Family visa to Canada

A large proportion of Canadian visas are covered in the Family Class. Canada is committed to helping families reunite. The Family visa provides a unique opportunity for Canadian citizens or Permanent Resident residents living in Canada to sponsor family members living abroad. In 2008, over 65,000 family visas were issued. Of the 265,000 visas allocated for 2009, up to 71,000 visas have been made available for Family visas, making the family visas one of the most widely used categories for migration to Canada.
The following are the main categories :

• Spousal visa
• Common-law partner visa to Canada
• Parental and grandparental visa
• Remaining relative visa to Canada
• Dependent child(ren) visa to Canada

Spousal visa to Canada
The Spousal visa allows applicants married to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident the unique opportunity to be sponsored along with their dependent children. The applicant and their spouse must be married and show the genuine and continuing nature of the relationship and intend to live together in Canada, upon approval.
A Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is living in Canada may be eligible to sponsor their spouse (same or opposite sex) and any dependent children for permanent residence in Canada. An application for sponsorship can be made for a spouse or partner who is living either inside or outside Canada.
Basic requirements
A sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada and be at least 18 years of age. A sponsor is also required to agree to provide financial support for their spouse for three (3) years and any dependent children for up to ten (10) years. Those who have previously sponsored relatives to come to Canada may need to satisfy additional requirements to be eligible to sponsor their spouse.
A spouse must be legally married to their sponsor, in either a same-sex or opposite-sex marriage, that is legally valid and recognized by both Canadian law and the law of the country where the marriage occurred. Both a sponsor and spouse are required to meet additional requirements to apply for permanent residence and must undergo health and character checks.
A spouse, and any dependent children, who is granted permanent residence under the Family Class will have the right to live, work and study in Canada indefinitely. Permanent residents can access Canada 's unique government-funded health care, subsidized education, language training programs and assistance for finding employment. Additional benefits of Canadian permanent residence include eligibility for Canada Pension Plan Benefits, Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement and the option to participate in retirement plans such as Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP). Together with the many freedoms associated with permanent residence is the ability to apply for Canadian citizenship.

Common-law partner visa to canada
Under the Common-Law Partner visa, Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are living in Canada can apply to sponsor their common-law partner and eligible dependent children. This visa allows applicants who have been residing with their qualifying Canadian partners for a period of 1 year or more in an ongoing relationship the opportunity to be sponsored. Applicants and their partner need to be in a genuine and continuing relationship and intend to live together in Canada.
The Canadian partner must be willing to live in Canada with the applicant once the visa is granted, and must be capable of supporting the applicant without accessing public funds. Once granted, the common-law partner will be given permanent residence and the right to join their sponsoring partner in Canada.

Basic requirements
To apply for the Common-Law Partner visa, applicants must provide evidence of an ongoing and genuine relationship and have resided together at a common address for at least 1 year, with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada. Both same-sex and opposite sex couples are eligible for this visa. The sponsor must also sign an undertaking to provide for all of the applicant's basic needs for a period of 3 years from the partner's arrival to Canada. In addition, all common-law partners must undergo health and character checks prior to their arrival.
A common-law partner who is granted permanent residence under the Family Class will have the right to live, work and study in Canada indefinitely. Permanent residents can access Canada's unique government-funded health care, subsidized education, language training programs and assistance for finding employment. Additional benefits of Canadian permanent residence include eligibility for Canada Pension Plan Benefits, Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement and the option to participate in retirement plans such as Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP). Together with the many freedoms associated with permanent residence is the ability to apply for Canadian citizenship.

Parental and grandparental visa to Canada
Extended families are encouraged in Canada! Under the Family Visa category, the Parental and Grandparental visa, Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are living in Canada can apply to sponsor their parents and grandparents.
Applicants are required to show their relationship with their Canadian children and grandchildren. The Canadian sponsor(s) must also be willing to live in Canada with the applicant(s) and must be capable of supporting them financially without accessing public funds. Once granted, the applicant(s) will be given permanent residence and the right to join their Canadian children and grandchildren in Canada.

Basic requirements
In order to apply for the Parental and Grandparental visa, applicants must possess children or grandchildren with Canadian citizenship or permanent residence living in Canada willing to sponsor them and provide evidence of sufficient income. The sponsor(s) must also sign an undertaking to provide for all of the applicant(s) basic needs for the duration of 10 years from the date the applicant(s) arrives in Canada. As such, the applicant must show that their sponsor(s) meet the required income levels so as to be able to provide for their needs during the undertaking period. In addition, all applicants are required to undergo health and character checks prior to their arrival.
A Parent or Grandparent who is granted permanent residence under the Family Class will have the right to live, work and study in Canada indefinitely. Permanent residents can access Canada's unique government-funded health care, subsidized education, language training programs and assistance for finding employment. Additional benefits of Canadian permanent residence include eligibility for Canada Pension Plan Benefits, Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement and the option to participate in retirement plans such as Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP). Together with the many freedoms associated with permanent residence is the ability to apply for Canadian citizenship.

Remaining relative visa to Canada
As part of the family reunification policy, Citizenship and Immigration Canada seeks to reunite families in Canada. For Canadians with no immediate family relatives in Canada or abroad, the Remaining Relative Visa allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sponsor an extended relative from abroad.
The Remaining Relative visa allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Canada to sponsor one relative regardless of age or relationship, if the Canadian sponsor does not have any relatives who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents or any other relative who may be sponsored under the family category. Once granted, the remaining relative(s) will be given permanent residence and the right to join their sponsor in Canada.

Remaining relative visa basic requirements
To apply for the Remaining Relative visa, applicants must have an extended relative who is either a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada with no living close family relatives. The Canadian sponsor must be willing to sponsor the remaining relative(s) and provide evidence of sufficient income. The sponsor must also sign an undertaking to provide for all of the applicant(s)'s needs for a specified period of time. As such, the applicant(s) must show that their Canadian sponsor meets the income requirements to provide for their essential needs during the period of the undertaking. In addition, all applicants must meet the required visa requirements including health and character prior to their arrival to Canada.

Dependant child(ren) visa to canada
As part of Canada's aim to foster family reunification, the Dependent Children visa allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are living in Canada to apply to sponsor their or their partner's dependent or adopted children.
Sponsors must be able to show that their children are still dependent upon them and/or the various requirements relating to the adoption of the children have been met. Once granted, dependent children will be given permanent residence and the right to join their sponsoring parent(s) in Canada.

Basic requirements
In order to apply for the Dependant Child(ren) visa, prospective sponsor(s) must show that the children they are sponsoring are financially dependent on them and in most cases continuously enrolled and full-time studies at accredited educational institutions. Alternatively, they must be children who have been adopted or are in the process of being adopted. The sponsor parent must sign an undertaking to provide for the dependent child(ren)'s needs for the longer period of 10 years or until the child turns 22 years of age.
Any dependent children, who are granted permanent residence under the Family Class, will have the right to live, work and study in Canada indefinitely. Permanent residents can access Canada's unique government-funded health care, subsidized education, language training programs and assistance for finding employment. Additional benefits of Canadian permanent residence include eligibility for Canada Pension Plan Benefits, Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement and the option to participate in retirement plans such as Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP). Together with the many freedoms associated with permanent residence is the ability to apply for Canadian citizenship.

For Sponsored persons applying to Quebec:
The same conditions apply as above, but the Sponsorship application will not be approved until it has been forwarded to Quebec and approved by Quebec immigration authorities.