Licensed Canadian immigration guidance
The One-Year Window provision lets protected persons include eligible family members on their permanent residence application without those family members needing to independently meet protected-person criteria — provided the application is made within roughly one year of the principal applicant becoming a permanent resident.
Guidance on Canadian immigration options and the documents each pathway may require.
What we handle
A sharper service plan
Use the guide below to review One-Year Window Reunification requirements, evidence and next steps.
Start with the facts, goals, history and deadlines that shape the route.
Organize evidence, explanations and forms around the decision-maker’s concern.
Keep ownership, communication and the next deadline visible from start to finish.
A visual route guide
Use the visual guide to explore One-Year Window Reunification; the written sections explain the requirements and evidence to check.
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What this service covers
Jump to the section that matches your current question about One-Year Window Reunification.
Talk through your fileThis Canadian immigration pathway should be assessed against the current official requirements, the applicant’s personal history and the…
Begin with the exact program or service, location, status and deadline. Then compare the requirements with the applicant’s education, work,…
Use the guide to narrow the question, confirm the current source and create a prioritized document list. When the history or deadline is…
Use the [IRCC Express Entry guide](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry.html) as…
Your service guide
The sections below explain One-Year Window Reunification and point to the details to verify before applying.
The One-Year Window provision lets protected persons include eligible family members on their permanent residence application without those family members needing to independently meet protected-person criteria — provided the application is made within roughly one year of the principal applicant becoming a permanent resident.
A quick look at the numbers
This summary of the key figures summarizes headline scores, points, timelines or pathway facts for One-Year Window Reunification. Use it as a quick reference, then compare the relevant rows with your status, documents and intended application date.
Confirm any score, fee, date or requirement against the IRCC immigration programs guide before relying on it. IRCC immigration programs guide.
Key figures at a glance
Quick referenceA quick explanation before the table
This eligibility comparison summarizes the criteria and evidence that distinguish the options for One-Year Window Reunification. Use it as a quick reference, then compare the relevant rows with your status, documents and intended application date.
Confirm any score, fee, date or requirement against the IRCC immigration programs guide before relying on it. IRCC immigration programs guide.
Technical reference Eligibility and pathway detail | |
|---|---|
| Aspect | Detail |
| Window length | Generally 12 months from the date the principal applicant becomes a permanent resident |
| Eligible family | Spouses, common-law/conjugal partners, and dependent children not included in the original application |
| Advantage | Family members don't need to separately establish protected person status |
| If missed | Family members typically need to pursue a standard family sponsorship application instead |
One-Year Window Reunification: The correct protection or humanitarian route depends on the applicant's status, risk or hardship facts, family circumstances, deadlines and evidence. Match the record to the exact process and decision-maker, preserve the relevant notices and explain why the proposed route fits before relying on a general immigration summary.
For this page, compare Window length and Eligible family with the applicant's records and the current instructions that control One-Year Window Reunification.
One-Year Window Reunification: The practical next step is to name the decision, gather the evidence that answers it and verify the current official instructions before filing.
This Canadian immigration pathway should be assessed against the current official requirements, the applicant’s personal history and the evidence available to support each claim. A clear application connects the goal, eligibility, documents, timeline and next decision instead of relying on one score or generic checklist.
Begin with the exact program or service, location, status and deadline. Then compare the requirements with the applicant’s education, work, language, family, financial, travel and admissibility facts before choosing forms or paying fees.
Use the guide to narrow the question, confirm the current source and create a prioritized document list. When the history or deadline is complex, a file-specific review can help test the route before submission.
Use the IRCC Express Entry guide as the final reference for current requirements. Rules, program openings, fees, forms and processing information can change, so check the source date and compare it with the facts in your file before relying on this guide.
The one-year window can provide a specific family-reunification process for eligible family members of a protected person when the required conditions and timing are met. The family should verify the date of the protection decision, the relationship, disclosure history and the documents requested for the application.
Create a family tree and document timeline that connects names, births, marriages, addresses, identity documents and the original refugee disclosure. Missing or inconsistent family information should be addressed early because the deadline may not leave time for reconstruction.
For One-Year Window Reunification, start by checking eligibility, evidence, timing, local support and the decision points that shape the application. A Brampton applicant should connect those facts to the current route instructions and keep the evidence consistent across forms, records and deadlines. The page can explain the pathway, but the decision-maker applies the current rules to the applicant’s personal facts.
A focused Brampton review of One-Year Window Reunification should identify the first decision, the evidence gap that could change the route and the deadline that needs protecting. Compare the page with the IRCC immigration programs guide and keep any consultation focused on the facts that the selected pathway actually tests.
Before relying on immigration consultant in Brampton for One-Year Window Reunification, check eligibility, evidence, timing, local support and the decision points that shape the application against the current IRCC immigration programs guide. Search results and tools can help you frame the question, but they cannot replace the decision-maker’s rules or a complete review of your personal facts.
Clear answers, before you decide
Get a concise answer about this pathway and what to verify before you take the next step.
It is a process that lets a protected person include family members who were not in Canada at the time of their PR application. It usually needs the family to be declared and the application to be made within a specific period. A Brampton RCIC can check your eligibility.
Official source: CICC Public Register
Protected persons who have applied for or received PR, and who declared their family members, may be eligible. Rules depend on timing and relationship.
Official source: IRCC protected persons permanent residence guide and family-member rules
Family members that you fail to declare may be barred from later sponsorship. Declare every spouse and child, even if they are far away or you are not in contact. If you live in Brampton or Peel, a licensed RCIC can check how this applies to your family reunification case.
Official source: CICC Public Register
Typically a spouse or partner and dependent children. Others, such as parents or siblings, may not qualify. Check IRCC's definitions.
Official source: IRCC protected persons permanent residence guide and family-member rules
Deadlines are strict and usually measured from a specific date, such as when you got PR. Missing the deadline can end this route. Speak to a representative immediately.
Official source: IRCC protected persons permanent residence guide and family-member rules
Identity documents, civil status documents, photos, medical exams and police certificates for each person. Documents depend on their country. Brampton applicants can book a consultation to review this point against their own documents.
Official source: IRCC protected persons permanent residence guide and family-member rules
Explain the situation in your application and provide any evidence. IRCC may have processes for difficult cases. Get advice on options.
Official source: IRCC protected persons permanent residence guide and family-member rules
No. They generally must wait for approval and the required documents. Do not encourage unsafe travel.
Official source: IRCC protected persons permanent residence guide and family-member rules
Times vary by case and visa office. Check IRCC for current times and prepare complete documents. Residents of Brampton, Mississauga and the wider GTA can have a licensed RCIC confirm this before they file.
Official source: CICC Public Register
Fees may apply for each person, with possible exemptions. Check IRCC's fee schedule.
Official source: IRCC immigration and citizenship fee list
IRCC may ask for proof of relationship, which could include DNA in some cases. Provide genuine documents and answer requests honestly.
Official source: IRCC protected persons permanent residence guide and family-member rules
Review the reasons and see whether you can address them. Options may include reconsideration or other routes. Deadlines are short. A Brampton RCIC can walk through this step with you and flag anything that needs official confirmation.
Official source: CICC Public Register
In some cases yes, but the family sponsorship route has different rules and may be barred if family were not declared. Compare routes with a representative.
Official source: IRCC protected persons permanent residence guide and family-member rules
A visitor visa is possible in some cases, but it does not give status and may be refused. Be careful about the intent you state. If you live in Brampton or Peel, a licensed RCIC can check how this applies to your family reunification case.
Official source: CICC Public Register
No. IRCC, the IRB or the province makes the decision. A licensed RCIC can assess your situation, prepare a strong application and manage deadlines, but cannot guarantee approval. Avoid anyone who promises a result or asks for payment to 'fix' your case.
Official source: CICC Public Register
Bring the key dates and records behind your question to a focused review.
Keep exploring your pathway
Compare One-Year Window Reunification with the related tools and pathways linked below.
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