The Family Class program was designed to reunite families in Canadian homes. Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Canada, 18 years of age or older, may sponsor close relatives or family members who want to become permanent residents of Canada. Sponsors must promise to support the relative or family member and their accompanying family members for a period of three (3) to ten (10) years to help them settle in Canada.

These are the relatives or family members that may be sponsored:

• spouses,
• parents and grandparents,
• dependent children, including adopted children,
• children under 18 years of age whom you intend to adopt or take under guardianship,
• brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces or grandchildren who are orphans under the age of 18 and not married or in a common-law relationship, or