Immigrants applying under the family class are usually sponsored by family members already living in Canada. Sponsors are financially responsible for the applicant.

Tiwari Family with Judge Reiser at their citizenship ceremony

Family class applicants have a family member who is already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who sponsors them to come to the country.

The applicant must be a:

• wife, husband or conjugal (common-law) partner

• parent or grandparent

• brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild who is orphaned, unmarried and under 18

• dependent son or daughter

• child under 18 whom the sponsor plans to adopt

• other relative, if the sponsor doesn't have another relative described above, either abroad or in Canada

Find out more about the process of international adoptions from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

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66,644 out of 250,346 immigrants in 2001 came under family class.

15 per cent of sponsorships fail.

56 per cent of family sponsorships involve spouses.

Before 1981, 40 per cent of recent immigrants had a Canadian-born spouse. Now it's 16 per cent.

The top five source countries of family applicants are India, China, U.S., Philippines, and Pakistan

SOURCES: 1996 Census Facts and Figures 2001: Immigration Overview

Permanent Residence Card

Since June 28, 2002, all landed immigrants are immediately issued a Permanent Residence Card (PRC) with their photo and a magnetic security stripe. Before that date, Canada issued paper documents with no security features.

As of January 2004, you must have a card if you are a landed immigrant and are travelling outside Canada. Those with paper documents are required to apply for a PRC starting October 15, 2002.

Application for Permanent Residence (PDF)

Profile of Immigration and Refugee Lawyer Ed Corrigan