Under this program the applicant sponsors close relatives or family members by providing for their basic needs and giving all the information to help them get successfully settled in Canada. The sponsor must be at least 18 years old, be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and must have at his/her disposal sufficient financial resources during the undertaking period. The sponsor must meet other important requirements of the Canadian government as for example, he/she has to compile with previous commitments and obligations. The duration of the sponsor’s undertaking varies from three to 10 years: three years to sponsor spouse or conjugal partner; ten years to sponsor a minor child (or until the child turns 25 years of age, whichever comes first) and relative other than spouse and minor child.

Sponsorship is a serious step, as the sponsor’s undertaking is not cancelled upon granting of a permanent resident status or Canadian citizenship or because of divorce/separation of spouses.

The sponsor’s undertaking ensures that a sponsored applicant and accompanying dependents do not have to apply for social insurance.

Waiting time until issue of a visa is not regulated and cannot be exactly determined but CIC is committed to considering the sponsorship documents as quickly as possible.

Since February 17, 2003 a new application kit and submission process have been applied to sponsor immediately family members residing outside Canada. The primary goal of the changes introduced is to accelerate the evaluation process and ensure well-timed dealing-out of application. to reunite families. Now the applicant and sponsored person can complete the medical examination prior to submitting the joint application, which combines the sponsorship and the permanent residence applications.