Overview
Learn how to sponsor your parents and grandparents to Canada with iCW Immigration. Get expert guidance and support for a successful application process.
How to apply
If you're invited to apply to sponsor your parents and grandparents, there are 2 applications:
IRCC must get your application package within 60 days from the date of your invitation. The deadline is clearly marked on your invitation to apply.
The steps to apply to sponsor your parents and grandparents are a bit different from the earlier process. IRCC will invite people from the remaining pool of potential sponsors who submitted an interest to sponsor form a year before.
If you're invited to apply, they'll email you using the email address you gave them.
- You must apply to become a sponsor.
- Your parents or grandparents must apply for permanent residence.
- Submit both the sponsorship and the permanent residence applications together online at the same time.
Helping your parents and grandparents with their application
You have to ask permission and provide the right forms if you want to:
- prepare or help prepare your parents' and grandparents' applications and communicate with immigration authorities on their behalf
- this would mean that you'd be acting as their representative
- check on their application status
How to find your Canadian citizenship information
To sponsor your parents or grandparents, you need:
To find the date and the number, check the back of your citizenship certificate.
If you don't have your citizenship certificate, you can apply for a citizenship certificate urgently, or search for citizenship records urgently.
If you can't get proof of your citizenship within the 60-day period you have to apply, you can include an explanation letter saying why you don't have it and what steps you've taken to get it.
- the date you became a Canadian citizen
- your UCI or client ID number
Biometrics fee
In most cases, you must pay a biometrics fee when you submit your application. If you don't, your application may be delayed. The biometrics fee covers the cost of collecting fingerprints and digital photos.
Third-party fees
Depending on your situation, you may need to pay third parties for:
- your medical exam
- a police certificate
Police certificates
- You don't have to include police certificates when you apply. They'll ask you for them later in the process.
- You need a police certificate for the people being sponsored and each family member 18 or older (who isn't already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident).
- Police certificates are generally valid for 1 year from the date they're issued.
- Depending on processing times, you may be asked for new certificates.
Biometrics
COVID-19: Changes to biometrics requirements and collection procedures. Temporary measures have been put into place for biometrics requirements and collection procedures.
- When the biometrics fee is paid, they'll send your family members a letter asking them to give their biometrics.
- Your family members must show this letter when they give their biometrics.
- They have 30 days to give their biometrics in person at their closest collection point.
Changes to your situation
IRCC will send instructions and let your family members know how much time they have to send this information.
You must tell authorities of any change to your situation, such as:
- birth or adoption of children
- marriage or divorce
- death of an applicant or dependant
How the process works
- Step 1. Get an invitation to apply
IRCC randomly selects and invites potential sponsors to apply to sponsor their parents and grandparents.
- Step 2. Apply online
To avoid using outdated forms or an old instruction guide, don't start filling out your application unless you're invited to apply to the current year's program. If you apply but don't end up being invited, IRCC won't refund the sponsorship application processing fee. This year, they will accept applications from those who are invited through an online process. IRCC continuously updates information about the process on its website. To get the latest info, you must check its website. If you live in Quebec, the steps to sponsor your parents and grandparents can be different.
- Step 3. Pay your application fees
In most cases, your fees will include processing fees for you, the people you're sponsoring, and their dependents; the Right of Permanent Residence Fee; and the biometrics fee. You have to pay your fees online.
- Step 4. Send additional information during processing
During processing, IRCC may ask the person you're sponsoring to submit their medical exams, police certificates and biometrics.