Canada Visitor Visa Family Sponsorship Immigration Tips Visiting Canada
How to Bring Your Loved Ones to Canada for the Holidays
Canada has multiple immigration pathways to help you reunite with your family during the holidays, both permanently and temporarily.
Family Reunification in Canada
Family reunification is one of the pillars of Canada’s immigration system. Canadian immigration policies are designed to help in uniting families by allowing citizens and permanent residents to bring their close family members to Canada. Family members that a Canadian citizen or permanent resident can bring through different immigration pathways are:
- Spouses, common-law partners, and conjugal partners
- Dependent children (children who are under the age of 22 and unmarried)
- Parent(s) and grandparent(s)
- May be eligible to bring other close family members, depending on your individual circumstances
Although permanent residence in Canada is the typical route that people take, there are also ways to bring family members to Canada temporarily, perfect for the holidays.
Temporary Resident Visas (TRV)
For families wanting to reunite for the holidays, a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is a common way to bring eligible family members to Canada. This type of visa lets your family members visit Canada for a set period of time.
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated the rules for TRVs. The update gives visa officers more flexibility to decide whether to issue a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and how long it will be valid. Officers will look at your reason for visiting, ties to your home country, and your finances, when deciding the visa’s duration. Supporting documentation includes:
- Marriage certificate, birth certificate etc. proving the Canadian resident’s relationship with the applicant.
- Financial support documents indicating that the applicant can financially support themselves during their stay in Canada
- A letter of invitation from the Canadian resident explaining the purpose of the visit, the planned duration, and accommodation arrangements for the applicants stay
- Evidence that the applicant will return to their home country after the visit (e.g., ties to their home country such as a job, property, etc.)
*Please note that additional documentation may be required
For families hoping to reunite during the holidays, it is important to apply as early as possible to avoid delays as the TRV application process can take several few weeks depending on the volume of applications and your specific circumstances.
Super Visa for Parent(s) and Grandparent(s)
If you want to spend the holidays with your parent(s) or grandparent(s), then the Super Visa is the route you may want to consider. This type of visitor visa is specifically designed for parents and grandparents of Canadiana citizens or those of permanent residents which allows them to stay in Canada for extended periods of time, without the need to renew their status. A super visa can be granted for 5 years, making this visa especially beneficial for those who wish to spend significant time with their families, particularly over the holidays.
Eligibility requirements for a Super Visa include:
- Must be a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Provide proof of financial support from their Canadian child or grandchild
- Medical examination proving that they are in good health to travel and stay in Canada for the duration of their stay
- Proof of valid health insurance coverage in Canada for at least one year
*More documents may be required depending on your personal circumstances to strengthen your application
The Super Visa lets your parent(s) or grandparent(s) stay with you for a longer period of time which is ideal during the holidays as it offers more flexibility than if they were to apply for a regular TRV.
Visitor Visas for Other Family Members
The visitor visa is also a good option for those who wish to spend the holidays with these relatives as they are not automatically eligible for extended stays; they can apply for a TRV to visit for holidays or special occasions. Canadian citizens or permanent residents may be eligible to bring other relatives, such as their siblings or adult children, for short-term visits through visitor visas.
Supporting Documentation for Other Family Members on a Visitor Visa includes (but is not limited to):
- A letter of invitation from you (the Canadian resident) explaining the purpose of (your dependents) the applicants visit
- Proof that the applicant will return home after their visit.
Spousal and Family Sponsorship for Permanent Residency
Regardless of the holidays, most people want to bring their spouse or common-law partner to Canada permanently. If you find yourself in this situation, you may want to consider applying for spousal or family sponsorship. This is one of Canada’s popular immigration pathways that allows Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents to sponsor their spouses, partners, and dependent children to come to Canada as permanent residents. If approved, this would be the ultimate gift this holiday season, if we do say so ourselves.
Whether you are planning to bring your spouse, children, parents, or grandparents to Canada for the holidays, temporarily or permanently, there are various immigration pathways available to help you celebrate together.
Happy holidays from our family to yours!
Please note that our law firm will be closed from December 24, 2024, to January 2, 2025. We will be happy to assist with any inquiries on January 3, 2025, and onwards.
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