Sponsor an eligible spouse, partner or dependent child for Canadian permanent residence.
Residency to citizenship
- 01Family & spouse sponsorship
- 02Permanent residence
- 03Canadian citizenship
Each stage has its own eligibility requirements.
- Benefits
- Family reunification with the right to live, study and work in Canada after permanent residence is granted.
- Eligibility
- An eligible Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian aged 18 or over must qualify as sponsor, the relationship must be genuine and meet the relevant definition.
- Requirements
- Relationship and civil-status evidence, sponsorship undertaking and agreement, identity, police and medical records. The sponsor must provide financial support and meet the applicable residence rules. Other relatives have separate, restricted programmes and intake conditions.
YOUR LONG-TERM PATHWAY
Residency to citizenship
- 01
Family & spouse sponsorship
Sponsor an eligible spouse, partner or dependent child for Canadian permanent residence.
- 02
Permanent residence
Apply for federal permanent residence and pass the applicable admissibility checks. A provincial nomination is not the grant of permanent residence.
- 03
Canadian citizenship
As a permanent resident, accumulate at least 1,095 days of physical presence in the previous five years. Eligible pre-PR temporary days count as half-days, up to 365 days. Tax filing, language and citizenship-test requirements apply where required.
Citizenship is based on actual qualifying presence. Simply holding a Canadian permit or owning a business does not meet the residence test.
Each stage requires its own qualifying conditions and decision. The years shown are eligibility periods, not approval times.
