Family Reunification in Canada

The new system utilizes advanced analytics to identify individuals with ongoing permanent residency applications and facilitates a quicker approval process for their visas to visit Canada.

In 2023, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser asserted that the government is employing an innovative system to expedite the arrival of spouses, children, and parents of recent immigrants to Canada. Individuals seeking to relocate to Canada can submit applications to accompany their sponsors while awaiting approval of their permanent residency. However, these applicants frequently face denials for the essential visa due to concerns that they may not depart upon its expiration. To initiate the family reunification process, your connection with the relative must fall into one of the following categories:

Family reunification categories

Immediate Family Member:

• Spouse or common-law partner
• Dependent child, and their dependent child

Extended Family Member:

• Child of any age
• Parent
• Grandparent
• Grandchild
• Sibling
• Aunt or uncle
• Great aunt or great uncle
• Child of an aunt or an uncle, a niece or nephew, current or former legal guardian.

 

Main Options for Reuniting Your Family

1. Reunion with Family in Canada:

Moving under the Family Reunification program does not require a diploma, language skills, or work experience. This program is suitable for individuals with close relatives permanently residing in the country.

Eligible family ties include:

• Husband, wife (civil or official), marital partners
• Father, mother, grandparents
• A dependent child or one who is about to be adopted
• Minor sisters, brothers, nephews, grandchildren with no other relatives
• Before applying for family reunification, the applicant needs to ensure that their Canadian relative:
• Can confirm a minimum income for the previous 3 years (e.g., for 2 people – $40,379, for 7 people – $85,835).
• Has a Canadian birth certificate, passport, or citizenship card.

2. Sponsorship of Your Family Members:

Your family members have the opportunity to reside, pursue education, and engage in employment in Canada by obtaining permanent residency. You are eligible to sponsor specific relatives to relocate to Canada if you are at least 18 years old and fall into one of the following categories:

• • Canadian citizen
  • Individual registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
  • Permanent resident of Canada

 

Financial Relief: Lowered Sponsorship Criteria for Parents and Grandparents in Canada

Acknowledging that many potential sponsors may have faced financial challenges in recent years due to the pandemic, IRCC will once again implement a reduced income requirement for sponsoring parents and grandparents.

Individuals aspiring to reunite with their parents and grandparents in Canada may explore the option of having them apply for a super visa—a multiple-entry visa valid for 10 years. The enhancements introduced to the super visa in the summer of 2022 permit holders to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a stretch, with the flexibility to extend their visit by up to 2 years consecutively without exiting the country. These modifications simplify the process for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to unite with their parents and grandparents in Canada for extended durations. Additionally, it presents an opportune moment to transition from this visa type to Permanent Resident status.

Feel free to contact us today for more detailed information!

Reuniting Your Family in Canada Key Points:

In the year 2022, Canadian Government successfully concluded over 5.2 million applications spanning our diverse range of services, resulting in decisions for millions of individuals.

As of July 2022, prospective spousal sponsorship applicants can anticipate their applications being processed within the 12-month service standard (applicable to 80% of cases for non-Quebec applications).

While open work permits are accessible to foreign nationals in various situations, not all will qualify for an extension through this expedited processing measure.

This extension will specifically be offered to:

• Permanent residence applicants awaiting a decision on their application and their spouses
• Family class-sponsored spouses with valid temporary resident status and their dependent children
• Spouses and common-law partners of most work permit holders and their dependent children
• Spouses and common-law partners of study permit holders

In the year 2022, Canada issued over 1,075,000 work permits and work permit extensions.

 

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship: “Family reunification through immigration is not only a matter of compassion; it is a fundamental pillar of Canadian society. Today’s announcement is a mandate commitment to help build inclusive and resilient communities. We are supporting Canadians and newcomers by reuniting families faster and also allowing them to work and support themselves more quickly once they’re here. By doing so, Canada is helping newcomers achieve their true potential, while also strengthening Canada’s economy and social fabric.”