Family Sponsorship Canada
Reunite with your loved ones in Canada. Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor close family members โ spouses, common-law partners, parents, grandparents, dependent children, and certain other relatives.
Who You Can Sponsor
Spouse or common-law partner
12+ months continuous cohabitation for common-law
Conjugal partner
When you cannot live together due to exceptional circumstances
Dependent children
Under 22 and unmarried (or 22+ if dependent due to disability)
Parents and grandparents
Subject to PGP intake or interest-to-sponsor invitation
Adopted children
Including children to be adopted in Canada
Orphaned relatives
Siblings, nephews, nieces, grandchildren under 18, unmarried
Sponsor Requirements
- โ Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (or registered Indian under the Indian Act).
- โ Be at least 18 years old.
- โ Sign a 3-year financial undertaking for spouse/partner (longer for parents/grandparents).
- โ Not be in default on a previous undertaking.
- โ Not have been convicted of certain offences (with conditions on nature, timing, and rehabilitation).
- โ Not receive social assistance (other than for a disability).
- โ For parents/grandparents only: meet Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the past 3 tax years.
Spousal Sponsorship: Inland vs Outland
Outland Sponsorship
Spouse outside Canada (or choosing outland processing). Processed by IRCC visa offices abroad.
- โ Right of appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD)
- โ Typically faster overall
- โ No automatic open work permit for sponsored spouse
Inland Sponsorship
Spouse already inside Canada with legal status. Processed in Canada.
- โ Open Work Permit (SOWP) available almost immediately
- โ No right of appeal (only Federal Court judicial review)
- โ Sponsored spouse should not leave Canada during processing
For a deeper dive, read our 2026 Spousal Sponsorship Guide.
Why Choose Us?
Personalized Assessment
- Understanding your Canadian immigration needs and goals.
- Assessing eligibility across multiple programs.
- Recommending the best pathway for your situation.
- Answering all questions and addressing concerns.
Tailored Approach
- Custom Canadian immigration plan suited to you.
- Clear proposal outlining services and payment structure: 50% before processing, 50% before submission.
- Comprehensive checklist after initial payment.
Application Fulfillment
- Dedicated case manager assigned to your file.
- Strong application prepared within 7โ10 business days.
- Review and final approval before submission.
Trusted Partnership
- Kept informed at every stage from submission to decision.
- Ongoing support and guidance until you reach your goals.
- Available for status updates at any time.
Ready to take the next step?
Book a free assessment with our licensed RCIC team. We'll review your case, identify your best pathway, and outline the next steps.
Our Technology Ecosystem
The platform behind Waymark โ built in Abbotsford, BC by RCICs, for the way modern immigration practices actually work.
Nova System Inc.
Canadian legal-tech company building modern software for immigration consultants. The team behind Meridian, Polaris, and Aurora.
- โธFounded in Abbotsford, BC by a practicing RCIC
- โธThree products serving the full RCIC workflow
- โธBuilt on the global edge network
- โธEncrypted at rest with AES-256-GCM
- โธCICC-aware trust accounting and RCIC compliance baked in
Meridian
The all-in-one operating system for RCIC firms. Cases, clients, documents, trust accounting, AI, and intake โ one connected platform.
- โธAI-powered CRM for cases, clients, leads, deadlines
- โธDocument automation plus smart checklists per IRCC pathway
- โธCICC-aware trust accounting and annual report generator
- โธPer-case AI chat plus global firm AI assistant
- โธBranded intake forms, client portal, e-signatures
- โธReal-time IRCC policy and Express Entry draw monitoring
Polaris
The desktop cockpit. A native app that puts your day, your cases, and your AI assistant one click away โ built for staff who live in the practice.
- โธDaily bench view โ your day at a glance
- โธVoice notes and camera capture into cases
- โธOwner cockpit with firm-wide metrics and approvals
- โธCompass with in-app help and onboarding
- โธRCIC approvals queue for L1 staff submissions
- โธLock and unlock workstation via mobile passkey
Aurora
The mobile client experience. Clients track their case, upload documents, sign forms, and message their RCIC โ from the palm of their hand.
- โธLive case tracking and processing-time radar
- โธMulti-page document scan and camera upload
- โธSecure document viewer and watermarked downloads
- โธIn-house e-signatures and payment receipts
- โธEligibility checks, CRS, NOC, travel calculators
- โธPush notifications and PIPEDA data export and delete
Waymark Immigration runs on the Nova System ecosystem.