One of the most popular goals for immigrants is to Bringing Family to Canada: 2026 Sponsorship Guide bring family to Canada, and Canada’s family class immigration system makes that possible. You can sponsor some close relatives to become permanent residents if you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada. This 2026 guide covers who can sponsor, what it costs, how parents and grandparents can use the Super Visa, and the practical steps involved in bringing relatives to Canada. Family sponsorship is one of Canada’s primary immigration streams, along with other Canadian visa categories.
Who Can Provide Sponsorship for Family Travel to Canada?
You must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or someone registered under the Canadian Indian Act in order to be a sponsor. You must also be at least eighteen years old. Generally speaking, you must either remain in Canada or provide proof that you plan to return once the individuals you sponsor obtain permanent residency. Additionally, you consent to a legally enforceable commitment to provide the sponsored family with financial help so they won’t require social assistance.Not everyone has the ability to sponsor. If you are incarcerated, have filed for bankruptcy, have already fallen behind on an immigration loan or sponsorship agreement, or have been found guilty of specific crimes, you may not be eligible. Only close family members—your spouse or partner, dependent children, parents, grandparents, and, under certain circumstances, an orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild—may be sponsored.
Supporting Your Conjugal Partner, Common-Law Partner, or Spouse
The most popular method of bringing family to Canada is through the spouse and partner category. A spouse is a person with whom you have a legal marriage. A common-law partner is a person you have cohabitated with for a minimum of 12 consecutive months. A conjugal partner is someone you have been in a committed relationship with for at least a year but were unable to live with or be married to due to immigration, marital status, or other major obstacles, frequently in their native country. Both the in-Canada stream and the outside-Canada stream are available for applications. The sponsored spouse or partner may also apply for an open work visa, which allows them to work for nearly any employer while the application is being processed, if they are residing with you in Canada. The officer must always be convinced that the relationship is sincere and wasn’t formed only to obtain permanent residency. A spouse or partner’s sponsorship commitment is valid for three years starting on the day they become a permanent resident. For the majority of sponsors, this makes the spouse and partner stream the foundation for bringing family to Canada.
Travelling to Canada with Dependent Children
Whether your dependent children are adopted or biological, you are able to sponsor them. A dependent child cannot have a spouse or common-law partner and must be younger than 22. Children who are 22 years of age or older may still be considered dependents if they have relied on their parents for financial support due to a medical or mental illness since before the age of 22. Dependent children are either included in a spouse or partner’s application or added to the parent’s application when bringing relatives to Canada.Subject to certain guidelines intended to safeguard the child’s best interests, adopted children and, in certain circumstances, orphaned near relatives like a brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild may also be sponsored.
Grandparents and parents: Super Visa vs. Sponsorship
Sponsoring a spouse or child is not the same as bringing parents and grandparents to Canada. Sponsorship for permanent residency is administered via the Parents and Grandparents Programme (PGP), which does not have an open application window but rather an invitation-based intake. IRCC is not taking new PGP sponsorship applications for 2026; instead, the department is processing invitations that were sent out in 2025. Instead of believing they can apply at any moment, potential sponsors should keep an eye out for the next intake announcement. Bringing family to Canada in this category is mostly dependent on the timing of the programme.
The Super Visa
The Super Visa is the main method for bringing parents and grandparents to Canada for long visits while the PGP is on hold. The Super Visa is a ten-year, multiple-entry temporary resident visa that permits the bearer to remain for up to five years at a time. Although it is not a permanent dwelling, it enables families to spend a lot of time together.A minimum income requirement (based on the Low Income Cut-Off plus 30%) must be met in order to host a parent or grandparent, and the guest must purchase Canadian health insurance with a minimum coverage of CAD $100,000 that is valid for at least a year.Hosts will have more options starting on 31 March 2026, and they can use any of the two tax years before to their application to satisfy the income criteria. A typical visiting visa, which typically only permits a stay of up to six months, is not the same as the Super Visa.
Read More: How to Apply for a Canada Study Permit: 2026 Guide
Costs Associated with Bringing Family to Canada
Depending on who you are sponsoring, there are government expenses associated with bringing family to Canada. The cost of sponsoring a spouse or partner is CAD $1,260, which includes the Right of Permanent Residence charge (RPRF), the sponsorship charge, and the processing fee for the lead applicant. It costs CAD $180 for each dependant child. When the PGP reopens, sponsoring a parent or grandparent will also cost CAD $1,260. The charge is CAD $660 if you pay without the RPRF up front, and the CAD $600 RPRF is due prior to the granting of permanent residency.Biometrics, which cost CAD $85 per person or CAD $170 for a family of two or more applying together, are also required for the majority of sponsored relatives. Dependent children do not pay the RPRF; it is the sole fee that is reimbursed in the event that you withdraw or your application is denied. The numbers here represent the official fee list as of mid-2026; fees are determined by the IRCC and are subject to change.
How to Apply and How Long Does It Take?
Your application to be a sponsor and the relative’s application for permanent residency are the two interconnected applications that make up the process of bringing family to Canada. Both are submitted jointly under the Family Class, typically online via the IRCC’s permanent residence site, and the payments can be paid simultaneously. In addition to filling out the sponsorship and permanent residence forms, you will also provide identification documents, police certificates, proof of your relationship, and, if necessary, medical examinations.The number of applications the IRCC has received, the category, and the completeness of the application all affect processing timelines. Parent and grandparent processing is dependent on intake caps, although spouse and partner applications are usually the fastest family-class route. Prior to making travel plans or commitments, always check the official IRCC processing-time tool for the most recent estimate.
As an International Student, Bringing Family to Canada
Family sponsorship and bringing family to Canada while you study are governed by various regulations. A spouse or dependent kid may be permitted to travel with them temporarily, but international students are not permitted to sponsor family members for permanent residency. As of January 21, 2025, a student’s spouse is only eligible for an open work permit if the student is engaged in a doctorate programme, a master’s programme lasting 16 months or more, or a specific list of professional or suitable programmes; dependent children are no longer eligible for a family open work permit. For the most recent requirements, check our special guide on applying for a student visa to Canada if you’re a student.The family class is still one of the most reliable methods to rejoin loved ones, but bringing family to Canada requires preparation, proper paperwork, and patience with processing timeframes. The regulations for bringing family to Canada vary from year to year, so always check the most recent fees and programme status on the official IRCC pages before applying.
Common Questions
The frequently asked questions about bringing relatives to Canada in 2026 are listed below.
In 2026, will I be able to sponsor my parents to Canada?
Applications for the New Parents and Grandparents Programme are suspended until 2026. The Super Visa allows your parents or grandparents to visit you for up to five years at a time while you wait for the PGP to reopen.
What is the price of sponsoring my spouse?
The sponsorship fee, processing charge, and Right of Permanent Residence fee are all included in the CAD $1,260 government price for sponsoring a spouse or partner. In addition to biometrics, which cost $85 per individual or $170 per household, each dependent child added costs CAD $180.
Who is permitted to sponsor relatives?
In addition to being a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or anyone registered under the Indian Act, you must be at least eighteen years old. Additionally, you must be able to fulfilll the sponsorship commitment and not be behind on any prior commitments or immigration loans.
Is it possible for my sponsored spouse to work in Canada?
Indeed. While the application for permanent residence is being handled, a spouse or partner sponsored through the in-Canada stream can typically apply for an open work visa, which permits them to work for nearly any business.
What is a dependent child’s maximum age?
A dependent child cannot have a spouse or common-law partner and must be younger than 22. Children who have been financially dependent on a parent since before the age of 22 owing to a medical or mental condition may still be eligible, even if they are 22 or older.
Can foreign students travel to Canada with their families?
Relatives cannot be sponsored by students to live permanently. As of January 2025, a spouse is only eligible for an open work permit if the student is enrolled in a master’s (16 months or more), doctorate, or select professional programme. A family open work permit is no longer available for dependent children.
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