Family Sponsorship
If you’re a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you may be able to sponsor a spouse or relative to immigrate to Canada.
To apply to sponsor a spouse or relative, you must sign an agreement with the federal government and provide proof that you can:
- Meet basic needs like food, clothing and shelter for yourself and your family
- Support your sponsored relative financially
- Make sure your sponsored relative won’t need to ask for financial help from the government
Your agreement makes you legally responsible to support your spouse or relative for a set period of time. Typically, agreements stay in effect for 3 – 20 years, even if there are changes to your situations, such as:
- Your relative is granted Canadian citizenship
- Your relationship ends (i.e. divorce or separation)
- You lose or change your job
- You attend school
If your sponsored spouse or relative receives social assistance from B.C. during the period of your agreement, it’s considered a sponsorship debt and you must pay back the amount they received.
