Special measures for Afghan applications: Priority processing

We recognize it’s important to keep families and loved ones together. Our family reunification programs let Canadian citizens and permanent residents sponsor eligible family members to come to Canada.

We’ll prioritize your application if

• you’re a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person registered under the Indian Act
• the family member you’re sponsoring is
  • an Afghan national outside Canada and
  • one of the following family members:
    • your spouse or partner
    • your dependent children (including adopted children)
    • orphaned relatives under the age of 18

You can apply to sponsor other Afghan family members, but your application won’t be prioritized.

Follow the steps to sponsor

• your spouse, partner or dependent child (including adopted children)
• orphaned relatives under the age of 18

After you apply

You must let us know so we can prioritize your application.

We’ll prioritize the following applications for permanent residence:

1. Permanent residence as a protected person in Canada

   To have your application prioritized, you must meet the all of the following requirements:

   • you’re an Afghan national
   • you’re submitting a protected persons application for permanent residence in Canada and
   • your application includes dependent Afghan family members overseas

   Dependent family members in this situation include

   • your spouse or partner
   • your dependent children
2. Permanent residence for dependants of resettled Afghan refugees

   To have your application prioritized, the following requirements must be met:

   • you’re the spouse, partner or dependent child of an Afghan refugee who has already been resettled in Canada (this person is the principal applicant on the original application to resettle in Canada)
   • the principal applicant declared you as a dependant on their resettlement application
   • you're currently outside Canada and
   • you’re applying for permanent residence within a year of the principal applicant arriving in Canada

After you apply

You must let us know so we can prioritize your application.

We’ll prioritize new applications for temporary residence. To have your application prioritized, you must meet the following requirements:

• you’re an Afghan national
• you’re outside Canada
• you’re an eligible family member of a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person registered under the Indian Act and
• you’re applying for temporary residence in Canada as a temporary worker, student or visitor

Eligible family members in this situation include:

• spouses and partners
• dependent children (including adopted children)
• orphaned relatives under the age of 18

After you apply

You must let us know so we can prioritize your application.