Family Visa for Canada from India

Overview

If you are a Canadian citizen, a Registered Indian, or a Canada permanent resident who is at least 18 years old and you wish to sponsor someone:

• Your spouse or common-law partner who shares your residence in Canada, as well as any children who are financially dependent on them
• Your common-law partner, conjugal partner, or spouse if they reside abroad, as well as any dependent children of any of them
• Your dependent children

You may prepare for both of these things:

• Your application to sponsor your Indian spouse, partner, or dependent child for permanent residence, as well as the application for permanent residence submitted by your spouse, partner, or dependent child.
• Your Indian spouse or common-law partner may be eligible to apply for an open work permit if you are seeking for residency in Canada under the Spouse or Common-law partner in Canada class. Please refer to the section under “Working and Studying for Spouses and Partners” for more details.

You may not be able to sponsor if:

• You are sponsoring an Indian partner or spouse, but you submitted an undertaking for a prior spouse or partner, and it has not been three years since they were a permanent residence.
• You previously sponsored someone, and didn’t pay back any social assistance that they got while the undertaking was in place
• You are sponsoring someone who previously sponsored someone else, have not paid the alimony or child support that was imposed by the court.
• You have filed for bankruptcy that has not been discharged
• You have been convicted of a crime of a sexual nature, a violent crime, an offence against a relative that caused bodily harm
• You have threatened or tried to commit any of the above crimes—depending on the nature of the crime, how long ago it occurred, and whether or not you were granted a pardon for the crime.

Overview

The Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) will issue invitations to people who want to sponsor their parents and grandparents for migration to Canada in October 2022.

The government sent out 23,100 invites, intending to accept up to 15,000 full applications.

Notably, invites were only sent to individuals who filled out the desire to sponsor form during the 2020 admission period. In 2020, there were still 155,313 prospective sponsors who had filed the form but had not yet been invited. In 2022, there was no way for new candidates to submit an interest to sponsor form.

If invited to sponsor Indian parents or grandparents, you have to submit two separate applications:

• You must apply for sponsorship status.
• Your parents or ancestors must submit a permanent residence application.

The applications for sponsorship and permanent residence must be submitted online simultaneously.

Preparation for PGP

Before you begin to complete out your application to sponsor document, you should have:

Obtain all the information necessary to complete the interest to sponsor form and submit an electronic copy of your passport or verification of your Canadian status.

You (the individual who wishes to sponsor their parents and relatives) must input the following information:

• Your family name(s) and given name(s) (also referred to as first name and middle name).
• Write your name exactly as it appears on your passport or Canadian confirmation of status document.
• The date of your birth
• The nation or territory in which you were born is your primary residence.
• You must be a Canadian resident to sponsor.
• Complete all required fields, including your full address.
• Include your street number, street name, unit or apartment number (if applicable), P.O. Box (if applicable), province or territory, and postal code.
• Include the street classification in the street number and address (street, boulevard, avenue, etc.). For example, use the following format: 123 John Street, 123 John Avenue, or 123 John Place your preferred email address for us to use to contact you
• The number of members of your immediate family (you, your spouse or companion, and any children who are dependent on you).
• The total number of individuals you have already sponsored and for whom you are still financially responsible, including their dependents (spouse or partner and children).
• Provide the names and birth dates of the parents or ancestors you wish to sponsor.
• You will not need to provide this information for their dependent offspring or spouse/partner who will not accompany them to Canada.
• Number of your passport or evidence of status in Canada
• Determine the location of this number.
• You must input the number of the identity document you will submit with your application if invited to apply. If the document identification number does not match, your application will be returned.
• Your digital signature (you must enter in your name)

Overview

If you would like to bring your Indian parents and grandparents to Canada, they may be able to apply for a super visa that would allow them to remain for up to five years.

Parents and grandparents who are visiting Canada on an extraordinary visa are also eligible to file for two-year extensions of their stay while in the country.

To be considered for a super visa, you must:

• Be the Indian parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
• Have a signed letter from your child or grandchild inviting you to Canada with a promise of financial support for the duration of your visit
• Have a copy of your child or grandchild’s Canadian citizenship or permanent resident card
• Evidence of private medical coverage from a Canadian insurer
• This health insurance must be paid in full or in instalments with a down payment (quotes are not accepted). Valid for at least one year from the date of entry into Canada
• Healthcare, hospitalisation, and repatriation coverage
• Provide at least $100,000 in emergency protection

Financial Support (evidence of funding)

The child or descendant who extends an invitation must demonstrate that their household satisfies the minimum income requirements. The following documents can serve as examples of verification of funds:

• Notice of Assessment (NOA) or T4/T1 from the previous tax year
• Employment Insurance Benefit statements
• Letter of employment including salary, title of job, job description, and date of hire along with pay receipts.
• Bank statements

Introduction

Three stages are required to sponsor a spouse, companion, or child:

1. Request sponsorship

The sponsor must download and digitally sign the PDF forms included in the application bundle, along with the Indian family member you are sponsoring (principal applicant).

The principal applicant (individual you’re sponsoring) will upload them to their online application and electronically sign every application, including the applications of all family members

The application package contains the following:

• Document checklist for you and the individuals you wish to sponsor
• Forms that you and the individuals you wish to sponsor must complete
• Instructions to assist you and your family members fill out the forms correctly

2. Apply to be sponsored (permanent residence).

You must sign in or create an account for the Permanent residence online application portal.

You must complete these electronic forms online:

• Canada Standard Application Form (IMM 0008)
• Background/Declaration (IMM 5669) – Schedule A
• Additional Information Regarding the Family (IMM 5406)
• Additional Information – Your Trip (IMM 5562)

Photo Specifications

You must include a photograph for each applicant.

Follow the online application’s instructions to upload and scan both sides of your photo.

Work Permit

If you have a work permit, you may continue to work as long as the permit remains valid.

When you apply for permanent residence, you can also apply for an open work permit if you are residing in Canada with your sponsor.

3. Make an application fee payment

Your fingerprints and photograph (biometrics) are required. Schedule your appointment for biometrics collection as soon as possible to avoid processing delays. If you are unable to schedule an appointment by the date specified in your biometric instruction letter, there may be interim measures in place to assist you.

Your expenses will typically include processing fees for you, the Indian family members you are sponsoring, and their dependents, the charge for the right to permanent residence, and the biometrics fee. You must pay your fees online.

Biometrics costs

When submitting an application, biometrics (photo and fingerprints) fees are typically required. Otherwise, there may be delays. The biometrics charge covers the collection of fingerprints and a digital photograph. The biometrics fee is $85.00 per person and the maximum fee per family is $170.00.

Third-party charges

Depending on your circumstances, you may be required to pay for a medical test and a police report