IRCC has launched a new 2-year pilot project that will reunite more families. The pilot project allows some previous immigrants to sponsor undeclared immediate family members to come to Canada.

When a person applies to immigrate to Canada, they are required to declare all of their family members (spouse, common-law partner, dependent children, dependent children of dependent children). Typically, failing to declare a family member means the principal applicant will be prohibited from sponsoring that family member in the future.

The public policy, which took effect on September 9, 2019, now allows permanent residents who came to Canada as a Convention refugee, a protected person or who were themselves sponsored as a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child, to sponsor family members even if they were not initially declared.

This pilot project reflects the government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable people and reuniting families. Introducing this initiative as a pilot project allows IRCC to monitor and assess the number of cases and types of situations, and to ensure that no significant issues arise.

For more information about family reunification in Canada, please see: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/enewsletter/index.asp#pilot