Guide 5772 – Application to Sponsor Parents and Grandparents

This is the instruction guide for the 2024 intake.

For the 2024 intake, we’ll invite 35,700 people from the remaining pool of potential sponsors who submitted an Interest to Sponsor form in 2020. This will help IRCC reach its goal of accepting 20,500 complete applications.

You can only apply to sponsor your parents and grandparents if your Interest to Sponsor form is randomly selected.

If we invite you to apply, you’ll have to submit your application by the deadline in your invitation to apply letter.

You can check if you were invited to apply using our invitation status tool. If the tool says you were invited, but you didn’t get an email to the account you put on your 2020 Interest to Sponsor form, make sure you

• check your spam and junk mail folder
• check your physical mail – if we couldn’t email an invitation, we sent it by mail to the address you put on your 2020 Interest to Sponsor form.

Don’t apply unless we invite you to. If you submit an application without being invited, we’ll send it back to you.

If you were not invited to apply, but you’d like your parents and grandparents to come to Canada, they may be eligible to apply for a super visa, which could let them

• stay in Canada for 5 years at a time
• apply to extend their stay while in Canada by up to 2 years at a time.

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Before you apply – Information for the sponsor
• Before you apply – Information for the principal applicant (the person being sponsored)
• Step 1. Gather documents
• Step 2. Apply online using the Permanent Residence Portal
• Step 3. Pay the fees
• Step 4. Check your application to avoid common mistakes
• Step 5. Submit the application
• What happens next
• Need help?
• Appendix A: Photo specifications

Overview

Application package

We encourage the sponsor and principal applicant to thoroughly read this entire instruction guide and then complete each of the applicable application forms.

For an application to be considered complete, the sponsor and principal applicant must fill out the forms listed below and must submit them all together in

• the Permanent Residence Portal (if you’re applying by yourself) or
• the Representative Permanent Residence Portal (if you’re using a paid representative)

You must do this for each set of parents and grandparents you are sponsoring. Incomplete applications will be returned.

This application package includes

• the instruction guide with helpful information for the sponsor and principal applicant (the person being sponsored) and
• the forms required for both the sponsor and the principal applicant to complete and include in their application.

Alternate formats

If you (the applicant), your sponsor or representative can’t apply online through the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal and require accommodations, including for a disability, you can request an alternate format. After we review the request, we’ll send you the application package in your preferred format (paper, braille or large print).

Send your email request for an alternate format as soon as possible to: IRCC.2024PGPALTRequest-2024PGPDemandeALT.IRCC@cic.gc.ca and include the following information in your request:

• the full name of the principal applicant
• the full name of the sponsor
• the confirmation number from the 2020 Interest to Sponsor form
• the Invitation to Apply letter sent in Spring 2024
• a statement explaining that you’re asking for an alternate format
• the language you prefer (English or French)
• the type of alternate format you are requesting (paper copy, braille, or large print)
• whether you want us to send the alternate format application by email or regular mail (note: we can only send braille by regular mail)
  • include your email address if you want to receive the alternate format application electronically to print yourself (this will avoid potential mailing delays) or
  • include your mailing address if you want a hard copy sent to you

If you ask for the application by email, we’ll send you links to the application package, which you can then print.

Once we get your request for an alternate format, we’ll reply with instructions and tell you where to send your application. You must then fill out and sign the forms, and return your application package in an alternate format by mail or courier to the mailing address in our instructions.

To show that you were approved to submit an alternate format application, include a copy of the cover letter we sent approving you to apply via alternate format with your application.

We must receive your alternate format application package by the same deadline in your Invitation to Apply letter for the 2024 intake. There are no exceptions.

For more information, you can call 1-888-242-2100 (from within Canada only).

Before you apply – Information for the sponsor

Sponsorship of parents and grandparents

• Find out if you’re eligible to sponsor
  • How long you’re responsible for the people you sponsor
  • If you live in Quebec
• Who you can sponsor
• Withdrawing your sponsorship application

Can I have a co-signer?

Your spouse or common-law partner may be a co-signer on the sponsorship application. Your combined gross income may help you meet the income requirements. You and your co-signer must each provide proof of income from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the 3 consecutive tax years immediately preceding the date of the sponsorship application (tax years 2021, 2022 and 2023 for the 2024 intake).

If you live in Quebec, see if you meet the provincial income requirements, as the Quebec ministry in charge of immigration will assess your income.

The co-signer must

• meet the same eligibility requirements as the sponsor
• agree to co-sign the undertaking
• agree to be responsible for the basic requirements of the person they want to sponsor and their family members for the validity period of the undertaking

The co-signer will be equally liable if obligations are not performed.

If your co-signer is your spouse, you must submit your certificate of marriage. If you were married in the province of Quebec, only a marriage certificate issued by the Directeur de l’état civil is acceptable. Upload your marriage certificate to your online application under “Additional supporting documents.”

If your co-signer is your common-law partner, you must submit the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409] (opens in a new tab) by uploading the document to your online application under the section “Additional application forms”. This document must be signed by hand by the sponsor, co-signer and the administrator of the declaration.

Defaults

You can’t become a sponsor or a co-signer if any of the situations below apply to you

A previous sponsorship undertaking

If family members you sponsored in the past received social assistance while the undertaking was valid, you can’t sponsor until

• you repay the full amount of any social assistance or
• you repay the debt to the satisfaction of the government authority that issued the benefit or ordered you to pay.

Provincial authorities’ contact information

If the person you sponsor (or co-sign) or a member of their family receives financial support under a provincial, territorial or municipal assistance program during the validity of the agreement, you will be deemed in default of your obligations and responsible to repay that money.

If you need information about how to repay the money owed, contact your provincial office from the list below. The services offered by these offices are available during local business hours only.

British Columbia
Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction
Sponsorship Default Line
Telephone: 1-877-815-2363 (select option 6)

Quebec
Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale
Centre du recouvrement
Québec City area: 1-418-643-7131
Elsewhere in Canada: 1-800-463-5644

Québec:
425, rue du Pont, 2e étage
Québec (Québec) G1K 9K5

Longueuil:
201, place Charles-Le Moyne, bureau 1.12
Longueuil (Québec) J4K 2T5

Montréal:
1415, rue Jarry Est, bureau 400
Montréal (Québec) H2E 3B4
Email: centre.recouvrement1@mess.gouv.qc.ca
Website

Alberta
Alberta Human Services
Income Support Contact Centre
Telephone: 1-866-644-5135
Edmonton: 1-780-644-9992
Email: css.ascc@gov.ab.ca

Newfoundland and Labrador
Department of Events, Education, Skills and Labour
Income Support Section
Telephone: 1-877-729-7888 (select option 4)
Email: AESL@gov.nl.ca

Saskatchewan
Department of Community Resources and Employment
Saskatchewan Social Services
Telephone: 1-888-345-0850
Website

New Brunswick
Social Assistance Program
Telephone: 1-833-733-7835
Website

Manitoba
Employment and Income Assistance
Telephone: 1-855-944-8111
Website

Nova Scotia
Department of Community Services
Nelson Place, 5675 Spring Garden Road
Halifax, NS B3J 1H1
Telephone: 1-877-424-1177
Website

Ontario
Overpayment Recovery Unit
Toll free: 1-888-346-5184
Repayment - Sponsorship details must be faxed to Accountability Finance Unit: 1-866-778-7750
Website

Prince Edward Island
Social Programs
Telephone: 1-877-569-0546 (option 1)
Website

Yukon
Paying a Yukon government invoice
Telephone: 1-867-471-0799 (or contact the local social assistance office)
Website

Northwest Territories
Immigration
Education, Culture and Employment
Labour Development and Standards
1-867-767-9351 ext. 71153
Toll free: 1-855-440-5450
Website

Nunavut
Department of Family Services - Headquarters
Telephone: 1-867-975-5200

Regional Offices:
Kivalliq: 1-867-645-8560
Kitikmeot: 1-867-983-5199
South Baffin: 1-867-975-5777
North Baffin: 1-867-473-8944
Website

An immigration loan

If you received a transportation, assistance or right of permanent residence fee (previously called the right of landing fee) loan and you are in default of your loan (you have missed payments), you can’t sponsor.

For more information, contact the Immigration Loans Program at 1-800-667-7301 (in Canada and the United States only).

Support payment obligations

If you were ordered by a court to make support payments to a spouse or child and haven’t made payments, you can’t sponsor until you resolve the family support matter.

A performance bond

If you agreed to pay money to guarantee that an immigrant would fulfil their obligations under immigration legislation, you can’t sponsor until you pay the full amount of the bond.

Sponsorship bar for violent crime

The sponsorship bar prevents people who’ve been convicted of certain crimes from sponsoring a family member.

If you’ve been convicted of a crime that caused bodily harm to any of the relatives listed below, you can’t sponsor anyone under the family class.

Note:

• “Partner” includes common-law and conjugal partners.
• Relatives not listed here may still fall under this category. If you aren’t sure, check the full list of rules or contact us.

Relatives the sponsorship bar can apply to:

• your current or ex-spouse/partner and their children
• your children
• your parent/grandparent, child/grandchild, sibling, niece/nephew, aunt/uncle or cousin
  • the current or ex-spouse/partner and children of the above
• the parent/grandparent, child/grandchild, sibling, niece/nephew, aunt/uncle or cousin of your current or ex-spouse/partner or children
  • the current or ex-spouse/partner and children of any of the above
• your child’s spouse, partner or children
• your spouse’s, partner’s or child’s ex-spouse or ex-partner and children
• your partner’s parent/grandparent, child/grandchild, sibling, niece/nephew, aunt/uncle or cousin
• the current or ex-spouse/partner (and their children) of any of the above
• a foster child who is or was cared for by
  • you
  • your current or ex-spouse/partner or their children
  • your parent/grandparent, child/grandchild, sibling, aunt/uncle or cousin
  • the current or ex-spouse/partner (and their children) of any of the above
• your current or ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, their spouse or common-law partner and their dependent children

Note: The sponsorship bar for violent crime also applies to co-signers.

Income requirement for sponsors of parents and grandparents

You (the sponsor) and your co-signer (if applicable) must meet an income requirement for each of the 3 consecutive tax years immediately preceding the date of your application, as outlined in the table below. For the 2024 intake, we’ll assess sponsors (and co-signers, if applicable) on their income for the tax years 2023, 2022 and 2021. This income requirement applies to residents of all provinces and territories except Quebec. If you live in Quebec, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) will assess your income.

The income requirement for the 2021 tax year continues to be reduced to the minimum necessary income, instead of the minimum necessary income plus 30% to help ensure that no one is penalized for a temporary loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sponsors (and co-signers, if applicable) can count regular Employment Insurance benefits in their income calculations for the 2021 tax year only, rather than just special Employment Insurance benefits. Sponsors and co-signers can also include any Canada Emergency Response Benefits (whether issued under the Employment Issuance Act or the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit Act) and other temporary COVID-19 related benefits to their total income for 2021 if they are not part of provincial or territorial social assistance programs. For the 2022 and 2023 tax years, the income requirement will be the minimum necessary income plus 30%.

Signing the statement of consent (question 8 on the Financial Evaluation for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship [IMM 5768] (opens in a new tab) and providing your social insurance number (SIN) will allow IRCC to collect your SIN and request your income tax information directly and quickly from the CRA to determine whether you meet the income requirements. If you do not provide your consent, you must complete the Income Sources for the Sponsorship of Parents and Grandparents form [IMM 5748] (opens in a new tab) and submit a copy of your notice of assessment issued to you by the CRA (Option C printout) for each of the 3 tax years immediately preceding the date of your application (tax years 2023, 2022 and 2021 for the 2024 intake).

If you do not have copies of your notices of assessment or other documents issued by the CRA (Option C printout) on file, you can view (and print) your tax returns as well as other personal tax information using the CRA’s My Account online service. To register or login, visit My Account.

If you reside in the province of Quebec, you will not be required to submit an undertaking of assistance for the family members you are sponsoring at this time. You will be contacted when your sponsorship application is assessed. At that time, if you meet federal sponsorship requirements, you will be notified that you must submit an undertaking application to MIFI so that your income can be assessed.

There is no requirement that you or your co-signer (if applicable) have been a permanent resident, Canadian citizen or Status Indian for the 3 years immediately preceding your application to sponsor in order to be eligible to sponsor your parents and grandparents; however, you must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or Status Indian living in Canada when you submit the application.

How to calculate the family size and how IRCC will assess this information

You and your co-signer (if you have one) will need to demonstrate that you meet the income requirements for the 3 tax years before the date you apply. Your family size is counted on a yearly basis. For the 2024 intake, we’ll assess sponsors (and co-signers, if applicable) on their income and family size for the tax years 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Financial Evaluation for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship [IMM 5768] (opens in a new tab) is the form that IRCC uses to assess the total number of people you must account for when determining the income that you must have in order to sponsor. IRCC will use the calculation that you enter into Box 7 of the IMM 5768 as a starting point when calculating your family size. However, this calculation is not determinative, and IRCC will also confirm the calculation in light of the detailed family information in your application.

Note: the number you enter into Box 7 only captures your current family size and does not necessarily reflect the size of your family during the 3 tax years before your application date, which is relevant for the calculation of your income requirements. If your family size changed during or since those 3 years, it could affect the amount of income you need for each of the 3 years. IRCC may also calculate a different family size for specific years based on the detailed family information you provide in your sponsorship application.

The steps below help you count your current family size. You will need to enter this calculation into Box 7 of the IMM 5768.

This calculation may also help you estimate whether you would meet the income requirements. The steps are based on a simplified calculation that doesn’t address each person’s unique situation. We can only confirm you meet the income requirements when we assess your application.

Follow these 2 steps to calculate the size of your family:

Step 1. How many people are in your family (including how many you sponsored or co-signed before)?

Include

• yourself
• your spouse (even if you’re separated, in most cases) or common-law partner, who could also be your co-signer
• your dependent children
  • their dependent children, if they have any
• your spouse’s or common-law partner’s dependent children, and
  • their dependent children, if they have any

Then add

• any other person you and your co-signer (if you have one) sponsored or co-signed in the past, whom you’re still financially responsible for (for example, sponsored refugees) and their family members (whether or not they were included in the undertaking)

Step 2. How many people do you want to sponsor?

Include

• the principal applicant (foreign national)
• the principal applicant’s spouse (even if separated, in most cases) or common-law partner
• the dependent children of the principal applicant and principal applicant’s spouse or common-law partner and
  • their dependent children, if they have any

You must include all the above family members, even if they will not come to Canada with your parents or grandparents and even if the family members are permanent residents of Canada or Canadian citizens.

Add the total number of people covered in steps 1 and 2. This total number represents the size of your family and how many people you will be financially accountable for. You will need to do this for each of the 3 years prior to the year you submit an application as your family size may have changed. For the 2024 intake, these are the tax years 2023, 2022 and 2021. Look at the Income requirement table to estimate if you meet the income requirements for each year based on your family size for that year. Note that your calculations will only be an estimate.

For more information and examples of counting family size, visit How do I calculate my family size to sponsor my parents and grandparents?

If your family size changes throughout processing

If your family size changes while your application is being processed, the income requirements you need to meet may also change. Let us know if your family size has changed through the Web form.

In a case where the principal applicant passes away while an application is being processed, we may still process the application for permanent residence of their spouse or common-law partner, and any dependent children should they still wish to become permanent residents. You will need to inform us using the Web form and include a copy of the death certificate, an updated IMM 1344 and an updated IMM 0008.

The Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations provide that a sponsor’s family size and, in turn, the minimum necessary income, must be assessed on a year-by-year basis for each of the 3 tax years immediately preceding the date of receipt of the sponsorship application, including any increases (for example, birth, marriage, new common-law relationships, and so on) or decreases (for example, death, divorce, end of common-law relationships, end of an undertaking, and so on) in the family size from year to year.

Counting increases and decreases to the family size for parent and grandparent applications

While increases and decreases in family size impact all sponsors and co-signers who must meet an income requirement, due to the number of years they must meet an income requirement, these changes are more likely to occur among sponsors and co-signers of parents or grandparents.

By assessing family size on a year-by-year basis, the family size may have increased within the 3 years preceding the date of the receipt of the sponsorship application. IRCC will include any marriages, common-law relationships and/or births for the year in which the increase to the family size occurred. For example, the sponsor got married and had a newborn child in 2023 (the couple were not common-law partners before their marriage). The sponsor submits a parent or grandparent application in 2024. The income requirements must be met for years 2023, 2022 and 2021. The sponsor’s spouse and newborn child must only be counted in the family size for the year 2023. However, if the sponsor’s spouse co-signs the application, the spouse must be included in all 3 years (please see “Co-signers and non-co-signers of parent and grandparent applications” below for further details).

By assessing family size on a year-by-year basis, the family size may have decreased within the 3 years preceding the date of the receipt of the sponsorship application. IRCC will include any deceased family members, divorced family members, former common-law partner(s), former dependent children and/or previous undertakings in the family size for any year that the family members were part of the family size. For example, the sponsor’s father, who was married to the sponsor’s mother, passed away in 2020. The sponsor submits a parent or grandparent application in 2022 to sponsor their mother. The income requirements must be met for years 2021, 2020 and 2019. The sponsor’s father must be counted in the family size for years 2020 and 2019.

Co-signers and non-co-signers of parent and grandparent applications

A co-signing spouse or a co-signing common-law partner of the sponsor must be included in the family size for all years. This means that IRCC will include the co-signer in all 3 relevant years when calculating family size, regardless of when the sponsor and co-signer married or became common-law partners.

A non-co-signing spouse or non-co-signing common-law partner of the sponsor must only be included in the family size calculation starting the year they married or became common-law partners. For example, a sponsor became a common-law partner in 2022. They submit a parent or grandparent application in 2024 with no co-signer. The income requirements must be met for years 2023, 2022 and 2021. As there is no co-signer on the application, the sponsor’s common-law partner must only be counted in the family size for 2022 and 2023.

Income requirement for Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship who apply in 2024

Note: This table applies to all sponsors who submit an application on or after January 1, 2024 up to December 31, 2024. Since many sponsors (and co-signers, if there is one) may have been affected financially by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have reduced the income requirement for the 2021 tax year. We’ll apply the reduced income requirement when we assess the sponsorship application, and at any point when we have to reassess income from 2021. This does not affect the income requirement for the 2022 or 2023 tax years.

Do I (the sponsor) have to continue to meet the income requirements during the processing of the application?

If new information indicates that you may no longer meet the income requirements, your income may be reassessed at any time during processing. Your income could also be reassessed if more than 12 months have passed between the dates since we received your application and when processing of the application begins.

You and your co-signer, if applicable, must meet the income requirements outlined in the Income for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship from the date on which IRCC receives your sponsorship application until the day your family members become permanent residents of Canada.

Withdrawal of co-signer support

If you change your mind about your support as a co-signer, you must inform the Case Processing Centre (CPC) of your decision to withdraw from the undertaking before the people you’re sponsoring become permanent residents of Canada. You must use this Web form and clearly state your name, date of birth and unique client identifier (UCI), if known, in all correspondence.

• If you inform the CPC before the sponsored people become permanent residents of Canada
  • the CPC will record the withdrawal of your support. You and the sponsor will be informed in writing that your withdrawal was received.
  • We will assess the sponsorship application to see if the sponsor has enough money to support the people they are seeking to sponsor without a co-signer.
  • If the sponsor does not meet the financial requirements on their own, the sponsorship eligibility assessment will be failed.
• If you inform the CPC after the sponsored people have been granted permanent residence
  • the commitment you, as a co-signer, and the sponsor signed to support their family members is valid for the length of the undertaking.

What happens if I (the sponsor) fail to meet the obligations of my undertaking?

If a family member you sponsored receives financial support from a provincial, territorial or municipal social assistance program while the undertaking is still valid, you

• will be considered to be in default of your obligations,
• must repay the government concerned any benefits (social assistance) the person(s) you sponsored received, and
• will not be allowed to sponsor other members of the family class until you have repaid the amount of these payments to the government concerned.

Could my application be refused?

There are many possible reasons why an application may be refused. Some examples are

• the person you want to sponsor is not a member of the family class
• you may not meet the financial requirements
• the person you want to sponsor or their family members may not have provided the required documents, as requested
• the relationship between you and the person you want to sponsor or their family members is not genuine or has been entered into for immigration purposes only
• the person you want to sponsor or their family members have a criminal record or serious illness

Suspension of processing

If any of the proceedings below apply to you (the sponsor) and you submit a sponsorship application, your application will not be processed until a final decision is rendered with respect to that proceeding.

• You have been charged with the commission of an offence that is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 10 years.
• You are the subject of a report that would render you inadmissible to Canada.
• You are the subject of an application to revoke your citizenship.
• You are the subject of a certificate signed by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and the Solicitor General of Canada stating you are inadmissible on grounds of security, human or international rights violation, serious criminality or organized criminality.
• You are appealing the loss of your permanent resident status.

Before you apply – Information for the principal applicant (the person being sponsored)

What does the principal applicant do?

The principal applicant must

• Sign in or create a Permanent Residence Portal account.
• The principal applicant must fill out the following digital forms online. Any dependant on file over the age of 18 who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident must also complete a separate IMM 5406, IMM 5669, IMM 5562 and if applicable, IMM 5476.
  • Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
  • Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)

    Get the instructions  (opens in a new tab)

  • Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)

    Get the instructions  (opens in a new tab)

  • Supplementary Information - Your travels (IMM 5562)

    Get the instructions  (opens in a new tab)

• Complete and electronically sign the PDF form: Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking [IMM 1344] (opens in a new tab)
  • This form must be completed and electronically signed by you (the principal applicant), the sponsor and the co-signer (if applicable). The original PDF document with barcodes must be uploaded to your online application. Make sure you validate the form and generate the barcodes prior to uploading the form.
• Upload all other PDF forms completed by your sponsor.
• Complete and upload these PDF forms, if they apply to you or a dependant:
  • Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409] (opens in a new tab)
    • To be completed, signed by hand and dated by you (sponsor and/or principal applicant), your common-law partner and the administrator of the declaration.
  • Statutory Declaration of Severance of a Common-Law Union [IMM 5519] (opens in a new tab)
  • Details of Military Service [IMM 5546] (opens in a new tab)
  • Details of Police Service [IMM 0150] (opens in a new tab)
  • Details of Government Employment [IMM 0149] (opens in a new tab)

Using a representative

If you want to authorize a representative to act on your behalf (paid or unpaid) you must

• submit a Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (opens in a new tab) form
• sign electronically and get your immigration representative to do so also
• upload it with your application under the section “Additional application forms”

Note: If you and your sponsor are both using a representative, you and the sponsor must submit separate IMM 5476 forms.

If you want to allow us to release information from your application to someone other than yourself who will not act as your representative you must

• submit an Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual [IMM 5475] (opens in a new tab) form
• sign electronically and get your designated individual to do so also
• upload it with your application under the section “Additional application forms”

Who should be included in the sponsorship application?

The application should include

• the principal applicant who is being sponsored as a parent or grandparent of the sponsor
• the principal applicant’s spouse (even if separated, in most cases) or common-law partner
• the principal applicant’s dependent children from current and previous relationships, whether they are coming to Canada or not
• the dependent children of the principal applicant’s spouse or common-law partner
• the dependent children of any dependent children included on the application

All the dependent family members, whether accompanying the principal applicant to Canada or not, must be declared on the application and be examined. If family members are not examined, it is not possible to sponsor them at a later date. This includes children in the custody of a former spouse or common-law partner.

In addition, failure to declare dependent family members on the application and have them examined goes against the duty to provide truthful and accurate information, and may cause them to be found inadmissible to Canada.

Family members

Your (the principal applicant’s) family members include your spouse (even if separated, in most cases) or common-law partner, your or your spouse or partner’s dependent children and any children that are their dependent children.

Spouse

Refers to either of the 2 people in a marriage legally recognized in the country in which it took place, as well as in Canada. This includes spouses who are separated until they are legally divorced.

Proxy, telephone, fax, Internet and similar forms of marriage where one or both parties were not physically present are no longer considered as valid spousal relationships under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

Common-law partner

Refers to a person who is living in a conjugal relationship with another person and has done so continuously for a period of at least 1 year. A conjugal relationship exists when there is a significant degree of commitment between 2 people.

This can be shown with evidence that the couple share the same home, support each other financially and emotionally, have children together, or present themselves in public as a couple.

Common-law partners who have been in a conjugal relationship for at least 1 year, but are unable to live together or appear in public together because of legal restrictions in their home country or who have been separated for reasons beyond their control (for example, civil war or armed conflict) may still qualify and should be included on the application.

Dependent children

Your child or the child of your spouse or common-law partner can be considered a dependent child if that child meets the requirements below on the day we receive your complete application:

• they’re under 22 years old
• they don’t have a spouse or common-law partner

Children 22 years old or older qualify as dependants only if they meet both of these requirements:

• they have depended on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22
• they are unable to financially support themselves because of a mental or physical condition

Not sure which type of dependant your child is? Check if your child qualifies as a dependant by answering a few questions.

Dependent child of a dependent child

Refers to children of dependent children of the applicant and those of the spouse or common-law partner.

Does the principal applicant need to include a dependent child in the sole custody of a former spouse or partner in their application?

The principal applicant must list a dependent child in the sole custody of a former spouse or partner on the application for permanent residence since all family members, whether accompanying to Canada or not, must be declared and examined. If a child is not declared and examined, that child will not be able to be sponsored as a member of the family class in the future, regardless of changes to custody or living circumstances. To preserve the right to sponsor that child in the future, the child must be declared on the application and examined.

The application process for the sponsor and principal applicant

The following steps will help you, the sponsor, and the person(s) you wish to sponsor complete your application:

1. Gather documents
2. Apply online using the Permanent Residence Portal
3. Pay the fees
4. Check your application to avoid common mistakes
5. Submit the application

Step 1. Gather documents

What documents are required?

Use the Document Checklist [IMM 5771] (opens in a new tab) to ensure you submit all the required documentation listed in the checklist. You must upload this checklist to your online application under the section “Additional application forms.”

Incomplete applications will be returned through the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal. For your application to be considered complete you must include

• all the information asked for on the online forms from you (the sponsor)
• the forms completed by the principal applicant, and
• all supporting documents we ask for
• the fees

All documents required for a complete application must be submitted together, at the same time, for each set of parents and grandparents you are sponsoring.

It’s helpful to include any proof that you applied to get supporting documents (for example, a marriage certificate payment receipt). The officer processing your application will contact you if they need more information.

Status in Canada document

You must include a copy of the same status in Canada document you submitted with your Interest to Sponsor form in 2020 with your application to sponsor your parents and grandparents. Upload your status in Canada document to your online application under the section “Supporting documents.” Acceptable status in Canada documents include

• permanent resident card (both sides)
• Record of Landing (IMM 1000) (only if you didn’t get a permanent resident card)
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688)
• Canadian citizenship certificate or card (both sides)
• Canadian birth certificate
  • If you were born in Quebec, we’ll only accept a birth certificate from the Directeur de l’état civil.
• Canadian passport (pages showing passport number, date of issue and expiration, photo, name, surname, place and date of birth)
• secure certificate of Indian status

If you submitted a passport, other than a Canadian passport, with your Interest to Sponsor form in 2020, please submit a copy of the passport you submitted and one of the documents listed above to confirm your status in Canada.

If you are a Canadian citizen and you don’t have your citizenship certificate or card, you can urgently apply for a

• citizenship certificate, or
• search of citizenship records

If you can’t get proof of your Canadian citizenship within the period you have to apply, you can include an explanation letter saying

• why you don’t have it, and
• what steps you’ve taken to get it

Your Invitation to Apply

You must upload a copy of your Invitation to Apply letter that you received as part of the 2024 intake to your online application under the section “Supporting documents.” Only applications from sponsors who have been invited to apply will have their applications assessed. If you submit an application and you were not invited to apply, we will return your application.

Note: If you have a translation, certification or affidavit that is more than 6 months old, include a letter of explanation to clarify that the information hasn’t changed and your document’s still valid. Upload your explanation to your online application under the section “Additional supporting documents” and select the document name “Letter of explanation.” It’s up to the officer processing your application whether they’ll accept the document. They’ll contact you if they need more information.

Step 2. Apply online using the Permanent Residence Portal

Be complete and accurate

Complete all sections on the forms. If a section does not apply to you, type “Not Applicable” or “NA”.

If you need more space for any section, include an additional page containing the appropriate section, complete it and upload it to your application under the section “Additional supporting documents” and select the document name “Other.”

Uploading additional supporting documents to your online application

Upload additional supporting documentation to your online application [for example, Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume, translations, etc.] under the section “Additional supporting documents” and select the document name in the search menu. If the document name for your document is not available, select “Other.” Upload your documents or other additional information in any of the following formats: JPG, JPEG, PDF, PNG, DOC or DOCX.

Enter names into forms exactly as they appear on the person’s passport. If there are any differences in how a name is displayed on other identification, provide documents to support the difference (for example, a legal proof of name change, if you changed your name) or a letter of explanation (if it’s a discrepancy between legal documents, such as a different name on your birth certificate). Upload your explanation to the online application under the section “Additional supporting documents” and select the document name “Letter of explanation.”

• If you don’t know a family member’s complete date of birth, use “01” in place of the day, month or year you don’t know. Include a letter of explanation saying why you couldn’t include the complete date.
• If you don’t have a family name on your passport or travel document, enter all given names in the family name field and leave the given name blank.
• If you don’t have a given name on your passport or travel document, leave the given name field blank.
• If the name on your status in Canada document (citizenship certificate, permanent resident card, etc.) is different than on your other supporting documents (for example, your birth certificate), you should attach a proof of name change and a letter of explanation.

Validating the IMM 1344

IMM 1344 (Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking) has a “Validate” button.

• When you click “Validate,” missing information will be highlighted with an error message or a red square around the fields that need to be corrected. You should fill out the PDF form on a computer and validate it electronically to reduce mistakes and help you submit a complete form.

Once validated, the IMM 1344 form will create a barcode page (see image below).

After you validate the form to generate barcodes, each person the form applies to must sign it with an electronic signature. We don’t accept unsigned forms. Do not print this form.

Signatures

If signatures are missing (when this applies), we will return the application through the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal without processing it.

As the principal applicant, you’ll electronically sign for the entire application, including your family members, by typing your full name exactly as it is shown on your passport.

• Remember to check for signature requirements and sign when needed, either by hand or electronically as directed by the instructions. If forms are not signed in the correct places, and by the correct people, we may return your application without processing it.
• Signatures may be required in more than one place or from more than one person on some forms.
• Where a date is needed, make sure you fill it in.
• A parent or legal guardian must sign on behalf of a dependent child under the age of 18 when a signature for this person is required.

If you’re having technical difficulties applying

If you’re having technical difficulties applying, contact us using the web form.

• Under Type of application/enquiry, choose Technical difficulties from the drop-down menu.
• In the text box, type the keyword “PGP2024” on the first line of your message to make sure you get a timely response.

Forms for the sponsor to complete

The sponsor must fill out the following PDF forms below and;

• electronically sign the forms unless advised to print them and sign by hand
• give electronic copies of the signed forms to the person you’re sponsoring (principal applicant)
• the person you’re sponsoring will
  • upload them to their online application
  • electronically sign for the entire application, including those of any other family members
• Document Checklist [IMM 5771] (opens in a new tab)
• Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking [IMM 1344] (opens in a new tab)
  • To be signed electronically by you (the sponsor), your co-signer (if applicable) and the person you are sponsoring.
• Financial Evaluation for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship [IMM 5768] (opens in a new tab)

The sponsor must also complete any of these forms that apply to them

• Income Sources for the Sponsorship of Parents and Grandparents [IMM 5748] (opens in a new tab)
• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409] (opens in a new tab) , only if your common-law partner is a co-signer on the application. This document must be signed by hand by the sponsor, co-signer and the administrator of the declaration.

Forms for the principal applicant (the person being sponsored) to complete

Sign in or create a Permanent Residence Portal account.

You (the principal applicant) must fill out these digital forms online:

• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)

  Get the instructions  (opens in a new tab)

• Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)

  Get the instructions  (opens in a new tab)

• Supplementary Information - Your travels (IMM 5562)

  Get the instructions  (opens in a new tab)

Any dependant on file over the age of 18 who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident must also complete a separate IMM 5406, IMM 5669, IMM 5562 and if applicable, IMM 5476.

You must also complete these PDF forms, if they apply to you or your dependant(s), and upload them to your online application under the section “Additional application forms”:

• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409] (opens in a new tab)
  • Handwritten signatures are required by you, your common-law partner and the administrator of the declaration.
• Statutory Declaration of Severance of a Common-Law Union [IMM 5519] (opens in a new tab)
• Details of Military Service [IMM 5546] (opens in a new tab)
• Details of Police Service [IMM 0150] (opens in a new tab)
• Details of Government Employment [IMM 0149] (opens in a new tab)

Using a representative

If a paid representative is submitting your application online on your behalf, they must sign in to their Representative Permanent Residence Portal account to do so. You, as the principal applicant, need to electronically sign your application and your paid representative must also provide their declaration before submitting the application.

If you want to authorize a representative to act on your behalf (paid or unpaid) you must

• submit a Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (opens in a new tab) form
• sign it electronically and get your immigration representative to do so also
• upload it with your application under the section “Additional application forms”

If you want to allow us to release information from your application to someone other than yourself who will not act as your representative you must

• submit an Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual [IMM 5475] (opens in a new tab) form
• sign it by hand and get your designated individual to do so also
• upload it with your application under the section “Additional application forms”

Police certificates

You don’t need police certificates when you submit your complete application. We ask you for police certificates for the person being sponsored and all family members 18 or older (who aren’t already Canadian citizens or permanent residents) later in the application process.

Police certificates are generally valid for 1 year from the date they’re issued. Depending on processing times, we may ask you for new certificates.

See how to get a police certificate for up-to-date information about obtaining a police certificate from any country.

Step 3. Pay the fees

Fees

Use the table below to calculate the total amount of fees to be paid (all fees are in Canadian dollars). Processing fees must be included with this application.

You only need to pay fees for people you are sponsoring to come to Canada. You don’t need to pay fees for people who are included on the application but aren’t coming with the people you’re sponsoring.

We recommend you pay the right of permanent residence fee ($575) now to avoid delays. You will have to pay it before you become a permanent resident.

Your fees

If you live in Quebec

If you live in Quebec, you will need to pay an additional processing fee to the province of Quebec when you submit your undertaking to MIFI. For more information about Quebec provincial processing fees, visit the MIFI website. Do not include this fee with the sponsorship application.

Step 4. Check your application to avoid common mistakes

If your parents or grandparents have dependent children

• If your application includes a dependent child (under the age of 18) and one parent is not immigrating to Canada, the parent or guardian not coming to Canada must submit a hand signed copy of the Declaration from Non-Accompanying Parent/Guardian for Minors Immigrating to Canada [IMM 5604] (opens in a new tab) Upload this form to your online application under the section “Additional application forms.” You must include a piece of photo identification from the parent/guardian who is not accompanying the minor to Canada, which displays their signature. If having this form signed by the other parent is impossible (for example, their whereabouts are unknown), you must include an explanation under the section “Additional supporting documents” and select the document name “Letter of explanation.” An officer will review this explanation and advise you of any next steps.

IMM 5669, IMM 5406, IMM 5562 and if applicable, IMM 5476

• The principal applicant must complete these forms for themselves and each of their dependants who are 18 years of age or older (whether coming to Canada or not) and who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents. This means that if the principal applicant has 2 dependants who are older than 18 and are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents, they will fill out these digital forms in their online application for themselves and each dependant.

IMM 5476

• If using an authorized representative, this form must be provided by both the sponsor and the principal applicant. For sponsorship applications, you must complete and upload separate forms for the sponsor and principal applicant under “Additional application forms” in your online application.

IMM 0008

• For sponsorship applications, the principal applicant’s spouse or common-law partner must be included on the IMM 0008 form, whether they’ll immigrate to Canada or not.

Marriage certificates

• If you have a co-signer and they are your spouse, make sure you upload a copy of your valid marriage certificate with your application under “Additional supporting documents.” The document(s) you submit must show that the marriage was legally registered with the government where it took place.
  • Note: A record of solemnization is not acceptable for marriages that were legally registered in Canada or the United States of America.
• If you are only sponsoring one parent or grandparent because the other is deceased, you don’t need to include a marriage certificate. You should include a letter explaining the situation, as well as the deceased parent’s death certificate.
• If your parents don’t have a marriage certificate, include a detailed explanation as to why you can’t provide one.
• If your parents are divorced, you can include a notarized divorce certificate to prove your parent is not a dependant of your other parent.

Passports

• Passports for each person being sponsored should include all the pages and be uploaded under “Additional supporting documents” in your online application.
• The sponsor’s and co-signer’s passport should
  • include the pages showing the passport number, issue and expiry dates, photo, name, surname, and place and date of birth
  • be uploaded under “Supporting documents” in your online application.
• You don’t need to get translations for the stamps in passports.

Birth certificates

• Make sure you upload a copy of your birth certificate, and (if you have included dependants in your application) the birth certificates of your family members under “Supporting documents” in your online application.
• If you don’t have access to a birth certificate for someone you’re sponsoring, or the one you have doesn’t clearly show your relationship (for example, a name is incorrect), you can give a document that shows the relationship between you and your family member along with a letter of explanation. You should also still include a copy of your birth certificate.
• If you are sponsoring the mother/father of your mother/father, you must include a photocopy of your mother/father’s birth certificate, to clearly show the relationship between the two of you (the sponsor and the grandparent).
• If your child/parent relationship is through a legal adoption, upload a copy of the Final Adoption Order (and certified translation, if not in English or French) under “Supporting documents” in your online application. The officer processing your application will contact you if they need more information.

Original documents

• Don’t submit an original document unless you are asked to submit one.

Email addresses

Important: To protect your privacy, we will not use an email address if we can’t clearly read it. IRCC encourages all applicants to type out email addresses.

• Make sure all email addresses on the forms are correct. Errors will cause delays.

Note: Providing an email address will let us communicate with you faster, which can speed up processing times.

Step 5: Submit the application

Now that you’ve prepared your application, you can submit it for processing. To help make sure the application can be processed as quickly as possible:

• complete the required application forms
• upload all the supporting documents, including the Invitation to Apply letter with your confirmation number
• upload your fee receipt
• electronically sign the declaration stating that everything you have submitted is true, correct and complete (type your full name exactly as shown on your passport)

click “Submit your application”

What happens next

Find out what happens after you apply

Note: If your personal situation changes (for example, change of marital status, birth of a child, or you wish to withdraw your sponsorship) after you have submitted your application, you must notify us in writing. For more information, visit After you apply.

Appendix A: Photo specifications