must first be reviewed.
Financial Capacity
Sponsors must demonstrate that they meet the applicable income requirements and sign a sponsorship undertaking. A spouse or common-law partner may be able to co-sign where the rules permit.
Small inconsistencies can become significant immigration issues.
Previous Refusals
Prior visa, sponsorship or immigration refusals should be disclosed accurately and reviewed for consistency with the new application.
Status in Canada
The sponsored person's current or previous immigration status, extensions, restorations or periods without status may require careful review.
Admissibility
Medical, criminal, security or misrepresentation concerns can affect the permanent-residence application even where the relationship itself qualifies.
Document Consistency
Dates, addresses, travel history, family information and relationship evidence should be reviewed together to reduce contradictions or unexplained gaps.
Professional preparation for a highly personal application.
Eligibility Review
We review the sponsor, applicant, relationship category, immigration history, family composition and potential eligibility concerns before recommending a filing strategy.
Case Preparation
We help organize sponsor documents, applicant documents, relationship evidence and family information into a coherent immigration application.
Regulated Representation
Where NKIC is formally retained and appointed, Canadian immigration advice and representation are provided within the authorized professional scope of a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant.
Planning to sponsor a spouse, partner or family member?
Complete the NKIC Online Intake Questionnaire so we can review the sponsor's status, relationship, family composition, immigration history and any potential eligibility concerns before recommending the appropriate next step.
Complete Online Intake Book a Consultation WhatsApp +41 76 818 00 66Family sponsorship eligibility depends on the sponsor, applicant, relationship category, residence, family composition, previous sponsorship history, immigration status, admissibility and other circumstances. Program rules, provincial requirements and processing procedures may change. Submission of a sponsorship or permanent residence application does not guarantee approval or any particular immigration outcome.