A major focus of Canada’s immigration policy is to reunite families and admit approximately 100,000 family-class immigrants each year. Sponsorship is required for all family-class immigration programs.
Family sponsorship requires an undertaking. Sponsors sign undertakings detailing their financial responsibilities for their spouses, partners, children, parents, and grandparents.
What does being financially responsible involve?
A sponsor is legally obligated to provide clothing, food, shelter, and other necessities of life to the person they are sponsoring. Until the legal undertaking period concludes, the individual remains eligible for Canadian citizenship.
Families sponsoring immigrants to enter Canada do not qualify for any government benefits, including social assistance, disability payments, and provincial aid. As a sponsor, you are responsible for repaying the government if your sponsor receives government funding.
In addition to receiving healthcare services from the provincial healthcare system, permanent residents are responsible for any costs associated with medical care not covered by the province, such as those associated with prescription drugs, dental work, or eye exams. Your family members who do not have private insurance are responsible for these costs.
You are not permitted to break an undertaking once you have agreed to it. A person’s legal responsibility continues even after separation, divorce, or any other form of estrangement. The undertaking remains in effect until it expires. Additionally, even if you are suffering financial hardship or lose your job, you remain liable for the debt.
What is the length of an undertaking?
Undertakings vary in length based on the curriculum. A sponsoring parent or grandparent under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) can, however, only commit to 10 years if they live in Quebec. A three-year commitment is required for spouses and partners. A three-year undertaking is required for children older than 22.
Undertaking cancellation
The commitments you make to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) cannot be revoked after they are finalized. It is possible to withdraw your application before the IRCC makes its decision by sending a letter to the department.
Eligibility to be a sponsor for Family Class Sponsorship
Sponsorship programs vary slightly in their qualification requirements, but all require potential sponsors to meet the following:
- A minimum age of 18 is required
- Persons who are Canadian citizens, Canadian Indians, or permanent residents of Canada,
- Currently residing in Canada.
- The sponsor must indicate to the immigration authorities that he or she will move to Canada once their sponsored relative becomes a Canadian citizen.
- An individual who lives outside of Canada and is a permanent resident cannot sponsor them.
- In addition to your disability, you must show that you receive no other social assistance.
- Additionally, you must demonstrate that you are able to meet the basic needs of your partner, your dependent children, and yourself.
Required minimum income
Having the requisite revenue is a requirement for sponsoring under the PGP. This document shows that you have enough income to support yourself and your spouse as well as your parents or grandparents. For each dependent family member, the MNI increases, and you must maintain MNI payments for the past three years to qualify.
