Canada offers a dependent visa program that allows eligible individuals to sponsor their
family members to join them in Canada as permanent residents. The Dependent Visa program
falls under the Family Class sponsorship category. Here are some key points about the
dependent visa for Canada:
1. Sponsorship Eligibility:
To sponsor a family member, the sponsor (Canadian citizen or permanent resident) must meet
certain eligibility criteria set by the Canadian government. The sponsor must be at least 18
years old, reside in Canada, and demonstrate the ability to financially support the family
member being sponsored.
2. The Dependent Visa program allows sponsors to sponsor the following family members:
Spouse or common-law partner: The sponsor can sponsor their legally married spouse
or common-law partner. A common-law partner is a person with whom the sponsor has been in a
conjugal relationship for at least one year, living together continuously.
3. Dependent Children: The sponsor can sponsor their dependent children. Dependent
children are
defined as unmarried and under the age of 22. If the child is over 22 and has a mental or
physical disability, they may still be considered dependent and eligible for sponsorship.
Eligibility Requirements for the Sponsor
Age: The sponsor must be at least 18 years old.
Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident: The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen,
a
person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act, or a permanent
resident
of Canada.
Residency Requirement: The sponsor must be residing in Canada.
Financial Ability: The sponsor must demonstrate the ability to financially
support
the family member being sponsored. This is to ensure that the sponsored family member will
not
need to seek financial assistance from the government upon arrival in Canada.
Undertaking: Eligibility requirements for sponsors include signing an undertaking
to financially support the sponsored family member for a specific period. For spouses or
common-law partners, the undertaking period is generally three years from the date the
sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.
Eligibility requirements for the family member being sponsored
1. Relationship: The sponsored family member must have a qualifying relationship with
the sponsor, such as a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child.
2. Medical and Criminal Checks: The sponsored family member and their accompanying
family members must undergo medical examinations and provide police clearance certificates
from all countries where they have lived for more than six months since turning 18.
3. Sponsorship Process:The sponsorship process involves two main steps:
i. The sponsor applies to sponsor the family member and signs an undertaking to provide
financial support for them.
ii. The sponsored family member applies for permanent residence in Canada as a dependent
under the family class. They must undergo medical and security checks.
4. Processing Time: The processing time for dependent visa applications can vary
depending on the specific circumstances and the visa office's workload. It's important to
check the most up-to-date processing times on the official website of Immigration, Refugees,
and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
5. Commitment Period: Sponsors who are sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner are
required to sign a sponsorship agreement that commits them to financially support the
sponsored spouse or partner for a specific period. This period is usually three years from
the date the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.
