Canada Family Sponsorship is a pathway for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their loved ones to Canada as Permanent Residents (PR). Unlike the Super Visa (which is temporary), this program gives family members the right to live, work, and study in Canada indefinitely.

The rules and income requirements vary significantly depending on who you are sponsoring.

1. Who Can You Sponsor?

The program is generally divided into three main categories:

• Spouse, Partner, or Dependent Children: Your legal spouse, common-law partner (living together for 1+ year), or conjugal partner, and children under age 22.

• Parents and Grandparents (PGP): This is an invitation-only program. For 2025, invitations were only sent to people who submitted an “Interest to Sponsor” form back in 2020.

• Other Relatives: In very limited “lonely Canadian” cases (if you have no other close family in Canada) or for orphaned siblings/nieces/nephews under 18.

2. Income Requirements for 2025

One of the biggest differences between categories is whether you need to prove a specific income.

• Sponsoring Spouse or Children: Usually, there is no minimum income requirement, as long as you are not receiving social assistance (other than for a disability).

• Sponsoring Parents/Grandparents: You must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the three consecutive years before you apply.

2025 MNI Thresholds (Total Income for 3 Years):

| Family Size* | 2024 Income | 2023 Income | 2022 Income |

| 2 people | $47,549 | $44,530 | $43,082 |

| 3 people | $58,456 | $54,743 | $52,965 |

| 4 people | $70,972 | $66,466 | $64,306 |

| 5 people | $80,496 | $75,384 | $72,935 |

| Size includes the sponsor, their household in Canada, and the relatives being sponsored.

3. Your Obligations (The Undertaking)

When you sponsor someone, you sign a legal contract called an Undertaking. You must provide for their basic needs (food, shelter, clothing) and promise to repay the government if they ever collect social assistance.

• Spouse/Partner: 3 years.

• Dependent Child: 10 years (or until they turn 25).

• Parents/Grandparents: 20 years (10 years if you live in Quebec).

4. Application Fees & Times (2025 Estimates)