Family Sponsorship from Nigeria: Reunite with Relatives in Canada

If you have a close family member who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may be sponsored for permanent residence.

Who can sponsor: Canadian citizens and permanent residents may sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, dependent children, parents, and grandparents in some programs.

Sponsor financial requirements: The sponsor must show income for spousal and child sponsorship, but there is no specific income requirement for sponsoring a spouse or partner. Parents and grandparents sponsorship has higher income thresholds.

Process: The sponsor submits an application to IRCC, and the sponsored person (you) submits your part. Processing for spousal sponsorship is typically managed through an inland or outland stream; outland is processed through the visa office in Ghana or another regional hub.

Nigerian-specific notes: marriage documents should be registered with the Nigerian government; birth certificates and police certificates must be certified and translated if not in English or French.

Official resources: Family sponsorship (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship.html).