Who you can sponsor
If they’re eligible, you can sponsor:
- your own parents and grandparents, related by blood or adoption
- the dependent children of your parents and grandparents (for example, your siblings, half-siblings, or step-siblings) and their dependent children
- if your parents or grandparents are divorced, their current spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner
- You’ll need to submit separate applications for your divorced parents.
- If your parents or grandparents are separated and not divorced, you’ll need to submit one application for them because they’re still married.
When they apply for permanent residence, your parents and grandparents (and their dependants) must provide
- all required forms and documents with their application
- any additional information we request during processing, including
Examples of who you can sponsor
Sponsoring your biological or adopted parents, together as a couple
You can sponsor your parents together if they’re a couple (married or in a common-law relationship). On the application, you must designate 1 of them as the main applicant, called the principal applicant. You’ll designate their spouse (your other parent) as a dependant.
It’s important to make sure that you have designated the appropriate parent or grandparent as the principal applicant because once you’ve submitted your application, you can’t change the parent you designated as the principal applicant.
If you have siblings, you can include them in the application only if they qualify as dependent children. If they’re older than the age limit or they don’t meet all the requirements, you can’t include them in your parents’ or grandparents’ application. They’ll have to immigrate on their own if they want to live in Canada.
Sponsoring your biological or adopted parent, your step-parent and their child
You can sponsor your parent, their spouse and their child (your half-sibling). On the application, your parent must be the principal applicant, because they’re related to you. Your step-parent can’t be the principal applicant. They’ll be listed as your parent’s dependant. Your half-sibling can be added as a dependant only if they qualify as a dependent child.
Sponsoring your grandparents, your parent and your step-parent
In this situation, you’ll have to submit 2 separate sponsorship applications: 1 application per couple.
On your grandparents’ application, you must designate one of them as the principal applicant. You’ll designate their spouse (your other grandparent) as a dependant.
It’s important to make sure that you have designated the appropriate grandparent as the principal applicant because once you’ve submitted your application, you can’t change the grandparent you designated as the principal applicant.
On your parent’s application, they must be the principal applicant, because they’re related to you. Their spouse can’t be the principal applicant. They’ll be listed as your parent’s dependant.
Who you can’t sponsor
You can’t sponsor
- your spouse or common-law partner’s parents and grandparents (your in-laws)
- However, if your spouse or partner receive their own invitation to apply, you can be a co-signer on your in-laws’ application.
- You can’t transfer your invitation to another person, including your spouse or partner, for them to sponsor their parents and grandparents.
- someone who is inadmissible to Canada (someone who isn’t allowed to come to Canada)
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