A sponsor is a person who gives an undertaking to the Québec government on behalf of a sponsored person.
To sponsor a close relative, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, reside in Québec, be at least 18 years of age, and satisfy certain conditions.
By signing a sponsorship agreement, the sponsor undertakes to provide for the basic needs of the sponsored person as established in Schedule C of the Regulation respecting the selection of foreign nationals, reimburse the Québec government for any sum it may grant as special benefits or last-resort financial assistance under the Individual and Family Assistance Act to the sponsored person, and reimburse the government of any province of Canada for the amount of any assistance granted to ensure the income security of the person in respect of whom the undertaking has been given.
The sponsor assumes financial responsibility for the full duration of the sponsorship agreement, which may vary from three to ten years, depending on the family relationship to the sponsor. Sponsorship agreements in respect of children may exceed ten years.
Once a sponsorship undertaking is in effect, it may not be cancelled.