How to Sponsor Your Parents and Grandparents
Between October 12 and 20, 2022, we invited potential sponsors to apply. The deadline to apply has now passed.
Find out if you were invited to apply
If you’re not invited to apply
Parents and grandparents can visit for extended periods
If you’d like your parents and grandparents to come to Canada, they may be eligible to apply for a super visa which could let them stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time.
Parents and grandparents visiting on a super visa can also apply for 2-year extensions to their stay while still in Canada.
How to apply
If you’re invited to apply to sponsor your parents and grandparents, there are 2 applications:
- You must apply to become a sponsor
- Your parents or grandparents must apply for permanent residence
Submit both the sponsorship and the permanent residence applications online at the same time.
You must submit your application by the deadline set out in your invitation letter.
For the 2022 process, we invited people from the remaining pool of potential sponsors who submitted an interest to sponsor form in 2020.
Step 1. Get an invitation to apply
We randomly select and invite potential sponsors to apply to sponsor their parents and grandparents. For the 2022 intake, we sent 23,100 invitations to apply in order to reach our goal of accepting up to 15,000 complete applications.
Step 2. Apply online
Don’t start filling out your application unless you’re invited to apply to the 2022 process. The deadline to apply has now passed. If you applied, but you were not invited to apply to the 2022 process, we
- will reject your application and
- won’t refund the sponsorship application processing fee
If you live in Quebec, find out the steps to take to sponsor your parents and grandparents in Quebec.
Forms for the sponsor to fill out
The sponsor must download and fill out these PDF forms
- Document Checklist — Sponsor [IMM 5771] (PDF, 1 MB) IMM 5771
- Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking [IMM 1344] (PDF, 588.96 KB) Important: You, your co-signer (if applicable) and the person you’re sponsoring must sign this form electronically. IMM 1344
- Financial Evaluation for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship [IMM 5768] (PDF, 1.54 MB) IMM 5768
- Income Sources for the Sponsorship of Parents and Grandparents [IMM 5748] (PDF, 1.53 MB), if this applies. IMM 5748
- Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409] (PDF, 636.51 KB), if this applies. Important: You, your partner and the person who administers the
- declaration must all sign and date this form by hand. IMM 5409
The person you’re sponsoring (principal applicant) will
- upload the forms to their online application
- electronically sign the entire application, including for their family members
Use the Instruction Guide [IMM 5772] to help you fill out the forms properly.
Forms for the person being sponsored (principal applicant)
The person being sponsored must fill out these digital forms online
- Generic Application Form for Canada [IMM 0008]
- Schedule A – Background/Declaration [IMM 5669]
- Additional Family Information [IMM 5406]
- Supplementary Information – Your travels [IMM 5562]
Please note that any dependant on file 18 years of age or older must also complete a separate IMM 5669, IMM 5406, IMM 5562 and if applicable, IMM 5476.
You must also complete these PDF forms, if they apply to you or any of your dependant(s), and upload to your online application
- Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409] (PDF, 0.78 MB) IMM 5409
- Statutory Declaration of Severance of a Common-Law Union [IMM 5519] (PDF, 1.84 MB) IMM 5519
- Details Of Military Service [IMM 5546] (PDF, 1.18 MB) IMM 5546
Using an immigration representative
If you’re a representative, find out how you can create an account and submit applications on behalf of your clients.
If you want to appoint someone to do business with IRCC on your behalf, you must
- submit a Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (PDF, 648.31 KB) form IMM 5476
- sign it electronically and get your immigration representative to do so also
- upload it with your application
An immigration representative (an immigration consultant or lawyer) can give you advice and help you with your application for a fee, but they can’t
- open a portal account on your behalf
- electronically sign the application for you
- sign into the portal using your username and password
A representative can fill out forms and communicate with IRCC on your behalf through their own account. They can also
- help you prepare the supporting documents you need to upload
- answer questions about the forms
After you read the declaration, you must be the one who types your name and clicks the “submit” button. This is the legal requirement for your application to be considered “signed,” according to Canada’s immigration law.
Get your fingerprints and photo taken
You and any dependents between 14 and 79 years old, need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) for every application for permanent residence you submit, even if you gave your biometrics in the past and they’re still valid.
- You must pay the biometric fee when you submit your application. Otherwise, you may experience delays.
- Get this done as soon as you get the letter from us that tells you to give biometrics
- You have 30 days to do this from the date on the letter.
Photo specifications
You need one photo for each person on your application.
