http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/sponsor/spouse-apply-who.asp
Who can become a sponsor
You can become a sponsor if you are:
a Canadian citizen, a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act or a permanent resident
at least 18 years old
living in Canada:
If you are a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must show that you plan to live in Canada when your sponsored relative becomes a permanent resident.
You can’t sponsor someone if you are a permanent resident living outside Canada
If you live in Quebec, you must also meet Quebec’s conditions to be a sponsor.
able to prove that you have enough income to provide basic needs for your spouse or partner’s dependent children. You must submit documents showing your financial resources for the past 12 months only if the spouse or partner you are sponsoring has a grandchild who is coming with them (see subsection 1(3) of the IRPR for more details).
You can’t be a sponsor if you:
were sponsored by a spouse or partner and you became a permanent resident less than five years ago
sponsored a previous spouse or partner and three years have not passed since this person became a permanent resident
are in default of a previous sponsorship undertaking, an immigration loan, a performance bond or family support payments
are still going through the process of bankruptcy (undischarged bankruptcy)
receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability
were convicted of a violent or sexual offence, an offence that caused bodily harm to a relative or you attempted or threatened to commit any of these offences
are in a penitentiary, jail, reformatory or prison
are under a removal order
have already applied to sponsor your current spouse, partner or child and a decision on your application hasn’t been made yet.
