Canadian citizens and permanent residents may bring their parents and grandparents to Canada through one of two popular programs: the Parents and Grandparents Program or the Super Visa program.

Canada’s Family Class sponsorship program includes a stream dedicated to parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Parents and grandparents approved under this program receive Canadian permanent residence and may eventually be able to apply for Canadian citizenship.

To be eligible for Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program, an individual must meet:

• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada
• be residing in Canada
• exceed the minimum necessary income level for this program and provide proof of income
• to financially support the sponsored for 20 years; and
• to repay any social assistance benefits paid to the sponsored family members (if applicable) for a period of 20 years.

Applicants to this program will have to prove that they meet the minimum income requirements by submitting notices of assessment issued by the Canadian Revenue Agency in support of their application.

Parents and Grandparents Super Visa Program
Canadian citizens or permanent residents have another option to bring a parent or grandparent to Canada.

The Super Visa Program allows parents and grandparents to come to Canada as long-term visitors on a multi-entry visa that remains valid for up to 10 years. Unlike standard visitor visas, a Super Visa allows visa holders to stay in Canada for up to two years on initial entry to Canada.

To be eligible for the Super Visa program, parents and grandparents must meet standard visitor visa requirements. In addition, they must:

• Provide a written commitment of financial support from their child or grandchild in Canada
• Show that the sponsor in Canada meets minimum income requirements
• Prove they have purchased Canadian health insurance for at least one year

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and have a dependent child abroad that you would like to bring to Canada, you likely may do so under Canada’s dependent child sponsorship program. As with all sponsorship programs, it is important that the dependent child meets the eligibility requirements and that the sponsor themselves meet Canada’s sponsorship requirements.

Requirements for the Sponsor:

• The sponsor must be 18 years of age;
• The sponsor must be a Canadian permanent resident living in Canada or a Canadian citizen; and
• The sponsor cannot be in prison, bankrupt, under a removal order or charged with a serious offense.

Requirements for the Sponsored Person:

• The sponsored person must be in one of the following situations of dependency
  • Less than 22 years of age and not a spouse or common-law partner; or
  • Is 22 years of age or older and has depended substantially on the financial support of the parent since before the age of 22 and is unable to be financially self-supporting due to a physical or mental condition

Requirements for nature of the relationship:

• The Sponsored Person must be either:
  • The biological child of the parent if the child has not been adopted by a person other than the spouse or common-law partner; or
  • The adopted child of the parent.

De facto family members are persons who do not meet the definition of a family class member. They are in a situation of dependence that makes them a de facto member of a nuclear family that is either in Canada or applying to immigrate. Some examples: a son, daughter (over age 19), brother or sister left alone in the country of origin without a family of their own; an elderly relative such as an aunt or uncle or an unrelated person who has resided with the family for a long time. Also included may be children in a guardianship relationship when adoption as described in subsection 3(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations is not possible. Separation of persons in such a genuine dependent relationship may be grounds for a positive assessment.

You should determine whether compelling H&C reasons exist to allow such persons to immigrate to Canada by considering:

• whether the dependency is bona fide and not created for immigration purposes
• the level of dependency
• the stability of the relationship
• the duration of the relationship
• the possible impact of a separation
• the financial and emotional needs of the applicant in relation to the family unit
• the ability and willingness of the family in Canada to provide support
• the applicant’s other options, such as family (spouse, children, parents, siblings, etc.) outside Canada able and willing to provide support
• documentary evidence about the relationship (e.g., joint bank accounts or real estate holdings, other joint property ownership, wills, insurance policies, letters from friends and family)
• whether the applicant would have difficulty meeting financial or emotional needs without the support and assistance of the family unit
• any other factors relevant to the H&C decision.