For Ukrainians who have arrived in Edmonton on a CUAET or other temporary permits, the question of how to bring their relatives—spouses, children, and sometimes parents—to Canada becomes one of the most important tasks in their lives. Many people arrive in Canada alone, with one child or without a family, planning to bring their relatives later. Others arrive with part of their family, but have left their children with their grandmother in Ukraine or have a spouse who was unable to come on the same flight. Whatever your situation, the Family Sponsorship program is one of the most straightforward and reliable ways to bring your family to Canada and obtain permanent resident status for them.
Unlike economic immigration, where you need to meet strict criteria for language, education, and work experience, the Family Sponsorship Program is based on the principle of family ties. If you meet the criteria for a sponsor and your family member meets the criteria for a sponsored person, and both of you are interested in supporting each other, then you have a real chance of bringing your relatives to Canada and giving them the right to permanent residence. This is not express immigration — the process takes time. But it is structured, predictable, and entirely achievable for most people.
Understanding the Family Sponsorship Program: Basic Principles and Logic
Before taking practical steps, it is important to understand how the family sponsorship program works in Canada and what principles govern it. Canada is a country that values family. Unlike some other countries that view immigration primarily through the lens of economic needs, Canada recognizes that people integrate well into society when they are with their families, when they have loved ones who support them. Therefore, the Canadian government has proposed a program that allows Canadians (citizens and permanent residents) to bring their relatives.
However, this does not mean that the government simply issues visas. Canada takes a structured approach to this. The basic idea is that if you sponsor a family member, you assume legal and financial responsibility for that person for a certain period of time (from three to twenty years, depending on the type of sponsorship). This means that if your sponsored relative is unable to find work, you are obligated to support them. If they turn to social services for assistance, the government may come to you and ask you to reimburse the costs. This is a serious responsibility, but it also protects Canadian society and the social welfare system.
So, sponsorship is a two-way deal. On one hand, you need to have enough income and be willing to support your family member. On the other hand, your sponsored family member gets the right to stay in Canada as a permanent resident, the right to work, study, access the healthcare system, and other government services.
Who can be a sponsor: Requirements for the sponsor
Not everyone in Canada can sponsor their family members. The government has set clear criteria for sponsors, and they are quite strict. Understanding these requirements is very important because if you do not meet the criteria, your application will be rejected, and you will need to wait a certain amount of time before applying again.
First, status. You must be either a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. If you have a CUAET or any other temporary permit (including an open work permit), you cannot be a sponsor at this stage. People who have arrived on a CUAET and want to bring their children often ask, “Can I sponsor my children while I am on a temporary permit?” The answer is no. You must first obtain PR and then sponsor.
Second, age. You must be at least eighteen years old. This is logical, as sponsorship involves legal obligations that a minor cannot accept.
*Third, residency. * You must be a permanent resident of Canada or plan to return to Canada. If you have moved to the United States or any other country and are no longer a Canadian permanent resident or citizen, you can no longer sponsor.
Fourth, income. This is perhaps the most difficult requirement. The government has set minimum income thresholds that change every year, called LICO (Low Income Cut Off). However, to sponsor, you need more than just LICO—you need 30 percent above LICO. Your income must be sufficient not only for yourself but also for all family members you plan to sponsor. If you earn $50,000 a year but plan to sponsor your spouse and two children, IRCC will calculate the minimum income required for a family of four. If your income does not meet this threshold, you cannot sponsor, no matter how close you are. IRCC has no discretion here—you either meet the requirements or you don't.
Fifth, criminal history and social assistance. You cannot have any serious criminal convictions and cannot have received social assistance during the twelve months prior to your application. If you have received income assistance in the past, this does not necessarily disqualify you, but you must have been without assistance for twelve months prior to applying.
Sixth, previous sponsorship obligations. If you have previously sponsored someone and failed to fulfill your obligations, or if you have outstanding debts, this will disqualify you.
Who can be sponsored: Family member categories
Not all family members have the same status in the sponsorship program. Canada has defined specific categories. Understanding these categories is critical because each has its own rules, requirements, and processing times.
Spouse or partner: The least complicated category
The most straightforward sponsorship category is your spouse. Whether it is your husband, wife, or common-law partner, it is considered the same. To sponsor your partner, you need to demonstrate that your relationship is genuine and stable.
If you are married, it is relatively simple—you provide your marriage certificate, your passport page, your partner's passport page, and several photos of you together. However, if you are in a common-law partnership, you need to prove that you have lived together for at least one year without interruption. This can be proven by joint accounts (utility bills in both names), a joint lease or property agreement, etc.
However, Canada understands that some couples cannot be officially married for religious or legal reasons. For such cases, there is a category called “conjugal partners.” However, this is the least popular and most difficult category to prove.
It is important to remember that when you sponsor your partner, the sponsorship period is only three years. This is the shortest period among all categories. But it also means that if something goes wrong, the commitment will end after three years.
Dependent children: Clear criteria, but complex circumstances
Children are the second main category of sponsorship. However, the criteria for a child to be considered “dependent” and eligible for sponsorship are quite strict. The child must be under twenty-two years of age at the time of application. They must not be married or in a civil partnership. And they must be financially dependent on you — that is, they cannot have a significant income that allows them to support themselves.
This means that if your child has a job and earns money, but not enough to be considered “dependent,” it still depends on the availability of documentation and specific circumstances. IRCC considers each case individually. But if your child has finished school and has a full-time job, they will not be considered dependent.
The period of sponsorship for children depends on their age at the time of obtaining permanent resident status. If the child is under 22 years of age, the period is 10 years or until they turn 25, whichever is longer. For example, if your child is 18 years old at the time of obtaining PR, you will need to support them until they turn 28 (18 years of age + 10 years of support). If the child is already 22+ years old, the period is reduced to three years.
It is important to know that even if your child has children of their own (your grandchildren), they must also be included in the application as dependents. This can be a difficult situation, especially if the grandchild has remained in Ukraine with the other parent, but the rules are clear: all dependent children must be included.
Parents and grandparents: Lottery system and long waiting periods
Parents and grandparents are given special consideration in Canada, but that doesn't mean they are easy to sponsor. In fact, this is one of the most restricted categories. The government has set an annual limit on the number of people who can be sponsored as parents and grandparents, and this limit is very low. Because of this, the system is designed as a lottery. Each year, the government announces that applications for parents and grandparents are open, and then people participate in the lottery. If you are selected, you can apply. If not, you will have to wait until the following year.
The sponsorship period for parents and grandparents is twenty years. This is a long period, reflecting the fact that these individuals are often older and may contribute less to the Canadian economy.
The Application Process: Step by Step
Now that you understand who can sponsor and who can be sponsored, let's move on to the practical process of applying. This process consists of several important steps, and each one requires attention and accuracy.
Step One: Check Your Income and Do the Financial Calculation
Before you do anything else, check to see if you can afford to sponsor someone from a financial standpoint. This is critically important. If you do not meet the financial test, your entire application will be rejected, and you will need to wait a certain amount of time and change your circumstances before applying again.
The government sets a minimum necessary income (MNI), which is LICO plus 30 percent. This figure changes every year. Currently, for a single person with one sponsored member, the minimum income is approximately $47,000. For a family of four (you + spouse + two children), it is approximately $70,000. For five people, it is approximately $80,000.
To calculate whether you can sponsor, you must consider not only the sponsored family members, but also all members of your current family. For example, if you earn $75,000 per year and have a spouse who does not work and two children whom you already support, your family size is four. If you want to sponsor your mother, your family size is five. IRCC will check whether your income of $75,000 is sufficient for five people. If not, you cannot sponsor your mother, no matter how much you love her.
To prove your income, you need to provide:
- Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the last three years. This is critical because IRCC does not consider income unless it is confirmed by official documents from the CRA.
- Copies of your tax returns for the last three years
- Copies of all T4s or other income documents (T4As, T1 Generals, etc.)
- If you are self-employed or own your own business, you must also provide proof from your business
Income earned abroad does not count for this purpose. IRCC only considers Canadian income, as this is the only income that officially enters your Canadian tax system.
Step Two: Gather all necessary relationship and identity documents
Once you are sure that you can afford to sponsor, the next step is to gather all the necessary documents that demonstrate your relationship with the sponsored person and the identity of both parties.
To sponsor a partner (husband or wife):
You will need a marriage certificate, which must be in official form. If the marriage took place in Ukraine, you will need the original certificate (with stamps and signatures) or an official copy from the civil registry office. Some people make the mistake of bringing just a photocopy — this is not enough.
If you are in a civil partnership, you will need documents proving that you have lived together for one year. These can be:
- Joint lease or property agreement (both names)
- Joint utility bills for electricity, gas, internet (both names)
- Joint car insurance (both names)
- Joint bank accounts and statements
- Letters from friends or neighbors attesting that you lived together
In addition, you will need to provide:
- A copy of your passport page (showing your identification page and Canadian residence page)
- A copy of your partner's passport page (same as above)
- A copy of your birth certificate (long form, not short form)
- A copy of your partner's birth certificate
- Your photo and your partner's photo (with specific requirements for format and size)
- Photos of both of you together (to show that you are indeed together)
To sponsor children:
The documents will be slightly different. You will need:
- Copies of the birth certificates of all children (long form)
- If the child was born in another country, a copy of the birth certificate plus a translation into English or French, certified by a translator
- If the child has a passport, a copy of the passport
- A photo of the child (separate)
- If the child has a Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN), a copy of the document proving this number
For all sponsored persons:
You will also need to provide:
- Medical Examination. This is not just a glucose or blood pressure test — it is a thorough medical examination, including tests for tuberculosis, HIV, and other diseases. This examination must be performed at an IRCC-approved clinic. If you or your sponsored family member lives in Edmonton, there are several such clinics in the city, and it will take a few weeks.
- Police certificate. This is a document that proves you have no criminal history. If you have been in Canada, you will need an RCMP Vulnerable Persons Check or a local police certificate. If you or your sponsored family member have lived abroad, you will need a police certificate from that country.
Step Three: Complete all the necessary forms
IRCC provides very specific forms for sponsorship, and they must be completed very accurately. An incorrectly completed form can result in the entire application being rejected.
Main forms:
- IMM 1344: “Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking.” This is the form that the sponsor (you) fills out. It shows that you meet the criteria to be a sponsor and that you are willing to take on the legal obligation to support the sponsored family member.
- IMM 0008: “Generic Application Form for Canada (Principal Applicant)”. This form is completed by the sponsored person (the person you are sponsoring). This form contains personal information about that person.
- IMM 5406: “Additional Family Information.” If the sponsored person has dependent children, a separate form must be completed for each child.
These forms can be completed either in paper form (if printed and sent by mail) or digitally through the Permanent Residence Portal (PR Portal). However, as of September 2022, IRCC requires that everything be submitted online through the PR Portal.
It is important to remember that the forms must be “digitally signed.” This means that you must print the form to PDF and then sign the form with your digital signature (by typing your full name as it appears on your passport). Both parties — the sponsor and the sponsored person — must sign the documents.
Step Four: Prepare proof of financial capacity
In addition to income documents (NOA, tax returns, T4s), IRCC will also ask you for a special form called the “Financial Evaluation” or “Sponsorship Evaluation Form.” This form allows IRCC to see your entire financial situation in one place.
You must also provide:
- Recent pay stubs from your employer, if you are an employee
- Bank statements for the last few months, showing that you receive regular income into your account
- If you have assets (house, car, savings accounts), documents about them are also useful
If your sponsorship income is insufficient but you have a special person (e.g., your spouse) who wants to help, that person can be a “co-signer” on the application. The co-signer must also meet all sponsorship requirements and pass the financial test. Their income will be combined with yours for sponsorship purposes.
Step Five: Create an account on the Permanent Residence Portal
Starting in 2022, all sponsorship is done through the IRCC online portal called the Permanent Residence (PR) Portal. You will need to:
- Go to the IRCC website
- Create an account with an email address and password
- Confirm your email address
It is important that the sponsored person (the principal applicant) creates the account, not the sponsor. Although the sponsor also has access to the application information, it is the sponsored person — the principal applicant — who must submit both applications (sponsorship and PR application).
Step Six: Upload all documents to the portal
The portal generates an automatic checklist of documents based on your specific situation. For example, if you are sponsoring your spouse with children, the list will include requirements for your spouse and requirements for dependent children. Each document must be scanned in PDF or JPG format and uploaded to the correct folder on the portal.
It is important to follow the instructions regarding file size and document size. Some people make the mistake of uploading a photo that is of very low quality or too large a file. The portal may reject such files.
Step Seven: Pay the application fee
IRCC charges fees for sponsorship. Current fees (for 2025):
- Sponsorship application: $775
- Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) for each adult: $515
- Dependent child under 22: $0 for RPRF
- Dependent child 22+ years old: $515 for RPRF
So, if you are sponsoring your spouse and two children (both under 22), the total cost will be: $775 (sponsorship) + $515 (spouse RPRF) + $0 (child 1) + $0 (child 2) = $1,290.
Payment is made online through the portal, and you will receive a payment receipt. This ticket must be uploaded along with the other documents.
Step Eight: Submit your application
Once you have verified that all forms are completed, all documents are uploaded, all signatures are in place, and the fee is paid, you can click the “Submit” button. The portal will ask you to confirm that you really want to submit your application, and then it will be sent to IRCC.
Important: Before clicking the “Submit” button, make sure you have checked everything. An incomplete application will be rejected, and you will need to correct the errors and submit again. This takes time and delays the entire process.
Application processing: Wait times and what happens next
Once you submit your application, IRCC will send you an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) with your application number (sponsorship and PR application). This number is critical. You will use it to track the status of your application online.
Processing times depend on where the sponsored person lives. If the sponsored person lives in Edmonton with you (this is called an “inland” application), processing times will be slightly longer than if the sponsored person lives abroad (this is called an “outland” application). Currently, as of December 2025, processing times for sponsoring a spouse or partner living in Canada outside of Quebec are approximately 20 months.
For sponsoring a dependent child living in Canada, processing times are approximately 12 months. If the child lives abroad, it can be faster — sometimes as little as 6 months.
It is important to understand that these processing times are only estimates. Some applications are processed faster, some slower. If your documents are incomplete, IRCC will contact you to request clarification, which will delay the process by weeks or months.
During processing, IRCC may ask you to provide additional documents. For example, if you have a dependent child, IRCC may ask for proof of custody (court documents if the child lives with one parent). Or you may be asked to provide updated bank statements or a recent medical examination. It is important to respond to such requests as quickly as possible.
Special circumstances: When things get more complicated
Some family situations are more complicated than others. Let's look at some of them.
Children from previous relationships or from another parent
If you are sponsoring your spouse who has children from a previous marriage or relationship, and these children will also be living with you in Canada, they must also be included in the application as dependents. IRCC requires proof that the other parent has consented to the child's departure from Canada. This can be a court order for custody or a statement from the other parent.
But even if the other parent has not given consent or cannot be contacted, the child must still be included in the application. IRCC simply puts this fact on file, and the officer will investigate during the application process.
Adult children over 22 years of age
If you have an adult son or daughter in Ukraine who is over 22 years of age but is financially dependent on you (for example, they do not have a job), they can still be sponsored, but under different conditions. They are not considered a “dependent child” for the purposes of the program. Instead, they are considered an “other family member,” and the support period is 10 years rather than 10-25 years. The process is also slightly different, and you will need to prove that the adult cannot support themselves.
Divorce or separation during the process
If you separate from the partner you are sponsoring while your PR application is being processed, it does not invalidate the application. IRCC allows people to separate even during sponsorship. However, in some cases, if the separation occurred very early on (before the eCoPR was issued), IRCC may question the authenticity of the relationship.
But the most important thing is that your sponsorship obligation does not end with the divorce. Even if you divorce, you are still legally obligated to support that person for the period specified in the contract. If your divorced spouse applies to social services, the government will pursue you for reimbursement of the costs.
Moving to Quebec
If you plan to move to Quebec, the sponsorship process will be slightly different. Quebec has its own immigration selection system and requires additional approval from the provincial government. Processing times in Quebec are significantly longer (approximately 36-53 months for spousal sponsorship), and you will need to complete additional paperwork. If you are in Edmonton, this does not apply to you, as you remain under federal jurisdiction.
Critical mistakes people make: How to avoid them
In its work with thousands of people who sponsor their relatives, IRCC has identified some common mistakes that lead to delays or even rejections of applications. Let's take a look at the main mistakes and how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Insufficient documentation of the relationship
Many people believe that if they show their marriage certificate, that will be enough. In fact, IRCC wants to see evidence that the relationship is genuine and ongoing. This means photos together, correspondence (letters, SMS, WhatsApp messages), joint accounts, receipts from trips together, etc. If you only have 5-10 photos and no other evidence, IRCC may question whether the relationship is genuine.
Mistake #2: Using the wrong form or filling it out incompletely
IRCC has very specific forms for each situation. If you use the form for sponsoring a parent to sponsor your spouse, the application will be rejected. In addition, if you leave fields blank or fail to check specific boxes, the application will also be rejected.
Mistake #3: Incorrect financial documentation
People often miscalculate their income or forget to include all sources of income. IRCC only considers income that is verified on your Canadian tax return. If you have side income (e.g., Uber driver), it must be on your tax return. If it is not there, IRCC will not take it into account.
Mistake #4: Forgetting about dependent children
This is a very serious mistake. If the sponsored person (especially a spouse) has children who were not included in the application, IRCC will ask about them at some point. If you admit that you forgot about the children, you will need to cancel the application, correct the information, and reapply. This takes months.
Mistake #5: Incorrect language in documents
If the documents you received from Ukraine (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.) are in Ukrainian, you will need an official translation into English or French. This translation must be done by a certified translator, not just a friend. IRCC requires an “affidavit of translation” to confirm that the translation is accurate.
Obtaining an eCoPR and PR Card: End of the process
When IRCC has finished processing your PR application (both the sponsorship and the permanent residence application), the sponsored person will receive an “electronic Confirmation of Permanent Residence” (eCoPR) by email. This is the final document confirming that this person has been granted permanent resident status in Canada.
The eCoPR is not a physical card. It is a PDF file that can be downloaded and printed. The sponsored person can use this document for many purposes (opening a bank account, obtaining a SIN number, etc.) immediately upon receipt.
However, a physical PR Card is required for international travel. IRCC will mail this card within a few weeks of issuing the eCoPR. The card will be sent to the address provided in the application.
Conclusion: Family together in Canada
Sponsoring family members is a serious and often lengthy process. It requires patience, attention to detail, and a willingness to spend time and money on paperwork and fees. But the result is worth it. For hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who have sponsored their loved ones to Canada, bringing them to Canadian shores has been one of the most important events in their lives.
If you are in Edmonton on a CUAET or any other temporary permit, you must first obtain PR before you can sponsor. But once you have PR (or if you are already a Canadian citizen), the door is open for your family. The process is complicated, but if you take it step by step, you will be able to do it. Thousands of people have learned this. You can too.