Published
Sundeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2018, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Updated November 13, 2026: IRPR ss. 141 and 176 and IRCC’s protected persons instructions checked that day.
The rule: family members you listed can come to Canada without a separate sponsorship, if they apply within one year.
When the year runs: protected persons in Canada: from the day you become a PR (IRPR s. 176(2)). Resettled refugees: from the day protection was conferred (s. 141).
The catch: family must have been declared on your application. Why a lawyer
Our immigration lawyers
Sundeep S. GrewalBarrister and Solicitor
Prabhpreet Kaur SanghaBarrister and Solicitor
Pardeep S. GrewalBarrister and SolicitorAbout our lawyers
Sundeep S. Grewal founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.
Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.
Pardeep S. Grewal is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.
The “one-year window” lets the spouse, partner and dependent children of a refugee or protected person join them in Canada without a separate family sponsorship, as long as they were declared and they apply within one year. For protected persons who claimed refugee status inside Canada, the year starts on the day you become a permanent resident (IRPR s. 176(2)). For refugees resettled from abroad, it starts on the day refugee protection was conferred (IRPR s. 141).
Lawgical Law Corporation, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, brings families of protected persons and refugees to Canada, from the first PR application to the one-year window and sponsorship; this guide is by Sundeep S. Grewal.
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Two one-year rules
| Who you are | The year starts | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Protected person who claimed inside Canada | The day you become a permanent resident | IRPR s. 176(2) |
| Refugee resettled from abroad | The day refugee protection was conferred | IRPR s. 141 |
Who counts as family
- Your spouse or common-law partner;
- Your dependent children (and their dependent children).
They must be listed on your PR application. A family member who wasn’t declared generally can’t use the window or be sponsored later: see undeclared family members (R117(9)(d)).
Often better: apply together
Protected persons in Canada can submit family abroad with their own PR application, so everyone is processed together. The one-year window is mainly for family you couldn’t locate or couldn’t get ready in time. See the protected person PR application.
How family apply under the window
- They apply to an IRCC office outside Canada, before the year ends;
- They complete forms, medicals and security checks;
- They must not be inadmissible on the serious grounds that apply to protected persons.
It is up to the family member to apply within the year.
Why this needs a lawyer
One lawyer, one file, every step:
- listing every family member correctly from the start;
- submitting family abroad with your application;
- keeping the one-year deadline;
- options if the year was missed.
Family reunification depends on paperwork filed years earlier. A missing name or a missed date can mean years more apart.
Immigration lawyers are members of a provincial law society (in our case, the Law Society of British Columbia), and only a lawyer can represent you in the Federal Court if a refusal has to be challenged there. An immigration consultant cannot appear in that court for you.
Mistakes I have seen
- Not listing a child because their whereabouts were unknown.
- Assuming the year starts when the family is found.
- Waiting for the principal’s PR before starting the family’s paperwork.
- Listing a spouse as “single” on an earlier form.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to sponsor my family?
Not if they’re declared and apply within the one-year window.
When does my one year start?
For protected persons in Canada: the day you become a PR.
Can I add a child born after I applied?
Yes; add family members before your PR application is finalized.
What if we miss the year?
What should I do right now?
Make sure every family member is on your PR application, and note the date you become a PR: the year starts then.
Book a consultation with our immigration lawyers in Surrey, Abbotsford or Vancouver, or online from anywhere.
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Sources (official)
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 176
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 141
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 117(9)(d)
- IRCC: Protected persons – processing applications for permanent residence (eligibility) (modified December 22, 2025)
- IRCC: Protected persons – family members overseas (modified December 22, 2025)
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.