Sponsoring Your Spouse, Partner and Children to Canada

Bringing your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner to live with you in Canada is an exciting step, but navigating the family sponsorship process can feel overwhelming. Don’t worry. We're here to break it down for you in a way that’s clear and easy to follow. Whether you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, this guide will walk you through the essentials of sponsoring your loved one, including eligibility, requirements, and some key tips to make the process smoother.

Who Can You Sponsor?

Canada’s family sponsorship program allows you to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child. Let’s quickly define each:

• Spouse: Your legally married partner, who is at least 18 years old and in a genuine relationship with you (not just for immigration purposes). They can be any gender.

• Common-law partner: Someone you’ve lived with for at least 12 consecutive months in a conjugal relationship, without long periods apart (short trips for work or family are okay). They must be 18 or older, not legally married to you, and in a genuine relationship.

• Conjugal partner: A partner you’ve been in an exclusive, interdependent relationship with for at least a year, but you can’t live together or marry due to legal, social, cultural, or other barriers (e.g., same-sex relationships not recognized in their country or religious differences). They must live outside Canada, be 18 or older, and be in a genuine relationship.

• Dependent child: A child who depends on you financially, with some specific cases requiring extra income proof (more on that later).

The key here is proving your relationship is genuine. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will want documents like shared bills, photos, or proof of cohabitation to confirm this.

Who Can Sponsor?

To sponsor your spouse, partner, or child, you need to meet a few requirements:

• Age and status: You must be at least 18 and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered under the Canadian Indian Act.

• Residency: You need to live in Canada. If you’re a Canadian citizen living abroad, you must prove you’ll return to Canada once your sponsored family member becomes a permanent resident. Permanent residents living outside Canada can’t sponsor.

• Commitment: You’ll sign an undertaking and sponsorship agreement, promising to support your sponsored family member financially.

• Legal eligibility: You must meet all requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its regulations.

If you live in Quebec, additional rules apply, including Quebec-specific income requirements and signing an undertaking with the Quebec government. Don’t submit this until IRCC confirms it’s time. Quebec won’t process it otherwise.

Who Can’t Sponsor?

There are some situations where you might not be eligible to sponsor. For example, you can’t sponsor if:

• You were sponsored as a spouse or partner and became a permanent resident less than 5 years ago.

• You’re still financially responsible for a previously sponsored spouse or partner (within 3 years of their permanent residency).

• You’re in jail, behind on immigration loans, alimony, or child support (unless sponsoring in Quebec), or receiving social assistance (except for disability).

• You’ve been convicted of certain violent or sexual offenses, declared bankruptcy and aren’t discharged, or have a removal order to leave Canada.

If you’ve already applied to sponsor the same person and a decision is pending, you’ll need to wait. IRCC will let you know if you’re ineligible and explain why.

Income Requirements: Do You Need to Prove It?

In most cases, you don’t need to meet a specific income threshold to sponsor your spouse, partner, or dependent child. However, you’ll need to show enough income if:

• You’re sponsoring a dependent child who has their own dependent children.

• You’re sponsoring a spouse or partner who has a dependent child with their own dependent children.

In these cases, you’ll need to complete the Financial Evaluation Form (IMM 1283), which outlines how much money you’ll need. If you’re in Quebec, check Quebec’s specific income requirements.

Open Work Permits: Helping Your Family Work in Canada

While waiting for their permanent residence application to process, your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or accompanying dependent child can apply for an open work permit (OWP) if:

• They’re living in Canada with you.

• You’ve received an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) from IRCC confirming their permanent residence application is in progress.

• The relationship is genuine.

You can only apply for a work permit without an AOR if you meet both of the following criteria:

• your work permit, study permit or temporary resident status will expire in 2 weeks or less and

• you’ve applied for permanent residence under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class (SCLPC) or the family class as a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner (sponsored overseas).

For dependent children, they must also live with the principal applicant (the person being sponsored) and their sponsor. Be sure to check the minimum working age in your province or territory, as Canadian employers must follow provincial labor laws.

Note: You can’t apply for an OWP if the permanent residence application has been refused, withdrawn, or returned, or if you’re applying at a port of entry.

Visiting Canada During the Process

If your spouse, partner, or child is outside Canada, they can apply for a visitor visa to join you while their permanent residence application is being processed. If you’ve received an AOR, they may qualify for faster visitor visa processing automatically, no special request needed. Just ensure they meet all visitor visa eligibility requirements.

Once your spouse, partner, or dependent child arrives in Canada, they can apply for an open work permit (OWP) if:

• You (the sponsor) received an AOR that confirms their permanent residence application is in progress.

• They’re living with you.

Sponsoring your spouse, partner, or child to join you in Canada is a big step toward building your life together. While the process involves paperwork and patience, it’s worth it to have your loved ones by your side. If you’re ready to start, check IRCC’s document checklist for your specific situation and make sure you meet all requirements. For Quebec residents, don’t forget to follow the province’s additional steps.

Got questions or need more guidance? Visit IRCC’s website or reach out to us for personalized advice.