All You Need to Know about Dependent Visa in Canada - A Detailed Guide

Living far from your family in a new country doesn't seem exciting at all. No matter how absorbed you stay at your workplace, returning to a home after work where you’ve no one to talk to or care for you can be frustrating. But for eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents, there’s a scope for bringing your family to stay with them by becoming a dependent sponsor.

Canada has the highest number of immigrants as it allows people across the globe to benefit from its flourishing job market, world-class education, universal healthcare facilities, etc. The Government has further allowed such immigrants to sponsor their families, thereby enabling them to live, work, and study in this nation. By applying for a dependent visa Canada, your family can get a chance to live with you and start a new life together.

A proficient immigration lawyer can offer you detailed knowledge of what a dependent visa is all about and how to apply for the same. Here in this article, you will find a comprehensive overview of how you can help your dependents (family members) shift to Canada to stay with you.

Dependent Visa - In Brief

A dependent visa is basically an entry permit for dependents (family members) of Canadian residents or citizens to shift to the nation and live with them. Having this visa will help dependents to:

• Stay with permanent residents or Canadian citizens (primary applicant)
• Study in any educational institution (in specific cases)
• Travel
• Work (in specific cases)

What is the eligibility criteria for dependent visa?

There’s a list of basic eligibility requirements that one needs to follow for obtaining this visa. Here are the details on the same provided below.

For a common-law partner:

• He/She and the sponsor should live together in the same place.
• He/She should submit relevant proof of a civil relationship with the sponsor.

For a spouse:

• He/She needs to show the marriage certificate as legal proof.

For dependent children:

• He/She must be a student.
• He/She is in need of financial support.
• He/She should be under 22 years of age.

What is the eligibility criteria to sponsor a dependent?

To legally sponsor a dependent, one needs to fulfill a list of eligibility requirements, which are discussed below.

• He/She needs to be at least 18 years of age or above.
• He/She must be a permanent resident or Canadian citizen.
• He/She must be legally married to their spouse.
• He/She must have genuineness in the relationship with dependents.

What are the documents required?

The list of essential documents required to apply for a dependent visa are:

• Valid Passport
• Marriage certificate (or other documents for establishing the partnership)
• Medical test results
• Birth certificate of the dependent children
• Documents like bank statements as the sponsor’s proof of fund
• Sponsor’s proof of employment
• Other documents similar to a Certificate of Eligibility

What are the Steps to Apply for a Dependent Visa Online?

Your dependents can apply for this visa by following a series of steps discussed below.

Step 1: Gather all the documents required

Step 2: Sign in to create an account in the Permanent Residence Portal.

Step 3: Fill in the application form.

Step 4: Pay the visa fees as required, including processing fees, biometric fees, and third-party fees.

Step 5: Send the additional documents required during processing.

Step 6: Submit the application online.

Step 7: Track updates on your application online.

Closing Thoughts

Hiring an immigration lawyer is perhaps the most prudent decision you will make if you’re willing to immigrate to Canada. Akrami and Associates is a prestigious immigration law firm that offers holistic legal support to clients in different areas of immigration. They offer specialized legal advice on a range of issues, including express entry, work permit to rehabilitation immigration Canada and more. For more details on their services, contact them now.