In order to be a sponsor for their own parents and grandparents, an individual must:
👉 be aged at least 18
👉 be living in Canada when they submit their Interest to Sponsor Form and at least until their application to sponsor is approved
👉 be a citizen of Canada, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
👉 have enough money (either individually or in combination with a spouse or common-law partner) to be able to support anyone they intend to sponsor
👉 not be ineligible to sponsor due to issues such as:
➡️ being in prison
➡️ failing to repay an immigration loan or a court-ordered payment such as child support or alimony
➡️ failing to provide financial support to previously sponsored visa applicants
➡️ bankruptcy which has not been discharged
➡️ being in receipt of social assistance (disability-related social assistance is acceptable)
➡️ having been convicted of a violent or sexual criminal offence
➡️ being in Canada illegally
Applicants for sponsorship will also be required to provide an ‘undertaking’, commiting that they will:
👉 Provide any necessary financial support to sponsored family members for a period of 20 years, beginnning when they become permanent residents.
👉 Repay any provincial, territorial or municipal social assistance (money from regional or local government) your sponsored family members get during that time
Sponsors living in Quebec are subject to that province’s own eligibility and income requirements, as set by Quebec’s authorities in charge of immigration.