Family Sponsorship Lawyer in Canada – IRCC & Family Class Immigration
Discover how to sponsor your family in Canada with guidance from an experienced family sponsorship lawyer. We help clients in Toronto and across Canada navigate the IRCC family class process with care, precision, and proven results.
Who Can You Sponsor Under Canadian Immigration Law?
Canada’s family reunification program allows eligible sponsors to bring certain close relatives to Canada as permanent residents. Eligibility depends on both your status as a sponsor and your relationship to the person being sponsored. You may be eligible to sponsor your:
Spouse or Common-Law Partner
(including married spouses, common-law partners, and conjugal partners)Dependent Child
(including biological or adopted children who meet IRCC’s dependency definition)Parent or Grandparent
(through the Parents and Grandparents Program, subject to income thresholds)Other Eligible Relatives
(in limited and specific circumstances, such as orphaned relatives under 18)
Each category has its own eligibility rules, income considerations, and documentation requirements. Many applicants contact us after searching for a family sponsorship lawyer near me because a small eligibility issue delayed or derailed their application.
Understanding the Family Sponsorship Process in Canada
Sponsoring a family member to Canada involves more than submitting forms. The process begins with proving the genuineness of your relationship and demonstrating that you can meet your legal and financial responsibilities as a sponsor.
Each sponsorship category — whether spousal sponsorship, child sponsorship, or parent and grandparent sponsorship — has its own:
eligibility tests
required IRCC forms (including IMM 1344)
relationship evidence standards
medical, biometrics, and background check requirements
At Ayodele Law, we guide clients in Toronto and across Canada through every phase of the sponsorship process. We prepare complete applications, anticipate IRCC concerns, and respond to immigration officers’ requests efficiently — reducing the risk of delays or refusals. Learn more about:
How Long Does Family Sponsorship Take in Canada?
Processing times for family sponsorship applications vary depending on the relationship being sponsored, whether the application is submitted inland or outland, and the applicant’s country of residence. As a general guideline:
Spousal and partner sponsorship: approximately 12 months
Dependent child sponsorship: often similar to spousal timelines
Parents and grandparents sponsorship: timelines vary significantly due to annual intake limits and income assessments
| Family Member | Eligibility & Key Considerations |
|---|---|
| Spouse or Common-Law Partner |
Includes married spouses, common-law partners, and conjugal partners. Applicants must prove
the genuineness of the relationship and intent to live together in Canada.
No minimum income requirement applies in most cases.
Learn more about spousal sponsorship |
| Dependent Child |
Biological or adopted children who meet IRCC’s definition of dependency. Documentation
typically includes birth certificates, custody records, and proof of dependency.
Learn more about child sponsorship |
| Parent or Grandparent |
Sponsored through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). Sponsors must
meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirement for the past three tax years and comply
with annual intake limits.
Learn more about parents and grandparents sponsorship |
| Other Eligible Relatives | In rare cases, sponsors may sponsor an orphaned sibling, nephew, niece, or grandchild under 18 who is unmarried, or one other relative if no eligible family members exist in Canada. These cases are highly fact-specific. |
| Sponsored Person | Sponsor Obligations & Undertaking Period |
|---|---|
| Spouse / Partner | Sponsors must provide basic financial support for 3 years. The undertaking remains in effect even if the relationship ends. |
| Dependent Child | Financial support is required for up to 10 years or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first. |
| Parent / Grandparent | Sponsors assume financial responsibility for 20 years. Any social assistance received may be recovered from the sponsor. |
| Other Eligible Relatives | Undertaking periods vary by case but often extend up to 10 years, depending on the relationship and circumstances. |
Documents Required for Family Sponsorship in Canada
Family sponsorship applications are document-heavy and highly technical. The exact documents required depend on who you are sponsoring, where they live, and your personal circumstances. Submitting incomplete, inconsistent, or poorly organized documents is one of the most common reasons applications are delayed or refused by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
At Ayodele Law, we help clients across Toronto and Canada understand exactly what documents are required for their specific sponsorship category — and ensure everything is prepared correctly before submission.
Important Notes About Sponsorship Documents
Document requirements vary by sponsorship category
Some documents must be certified, notarized, or officially translated
Missing or inconsistent information can trigger procedural fairness letters or refusals
IRCC may request additional documents at any stage of processing
Many families contact us after searching for a family sponsorship lawyer near me because their application was delayed due to a document issue that could have been avoided with proper review.
How Ayodele Law Helps with Sponsorship Documentation
We don’t just tell you what documents are required — we help you understand how IRCC evaluates them. Our role includes:
Confirming the correct document checklist for your case
Reviewing relationship evidence for credibility and consistency
Organizing submissions in a clear, officer-friendly format
Responding to document requests and fairness letters
This attention to detail often makes the difference between a smooth approval and months of unnecessary delay.
What If a Family Sponsorship Application Is Refused?
A family sponsorship refusal can be stressful — but it does not always mean the end of the road. The options available depend on who you were sponsoring and why the application was refused.
In some cases, refusals may be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD). In others, the appropriate next step may involve submitting a stronger re-application or pursuing judicial review at Federal Court.
Common refusal reasons include insufficient proof of relationship, income shortfalls, concerns about credibility, or allegations of misrepresentation. Understanding your options early is critical, as appeal deadlines are strict and missing them can limit future remedies.
If your application has been refused — or you are concerned about a potential refusal — speaking with a family sponsorship lawyer near you can help you assess next steps quickly and protect your long-term immigration goals.
| Document Category | What IRCC Typically Requires |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Identity & Status | Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status, government-issued photo ID, and proof of residence in Canada (or intent to return for citizens living abroad). |
| Proof of Relationship | Marriage certificates, birth certificates, adoption records, custody documents, or other legal proof demonstrating the qualifying family relationship. |
| Relationship Evidence (Spouses / Partners) | Supporting evidence such as joint financial records, shared address documents, photos, travel history, communication records, and written relationship narratives demonstrating genuineness. |
| Financial Documents | CRA Notices of Assessment, proof of income, employment letters, and financial records — particularly important for parent and grandparent sponsorships. |
| Sponsored Person’s Documents | Valid passport, birth certificate, police certificates from relevant countries, medical examination results, and civil status documents (where applicable). |
| Forms & Supporting Materials | Completed IRCC sponsorship and permanent residence forms, payment receipts, photographs, certified translations, and any additional documents requested based on the applicant’s country of residence. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Family sponsorship often raises questions about eligibility, income requirements, processing times, and refusals. Canadian immigration rules are strict, and even small mistakes can delay or jeopardize an application with. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which is why the FAQs below address issues we commonly hear from clients searching for a family sponsorship lawyer near them.
-
Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to sponsor certain close family members for permanent residence, including:
A spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner
Dependent children (including adopted children)
Parents and grandparents
In limited circumstances, orphaned siblings, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren under 18 who are unmarried
Each sponsorship category has its own eligibility rules and documentation requirements.
-
To be eligible as a sponsor, you must:
Be at least 18 years old
Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered under the Canadian Indian Act
Live in Canada (or plan to return if you are a citizen living abroad)
Not be in default of previous sponsorship undertakings, support payments, or immigration loans
Not have certain criminal convictions or inadmissibility issues
Additional financial requirements apply when sponsoring parents or grandparents.
-
Income requirements depend on who you are sponsoring:
Spouses, partners, and dependent children generally do not require a minimum income, unless the child has dependents of their own.
Parents and grandparents require proof that you meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the past three tax years.
Income is typically assessed using CRA Notices of Assessment.
-
Inland sponsorship applies when your spouse or partner is already living in Canada with valid status. In many cases, they may apply for an open work permit while the application is being processed.
Outland sponsorship is used when the sponsored person is living outside Canada. Outland applicants can generally travel more freely while the application is in process, but work authorization is not automatic.
-
If you apply through inland sponsorship, your spouse or partner may be eligible to apply for an open work permit while the sponsorship application is being processed.
If the application is outland, the sponsored person must qualify for a separate work permit, which is not guaranteed.
-
Processing times vary depending on the type of sponsorship and the applicant’s circumstances:
Spousal and partner sponsorship: often around 12 months
Dependent children: similar to spousal timelines
Parents and grandparents: timelines vary significantly due to annual intake limits
Delays can occur if documentation is incomplete or additional background checks are required.
-
If a family sponsorship application is refused, the available options depend on the reason for refusal and the relationship being sponsored.
Some refusals can be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD), while others may require re-applying or pursuing judicial review at Federal Court. Common refusal reasons include insufficient relationship evidence, income shortfalls, or alleged misrepresentation.
Understanding your options early is critical to avoiding long-term delays.
-
You are not required to hire a lawyer to sponsor a family member. However, many sponsors choose legal assistance when:
There has been a previous refusal
The relationship evidence is complex
Income requirements are borderline
Inadmissibility issues exist
Multiple family members are being sponsored
Legal guidance can help ensure the application is complete, accurate, and positioned for approval.
-
Sponsors must sign an undertaking agreeing to financially support the sponsored family member for a specific period of time. This obligation remains in effect even if circumstances change, such as separation, divorce, or financial hardship.
The length of the undertaking depends on the type of family member being sponsored.
From Our Clients“I had the pleasure of working with Tracy on my immigration case, and I couldn’t be more impressed with their professionalism and expertise. The communication throughout was exceptional, and I always felt supported, knowing my case was in good hands.”
Contact us
In person or virtual consultations available. Your case is important to us. We will get back to you within 24 hours of your submission.
Office Hours: Monday - Friday | 10am - 5pm
Telephone: 647-937-4330
Fax: 416-486-7747
Email: admin@ayodelelaw.ca