Verifying your eligibility to sponsor another member of your family

Important Note

New rules apply to the intake of undertaking applications in the family class. See the Rules governing the reception of applications page for further details.

To sponsor another person related to you, you must comply with the following conditions.

Confirmation from the Government of Canada of your eligibility as a guarantor

You must have submitted a sponsorship application in advance to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You must then have received a letter from IRCC that:

Was sent to you, not to the person you want to sponsor;
Indicates that you are eligible for the sponsorship;
Invites you to continue the steps you are taking with the Gouvernement du Québec.

Note that, at this stage, IRCC has, in general, recognized your eligibility as a sponsor, but has not yet verified:

The family relationship between you and the person you want to sponsor;
The other requirements that the person you want to sponsor must comply with to obtain permanent residence.

Conditions that the person you sponsor must comply with

You must check whether the person you want to sponsor complies with the conditions of the family reunification category for sponsoring a dependent child.

Citizenship or permanent residence

You must have Canadian citizenship or permanent residence.

Place of residence

You must live in Québec.

Age

You must be at least 18 years of age.

Demonstrating your financial capacity

You must demonstrate that you have sufficient financial resources to comply with your undertaking.

Financial obligations

If you have already made a sponsorship undertaking or undertakings, you must demonstrate that:

You have honoured your financial obligations;
If applicable, you have repaid to the Gouvernement du Québec or another province any sum that was disbursed to this person as last resort financial assistance (social assistance).

Last resort financial assistance (social assistance)

You must not have received last resort financial assistance, except if this assistance is given to you due to your age or disability, which creates barriers to your employment that are severe, permanent or for an indefinite term.

Support

If you must pay support after an official judgment, you must have honoured your obligations over the past five years. Otherwise, you must have repaid any amount owed before submitting your sponsorship application.

Criminal record

You must not have been convicted in Canada or abroad of any of the following:

A sexual offence;
An attempt or threat to commit a sexual offence;
An offence resulting in bodily harm against a close friend or relative;
An offence that is either attempted or threatened, resulting in bodily harm against a close friend or relative
A violent crime;
An attempt to commit a violent criminal act.

If you have been convicted of any of these offences, you must:

Have obtained a final acquittal;
Or have obtained a suspension of your criminal record;
Or have completed your sentence at least five years prior to submitting your application.

Removal or detention measure

You must not be the object of a Government of Canada deportation measure or be detained in a penitentiary or a prison.

Verifying the eligibility of your family members

Contact the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: from 8:00 to 16:00

Wednesday: from 10:00 to 16:30
Greater Montréal: 514-864-9191

Elsewhere in Québec (Toll free): 1-877-864-9191
Fill out the contact form

Last update: June 30, 2026

Sponsoring another member of your family