Spousal and Family Sponsorship in Canada

Who can sponsor

IRCC says you can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child if you:

• are at least 18 years old;
• are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a person registered in Canada under the Indian Act;
• live in Canada. A Canadian citizen living outside Canada must show a plan to live in Canada when the sponsored people become permanent residents. A permanent resident living outside Canada cannot sponsor;
• commit to supporting the people you sponsor by signing an undertaking and sponsorship agreement.

In most cases there is no income requirement to sponsor a spouse, partner or dependent child. An income test applies in limited cases, such as when a dependent child has dependent children of their own.

Who cannot sponsor

IRCC says you may not be eligible if, for example, you:

• were sponsored as a spouse or partner and became a permanent resident less than 5 years ago;
• signed an undertaking for a previous spouse or partner and 3 years have not passed since they became a permanent resident;
• are in jail or prison;
• are behind on an immigration loan, a performance bond or court-ordered family support payments;
• did not give financial support you agreed to in an earlier sponsorship;
• declared bankruptcy and are not discharged;
• are receiving social assistance for a reason other than a disability;
• were convicted of a violent criminal offence, an offence against a relative causing bodily harm, or a sexual offence; or
• must leave Canada because of a removal order.

There may be other reasons. If you have a criminal record or prior sponsorship, get advice before applying.

Who can be sponsored

• A spouse who is legally married to you, at least 18, and in a genuine relationship with you, not only for the purpose of getting permanent resident status.
• A common-law partner who has lived with you for at least 12 consecutive months in a conjugal relationship.
• A conjugal partner who has been in an exclusive and mutually interdependent relationship with you for at least 1 year and who cannot live with you or marry you for legal, immigration, social, cultural, religious or other reasons.
• A dependent child who is your biological or adopted child (or your spouse's or partner's), and who is under 22 without a spouse or partner, or 22 or older and unable to support themselves because of a mental or physical condition, or who has depended on their parents for financial support since before age 22.

The person being sponsored must also not be inadmissible to Canada, for example for criminal, medical or misrepresentation reasons.

The sponsor's undertaking

The undertaking is a commitment to support the sponsored people financially and to make sure they do not need social assistance. It starts once they become permanent residents. IRCC lists these periods outside Quebec: 3 years for a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner; 3 years for a dependent child aged 22 or older; and 10 years, or until the child turns 25 if sooner, for a dependent child under 22.

Once the people you sponsor become permanent residents, the undertaking cannot be cancelled or shortened, even if the relationship ends or your finances change. If the sponsored person receives social assistance during the period, the sponsor must repay it and cannot sponsor anyone else until it is repaid.

Proving the relationship is genuine

Officers must be satisfied that the relationship is genuine and not entered into mainly to obtain status. Many families come from cultures where marriages are arranged. An arranged marriage is not a problem in itself. The question is whether the relationship is genuine, and the evidence should show that.

Evidence often includes a marriage certificate or equivalent document from your country (for example, a nikah nama and any registration certificate), translations, photographs over time, communication records, travel records, shared finances, and statements from family. The documents depend on your country and situation, and IRCC publishes checklists.

Fees and processing

IRCC lists the fee to sponsor a spouse or partner as starting from $1,260 and to sponsor a child as starting from $180. Fees and processing times change, so check IRCC's website. Spouses and partners may be able to apply for an open work permit when they arrive, subject to IRCC's rules.

If IRCC sends a letter or refuses

IRCC may send a procedural fairness letter if it has a concern, with a deadline to respond. Under section 63(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, a sponsor who filed a family class application can appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division against a decision not to issue the sponsored person a permanent resident visa. There are exceptions. For example, under section 64 there is no appeal if the person was found inadmissible on grounds such as serious criminality, and no appeal from a decision based on misrepresentation unless the person is the sponsor's spouse, common-law partner or child. See our pages on procedural fairness letters and what to do after a refusal.

How we can help

We assess whether the sponsor is eligible, identify risks such as a criminal record or earlier sponsorship, prepare the application and evidence, respond to IRCC letters, and act on appeals. We cannot guarantee that IRCC will approve an application.