Maple News reports that individuals granted permanent residence (PR) status in Canada may bring certain immediate family members with them, provided those relatives were included in their initial immigration application. This is different from sponsoring family members after arriving in Canada, which requires a separate process under Canada’s family reunification programs.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), only specific family members qualify as dependents and are eligible to accompany the principal applicant. These include:
– A spouse or common-law partner
– A dependent child
– A dependent child of the spouse or common-law partner
– A dependent child of a dependent child
A dependent child is generally defined as someone under the age of 22 who is not married or in a common-law relationship. However, children aged 22 and older may still qualify if they have depended on their parents for financial support since before turning 22 and are unable to support themselves due to a physical or mental condition.
It’s important to note that dependents must have been officially declared and processed during the applicant’s original PR application. IRCC makes it clear that these individuals are not permitted to arrive in Canada before the principal applicant—they must enter the country either at the same time or after the primary applicant.
On the other hand, certain family members cannot accompany a new permanent resident as part of the initial landing process. This includes adult siblings, parents, grandparents, nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, and other extended family members, unless they are being sponsored later under a different immigration pathway.
For those interested in sponsorship options post-arrival, Canada offers a number of family sponsorship programs designed to help reunite permanent residents and citizens with close family members abroad.
Understanding these distinctions is key to planning a successful transition to life in Canada and ensuring that eligible loved ones can join you during the immigration process.