Foreign nationals may bring eligible dependant family members into Canada if granted permanent residence (PR).
Nevertheless, it is crucial to note that this is not the same as the family members that a permanent resident of Canada may sponsor upon their immigration. Below is further information about sponsoring family members’ immigration to Canada.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) explains that for a family member of a permanent resident of Canada to accompany them, they must have been “processed for permanent residence as… dependents” of the principal applicants.
Note: The IRCC clarifies that a Canadian permanent resident’s dependents cannot enter the country before the primary applicant in any of the scenarios listed below. Rather, the dependents must come alongside or after the primary applicant.
The list of eligible family members that qualify as dependents includes:
- A spouse or common-law partner
- A dependent child
- The dependent child of a spouse or common-law partner
- The dependent child of a dependent child
A dependent child is generally defined as an individual under the age of 22 who is not married or living with another person in any of the aforementioned situations. However, the IRCC states that if a child is 22 years old or older and “can’t financially support themselves because of a mental or physical condition,” they may also be considered dependents if they “have depended on their parents for financial support since before they were 22.”
Find out more about what counts as a dependent child here, as this might vary based on the program a candidate is applying to and the age lock-in date.
Who cannot come with me to Canada when I receive PR?
On the other hand, IRCC lists the following family members as those who are ineligible to come to Canada alongside someone who just received PR:
- Parents
- Grandparents
- Siblings (Brother or Sister)
- Uncle/Aunt
- Niece/Nephew
- Other relatives
Sponsoring your family as a Canadian permanent resident
Permanent residents may be eligible to sponsor additional family members to come live with them in Canada after they arrive. Once more, this differs from the previous situation in that sponsorship takes place following the primary applicant’s arrival in Canada.
Furthermore, the procedure differs based on whether the applicant is sponsoring a parent or grandparent, a dependent child, or a spouse or common-law partner.
In fact, the permanent resident of Canada (the sponsor) may have multiple choices when it comes to bringing a loved one to Canada, depending on who is being sponsored. The following specialized web pages, arranged according to the person receiving sponsorship, might offer additional details pertinent to each particular circumstance.
Spouse or Common Law Partner
Child or Other Dependent
Parents or Grandparents
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