Canada understands the value of family reunification and thus has created a category to allow families to bring some relatives to Canada. Family Class Immigration involves sponsorship by a relative aged 18 or over and who is either a permanent resident in Canada or a Canadian citizen who is residing in or returning to Canada.

The qualifying Canadian citizen or resident can only sponsor the following relatives as applicants for immigration to Canada:

• spouse
• common-law/same-sex partner
• dependent children under age 22
• dependent children age 22 and over (if they are full-time students, mentally or physically disabled and dependent upon their parents)
• children adopted or to be adopted by them, or under their guardianship
• parents
• grandparents
• other prescribed family members where it is warranted under humanitarian and compassionate grounds, based on the last surviving member of the family

Canadian Law has recently changed to allow Immigration sponsorship of common-law and same-sex partners, as well as partners who have been cohabiting in a conjugal relationship for at least 1 year.