Canada Family Reunification Guide: How Long Does It Take?

Family reunification in Canada is an immigration category that allows Canadian citizens or permanent residents to bring their close family members to Canada. This process, commonly referred to as the Canada family reunification visa, is a critical immigration policy for the Canadian government, which prioritizes family reunification.

So, how long does family reunification in Canada take, and who can apply under this program? In this guide, we examine the Canada family reunification application pathways, eligibility requirements, and processing times for spouses, children, parents, and other family members. We also address Canada refugee family reunification (family reunification in refugee cases) and explain how family reunification applications are submitted in Canada.

Prepared in line with the most up-to-date information and IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) data, this guide explains the family reunification process professionally and clearly.

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What Is a Canada Family Reunification Visa? Who Can Apply?

A Canadian family reunification visa is an immigration program that allows Canadian citizens or permanent residents (PRs) to sponsor certain relatives for immigration to Canada. The close family members who may be sponsored under this program include the following:

Spouse or Partner

Legally married spouses, common law partners (unmarried partners who have lived together for at least one year), or conjugal partners (partners who can demonstrate a serious relationship of less than one year without a legal marriage) fall under this category. Same sex partners are granted equal rights under Canadian immigration law.

To apply, the sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and at least 18 years old. There is no minimum income requirement for spousal sponsorship. However, IRCC examines the sponsor’s financial situation and the genuineness of the relationship in detail.

Children

Children who may be sponsored under Canada’s family reunification program include dependent children of the sponsor or the sponsor’s spouse—generally, unmarried biological or adopted children under 22 fall into this category. Children over the age of 22 may only be sponsored if they are dependent due to a physical or mental health condition.

Documents proving the family relationship, such as birth certificates and official population registry records, must be submitted with the application. For child sponsorship, the sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and must be at least 18 years old. As with spousal sponsorship, there is no strict income requirement, but the sponsor must commit to covering the child’s basic living expenses.

Parents and Grandparents

Canada also allows citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents. However, applications for parent and grandparent sponsorship are processed under a quota-based program known as the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). This program typically accepts applications once per year and operates through a limited number of invitations.

For example, in 2025, approximately 17,860 invitations were issued, with a target of approving 10,000 applications. Sponsors who wish to bring their parents or grandparents must meet the minimum income requirement for the previous three consecutive tax years and must prove this income through official tax documents. The required income level is determined by household size and updated annually. For example, as of 2024, the required annual income for a household of four was approximately 48,167 CAD.

In addition, the sponsor must sign a sponsorship undertaking committing to support their parents or grandparents for 20 years financially. The sponsor must be at least 18 years old, hold Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status, and reside in Canada.

Other Family Members

In exceptional cases, the Canadian family reunification program may also cover other relatives. For example, if the sponsor does not have close family members such as parents, a spouse, or children, they may be permitted to sponsor a sibling, niece, nephew, or cousin under the “last remaining relative” rule.

Orphaned siblings, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren under 18 who are unmarried may also be eligible for sponsorship. However, second-degree relatives, such as aunts, uncles, and cousins, cannot be sponsored directly under the family reunification program. In all cases, the family relationship must be proven with official documentation.

Canada Refugee Family Reunification

Canada also provides family reunification options for individuals who arrive as refugees or asylum seekers. Under Canada’s refugee family reunification, individuals who have obtained refugee status may benefit from specific mechanisms that allow them to bring their spouses and children to Canada. Canadian immigration regulations include special pathways designed to ensure that refugees can reunite with their dependent family members.

These pathways vary depending on how the individual obtained refugee status in Canada and the program under which they entered the country.

Resettled Refugees

If a refugee was resettled in Canada through a United Nations program or a private sponsorship program and was unable to bring their spouse or children at the time of arrival, they may benefit from the One Year Window provision. This rule allows refugees to apply for family reunification for their spouse and unmarried children under 22 within 1 year of their arrival in Canada.

The application must be submitted within one year of the refugee’s arrival. If this period passes, family members may only be brought to Canada through the regular family sponsorship process. Applying under the One Year Window does not guarantee that family members will arrive in Canada within one year, as processing times may exceed that period. What is critical is that the application is submitted within the first 12 months following the refugee’s arrival in Canada.

To benefit from the One Year Window provision, family members must have been declared to IRCC at the time of the refugee’s initial application. Family members who were not declared are generally not eligible to be sponsored later. However, a pilot program introduced in 2019 and extended in 2021 created limited exceptions that allow certain refugees to sponsor previously undeclared close family members under specific conditions.

In Canada, Refugees (Protected Persons)

If an individual applied for asylum within Canada and was recognized as a Protected Person, they may include their spouse and children living abroad in their permanent residence application. These family members cannot travel to Canada until the principal applicant has obtained permanent resident status.

Refugees recognized inside Canada who were unable to declare their family members at the time of their initial application may also benefit from the One Year Window provision by submitting a family reunification application within one year after being granted protected status.

In summary, Canada offers refugee family reunification options in addition to standard family sponsorship pathways. However, these processes are still subject to official procedures. Refugee family reunification applications also require completing IRCC forms, providing biometric data, undergoing medical examinations, and undergoing security background checks.

Sponsorship Requirements and Responsibilities

Sponsors must meet specific eligibility requirements. First, the sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Permanent residents must reside in Canada, while Canadian citizens living abroad may apply if they commit to returning to Canada once the sponsorship is approved. The sponsor must be at least 18 years old and must not have a serious criminal record, particularly related to family violence or immigration violations.

Financial Capacity and Income Requirements

There is no minimum income requirement for spousal or child sponsorship. However, the sponsor must demonstrate financial stability and must not be entirely dependent on social assistance, except in limited cases such as disability benefits.

Sponsors must sign a sponsorship undertaking committing to support the sponsored person for a specific period financially. This period is three years for spouses or partners, ten years or until age 25 for dependent children, and twenty years for parents or grandparents. These obligations remain valid even in cases of separation or divorce and are not cancelled if the sponsor’s financial situation changes.

For parent and grandparent sponsorship, the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirement applies. Sponsors must meet the income threshold for three consecutive tax years and must prove this income through Canada Revenue Agency Notices of Assessment. Sponsors must also not be under any existing sponsorship obligations or have defaulted on previous undertakings.

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How Is a Family Reunification Application Submitted?

Canada family reunification applications consist of two main components: the sponsorship application and the permanent residence application. These applications are usually submitted together.

Sponsorship Application

The sponsor submits forms declaring their intention to sponsor a family member and confirming that all eligibility requirements are met. Forms such as IMM 1344 Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking must be completed. Documents proving the family relationship must also be submitted at this stage.

Permanent Residence Application

The sponsored family member submits the permanent residence application, including forms such as IMM 0008 Generic Application Form, passport copies, photographs, civil status documents, police certificates, and medical examination results. Applications are generally submitted through IRCC’s online system.

Fees and Biometrics

Applicants must pay sponsorship fees, processing fees, right-of-permanent-residence fees, and biometric fees, where applicable. As of 2024, spousal sponsorship fees include approximately 85 CAD for sponsorship, 515 CAD for processing, and 85 CAD for biometrics, although fees may vary depending on the application category.

After submission, IRCC issues a biometric instruction letter, and biometrics must be completed within the specified timeframe at an authorized collection center.

Assessment and Decision Process

IRCC first assesses the sponsor’s eligibility and then reviews the permanent residence application of the sponsored person. The genuineness of the relationship is carefully examined, particularly in spousal sponsorship cases. IRCC may request additional documents or invite applicants to an interview if necessary.

Once the application is approved, applicants outside Canada are requested to submit their passports for visa issuance and receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). Applicants inside Canada receive permanent resident status through a landing process.

Inland and Outland Sponsorship Applications

Canada family reunification applications may be processed in two different ways, depending on where the sponsored family member is located at the time of application:

Outland Sponsorship

Outland sponsorship is used when the sponsored family member resides outside Canada. Applications are processed through IRCC’s overseas visa offices. For example, if a spouse is living in Turkey, the application may be reviewed by the Canadian visa office responsible for that region.

During the processing period, the sponsored person may remain outside Canada and, if eligible, may attempt to visit Canada on a temporary resident visa. However, entry to Canada during processing is not guaranteed and is subject to the border officer's discretion.

IRCC’s service standard for outland spousal and child sponsorship applications is approximately 12 months. In practice, processing times may vary depending on the country of residence and the visa office's workload. Many applications are finalized within one year, while some may take longer.

Inland Sponsorship

Inland sponsorship applies when the sponsored spouse or partner is already in Canada with a valid temporary status, such as a visitor visa, study permit, or work permit. When applying for inland status, the sponsored person is expected to remain in Canada throughout the processing period. Leaving Canada during this time may result in the application being considered abandoned.

One of the main advantages of inland sponsorship is the ability to apply for an open work permit. In 2023, IRCC announced that individuals applying for inland spousal sponsorship who hold a valid temporary status may be issued an open work permit while their application is being processed. This allows the sponsored spouse to work legally in Canada and, in some provinces, gain access to provincial health coverage.

Although IRCC aims to process inland applications within 12 months, in recent years, they have taken longer than outland applications. According to 2025 data, inland spousal sponsorship applications have reached average processing times of up to 24 months, with even longer timelines for Quebec-bound applications.

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Processing Times: How Long Does Canada Family Reunification Take?

Processing times vary depending on the sponsorship category, the location of the application, and the complexity of the case. IRCC aims to finalize spousal and child sponsorship applications within twelve months. In practice, processing times may be longer.

Spousal sponsorship applications may take between ten and eighteen months. In some cases, particularly applications destined for Quebec, processing times may reach twenty-four months or more.

Child sponsorship applications are often processed within twelve months and may be finalized more quickly depending on the country of residence.

Parent and grandparent sponsorship applications generally take the longest to process. Once an invitation is received and an application is submitted, processing may take two to three years. Quebec-bound applications may take significantly longer.

Required Documents and Important Considerations

A successful family reunification application requires the submission of complete and accurate documentation. This includes identity and status documents, proof of family relationship, financial documents where applicable, police certificates, and medical examination results.

Certified translations must accompany all documents that are not in English or French. Applicants must ensure that all information provided is accurate and consistent across forms and supporting documents.

IRCC may request additional documents or clarification during processing. These requests must be addressed within the specified timeframe to avoid delays or refusal.

The Importance of Professional Support

The Canadian family reunification process requires careful document preparation, complete and accurate applications, and strict compliance with IRCC regulations. Even a minor missing document or incorrect information may result in application refusal or significant processing delays. For this reason, proceeding with professional support from the very first step can make the process considerably more manageable, both in terms of time and emotional stress.

C&C Canada Education, Visa, and Immigration provide comprehensive, up-to-date, and reliable consulting services for Canadian family reunification applications. The experienced consulting team develops case-specific strategies for spousal, child, and parent sponsorship applications, ensuring that each application is managed accurately and effectively.

From document preparation to submission through IRCC’s online systems, every stage of the process is carefully monitored. In inland applications, where an open work permit application may also be required, applicants receive detailed guidance to ensure that all related steps are completed correctly.

Professional consulting not only helps accelerate the process but also minimizes the risk of critical errors. In immigration systems, mistakes are not always reversible, and many applications fail due to strategic, not merely technical, errors. For this reason, working with an experienced team is essential when preparing a Canadian family reunification application.

For more detailed information or to request a consultation, you may contact us.

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