Many Canadian Permanent Residents or Citizens want to bring their parents to Canada. If the parent wants to live in Canada the Canadian Permanent Resident or Citizen has the chance to sponsor them. There are several requirements for the one who wants to sponsor and the parent(s) being sponsored. The good news is that being a mother or father of a Canadian Permanent Resident or Citizen can be a great path to immigration to Canada.

Sponsor a Parent to Canada

You can sponsor your own parents if:

you’re at least 18 years old

you live in Canada

you’re a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act

you have enough money to support the person(s) you want to sponsor

To show that you have enough, you’ll have to provide your proof of income.

If you live outside of Quebec:

To become a sponsor, you must promise to financially take care of the person(s) you are sponsoring for a period of time. We call this promise an undertaking. The undertaking commits you to:

providing financial support for your sponsored parents for 20 years, starting when they become permanent residents

repaying any provincial social assistance (money from the government) your sponsored parents get during that time

The sponsorship agreement means that:

you’ll provide for the basic needs of your sponsored parents

They are unable to support themselves financially due to a mental or physical condition

The sponsorship agreement means that:

you’ll provide for the basic needs of your sponsored parents

the person you sponsor will make every effort to support themselves and their family members

When you apply, you’ll have to complete and sign a form that includes the undertaking and the sponsorship agreement.

You Cannot Sponsor a Parent If

• you’re less than 18 years old
• you won’t live in Canada when you apply to sponsor your parent and/or when your parents and become permanent residents
• Your primary residential address must be in Canada when you submit your application and until we make a decision on your application.
• you’re not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
• you’re a temporary resident, that is you’re visiting, studying or working in Canada on a visa or permit
• your permanent residence application is still in process
  • You must have permanent resident status at the time you submit your sponsorship application.
• your proof of income shows you don’t have enough money to support the persons you want to sponsor

You may not be eligible to sponsor your parents if you:

are in jail, prison, or penitentiary

didn’t pay back:

an immigration loan

a performance bond

court-ordered family support payments such as alimony or child support

didn’t give the financial support you agreed to when you signed a sponsorship agreement to sponsor someone else in the past *

declared bankruptcy and are not discharged *

receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability

were convicted of a violent criminal offence, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence inside or outside Canada

can’t legally stay in Canada and must leave the country because you received a Removal Order

Not applicable if you live in Quebec