Express Entry and Family Members: All You Need to Know

The Canadian immigration system understands the importance of keeping families together. For this reason, Express Entry applicants may include their family members in an application for permanent residence.

In the context of Express Entry, family members are those individuals who are considered dependents and can be included in your application for permanent residence. These family members must meet certain criteria to be processed as part of your application.

Family Members You Can Include in Your Express Entry Application

You can bring certain family members with you to Canada if they are processed for permanent residence as your dependents. These include:

• Your spouse or common-law partner: Your legally married partner or someone you have been living with in a conjugal relationship for at least one year.
• Your dependent child: A child who is under 22 years old and does not have a spouse or common-law partner. In some cases, a child over 22 can be considered dependent if they have been financially dependent on you due to a physical or mental condition.
• Your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent child: The same criteria apply as for your own dependent child.
• A dependent child of a dependent child: Also known as a grandchild, this is a child of your dependent child.

Family Members Who Cannot Be Included in Your Express Entry Application

There are certain family members who cannot be included in your initial Express Entry application as dependents. These include:

• Your parents: While parents and grandparents cannot be included as dependents in your Express Entry application, they can be sponsored for permanent residence later through the Family Sponsorship Program.
• Grandparents: Like parents, grandparents can be sponsored later through a different program.
• Brother or sister: Siblings are not considered dependents under Express Entry and cannot be included in your application.
• Uncle or aunt: Extended family members such as uncles and aunts are also not eligible to be included as dependents.
• Nephew or niece: Similar to uncles and aunts, nephews and nieces cannot be included.
• Other relatives: Any other extended family members not mentioned above cannot be included as dependents in your Express Entry application.

Proving Family Ties for Express Entry Applications

Applicants must provide proof of their relationships as part of their applications. This proof usually means legal documents that show relation. For example, marriage certificates will prove spousal relationships. The marriage certificate must show that the marriage was legal in the country where it was performed and would be legal in Canada.

For people in common-law partnerships, detailed evidence of a relationship will be needed. The applicants need to include a form declaring their common-law relationship. This document is provided by IRCC. The couple must also prove that they have lived together for at least 12 months. Utility bills, housing leases, and bank account documentation can be evidence of this. For more in-depth information, read our comprehensive guide on proving your common-law relationship.

If you have dependent children you also need to prove their relationship to you. For biological children, a birth or baptismal certificate is accepted by Canadian immigration officials. Some families who used surrogacy or other assisted reproduction methods may need to also provide documentation of that. Additionally, documents proving legal adoption are necessary if you adopted any of your dependent children.

Keep in mind that in addition to the legal documents to prove that you are related to your dependents, you must also prove that you can support them. In the Express Entry process, you will be required to prove that you have the funds to support yourself and your family members. Bank statements showing your financial assets, for example, are a great way to prove this. You also might have an easier time if you have a job offer in Canada.

Points for Your Spouse or Partner

Including your spouse or common-law partner on your Express Entry application could boost your CRS points. Spouses can gain points for education, work experience, and language skills, which may have a positive impact on your score.

It is also possible that your spouse or common-law partner could have a stronger application than you. In that case, you should consider having them as the primary applicant for Express Entry.

Marriage During Express Entry

While marriage is undoubtedly a time to celebrate, it may leave you confused about what it means for your immigration status. If you are going through the process of getting married during the Express Entry process, it is important to note that it is essential to inform the IRCC. This is because the Canadian government will need to know of any updates regarding your family composition and evaluate for admissibility. Your admissibility depends on your spouse’s admissibility as well. As a result, this is a mandatory step that you must complete regardless or not if your spouse will not accompany you to Canada.

Just as with couples who got married before applying for Express Entry, it is essential to save important documents to file with your application such as a valid marriage certificate. Once IRCC is notified of the new marriage, they will update applicants on what further steps will be taken regarding their application and additional documents.

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