Sponsoring a spouse or family member comes with an obligation to provide necessities of life for several years.
Canada strives to reunite families as part of its immigration policy and welcomes over 100,000 family class immigrants per year. All family class immigration programs involve a sponsor.
One of the main requirements of family sponsorship is an undertaking. Essentially, an undertaking is a binding contract, signed by the sponsor, that states you are taking on financial responsibility for your spouse, partner, dependent child/children, parent or grandparent.
What does financial responsibility entail?
When you sign an undertaking, that means you are legally responsible for providing food, shelter, clothing, and everyday living needs for the person you are sponsoring. This does not stop until the end of the legal undertaking period, even if the person becomes a Canadian citizen.
Anyone who comes to Canada through family sponsorship has no access to government provided support such as social assistance, disability, or any provincial benefits. If the person you are sponsoring applies for, and receives, money from the provincial or federal government, you will be the person responsible for paying it back.
All permanent residents are entitled to healthcare provided under the provincial healthcare system but if your family member does not have their own private insurance, you are responsible for healthcare not covered by the province such as prescription medications, dental care or eye exams.
Additionally, once you sign an undertaking, there are no circumstances under which you can end your obligation early. If you separate or divorce your partner or spouse or become estranged from the person you signed an undertaking for, you are still considered responsible for them until the undertaking expires. You are also still responsible if you lose your employment or run into financial trouble.
How long is an undertaking?
Undertakings vary in length depending on the program. A spouse or partner requires a three-year undertaking while sponsoring parents or grandparents through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is 20 years, unless you are in Quebec which is 10 years.
Dependent children under 22 require an undertaking of 10 years, or until they turn 25. Children over 22 have an undertaking of three years.
Cancelling an undertaking
Undertakings cannot be cancelled after the final decision on your application is issued by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). If you change your mind before you get IRCC’s decision, you can send a letter to the department withdrawing your application.
