Spousal Sponsorship Canada - Helping Families Stay Together

If you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and have a spouse or common-law partner, you can sponsor them to come to Canada. They can then apply for a permanent residence status and stay in Canada together with you.

This is a family-class visa through which Canada welcomes thousands of new permanent residents each year. However, spousal sponsorship can be difficult to obtain.

What is spousal sponsorship

Spousal Sponsorship Canada is an immigration program that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouse, common law partner or conjugal partner for a temporary or permanent residence visa. The government’s goal is to keep families together, which is why this immigration mechanism can help family members reunite within Canada.

A spousal sponsorship application can take around 12 months to process, but this is dependent on the complexity of your case and the country of origin of your partner. An experienced immigration professional can help prepare a strong application that will reduce processing delays.

To qualify for spousal sponsorship, you must have been in a genuine relationship with your spouse or common law partner for at least one year. Brief separations are acceptable for this time period, but they must be short and temporary.

Eligibility requirements

Spousal Sponsorship Canada is one of the most common forms of family sponsorship. However, the process requires a lot of time, effort and documentation to complete.

The application can take around 12 months to be processed and processing times can vary based on the specifics of your case. Typically, the visa office will request additional documentation to verify the authenticity of your relationship, which can lead to further delays.

You must be living with your sponsored spouse or partner as common-law for at least a year to qualify for spousal sponsorship. You must also provide a valid marriage certificate or proof of registration.

There are some exceptions to this rule. For example, you can’t sponsor a spouse who is under a removal order or is receiving social assistance for a reason other than disability. You must also be able to prove that you have enough income to support your spouse or partner for three years after they arrive in Canada.

Documents required

A foreign spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner who wants to move to Canada can be sponsored by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. This family sponsorship pathway is a key part of the immigration system that is geared towards helping families stay together in Canada.

In order to qualify for spousal sponsorship, you must be legally married or have a common-law relationship with the person who is being sponsored. If your marriage took place outside of Canada, a valid marriage certificate from the country where you were married is required.

If you have a common-law relationship, you must cohabit with your partner for at least 12 months in a marriage-like relationship, excluding brief absences. This will help IRCC assess the quality of your relationship and ensure that you have established a legitimate relationship with your foreign partner.

You must also sign an undertaking that will require you to financially assist your partner for three years, starting on the date they receive their permanent residence status. This is a significant commitment to make and one that can be challenging for many people.

Fees

The fees associated with spousal sponsorship in Canada vary depending on the situation. However, there are some general rules that apply to all sponsorships in the country.

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may sponsor your spouse or common-law partner to live in Canada. This will allow them to obtain permanent residence, allowing them to build a life in the country.

In order to do this, you will have to sign an undertaking agreeing to provide financial support for your spouse or partner and their dependent children. This undertaking usually lasts for a period of three years.

Once you have paid the necessary fees and received a receipt, you will need to give your biometrics in person at an official biometric collection service point. You must make an appointment to do this in advance, as there are a limited number of these points across the country.