Who can apply

Closed

We’re no longer accepting applications

This program is closed. We are not accepting applications as we have received enough applications to fill the available spaces.

be a citizen of Colombia, Haiti, or Venezuela
be in South or Central America, Mexico or the Caribbean
have an eligible Canadian citizen or permanent resident to support your application (an anchor) and be either their:
- spouse or common-law partner
- child (of any age), grandchild, parent, grandparent, or sibling
give us a statutory declaration from the anchor above that states:
- they plan to help you and any family members that come with you to Canada for 1 year
- they have not (and will not) accept any money from you or your family members
plan to live in a province or territory other than Quebec
not be inadmissible for reasons other than financial ones
have a valid passport or eligible travel document

An “anchor” is a family member who will support your application. The anchor must not have immigrated to Canada under this program.

Your anchor must be:

18 or older
a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
living in Canada (but outside the province of Quebec)
your spouse, common-law partner, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, or sibling

They must not be:

in the process of applying to revoke their Canadian citizenship
in jail or prison
subject to a removal order in Canada
late making a payment on an immigration loan, a performance bond or any other amount legally agreed to pay (and have not arranged to defer payments)
in default of a sponsorship undertaking, support payments or repaying any debt owed to the Government of Canada
an undischarged bankrupt
getting social assistance for a reason other than disability
convicted under the Canadian Criminal Code of Canada

See which crimes and conditions are included

They must not have been convicted under the Canadian Criminal Code of:

a crime of a sexual nature, or an attempt or threat to commit such an crime against any person
an indictable offence
- involving the use of violence
- punishable by a maximum prison term of at least 10 years, or
- with an attempt to commit such a crime, against any person
a crime that results in bodily harm against any person, or an attempt or threat to commit such a crime

They also must not have been convicted outside Canada of a crime that, if committed in Canada, would be equal to one of the above crimes.

They may still be eligible if 5 years have passed since they completed a sentence for one of the above crimes.

Your anchor must agree to support you for 1 year with a set list of needs to help you settle and integrate.

They must sign an official document stating they promise to:

meet you at the airport and get you to where you’re staying
give you temporary housing
help you find permanent housing
make sure you have food, clothes and other basic needs
introduce you to life in Canada (for example, public transportation, banking, shopping, rights and responsibilities, etc.)
help you:
- interpret information
- open a bank account so you can get your financial assistance
- enrol in provincial and federal programs and benefits (for example, Social Insurance Number, parental benefits, public health insurance)
- find a family doctor, dentist, eye care and arrange any other medical needs
- enrol children in school, child care
- enrol adults in language training
- access support services to find a job
- access Service Provider Organizations to access free settlement services once in Canada

Anchors must also state that they won’t accept money or other payment from you in exchange for being your anchor.

If we approve your application, we’ll:

waive the Right of Permanent Residence Fee, all application fees and biometric fees
cover pre-departure medical services to help protect your health and safe travel to Canada
give you the equivalent of 3 months of financial assistance once in Canada, to help you settle
give you free settlement services, before and after you arrive, to help you join Canadian society and the labour force

2025-08-20