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: Your biological or adopted child (or your spouse/partner’s biological or adopted child) who isn’t inadmissible to Canada and qualifies as a dependant (see below for details).

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.

Key Evidence Required for Sponsorship Approval

To get your sponsorship approved, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) needs simple proof that your relationship with your spouse or partner is real. Here’s what you’ll want to focus on, depending on your situation:

For Everyone: Include passport copies, birth certificates, and a recent photo of you and any family members coming with you. If you or they have lived in another country for 6+ months since age 18, a police certificate might be needed. If kids are involved, their birth certificates or custody papers could be required.

For Sponsors: Show you’re legally allowed to sponsor by providing proof of your status in Canada—like a Permanent Resident card, citizenship certificate, or Indian status card. If you live outside Canada as a citizen, include a plan showing you’ll return once they become permanent residents. If you’re working, a letter from your employer and a recent tax notice can help prove you can support them.
For Your Spouse or Partner:
- If Married: A marriage certificate is your main proof.
- If Common-Law: You’ll need to show you’ve lived together for at least 12 months. A Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union, signed by both of you, is recommended. Add things like joint bills, a lease with both names, or letters from friends/family to back this up. A few photos of you together can also help.
- If Conjugal: Prove a committed relationship for one year despite barriers (e.g., legal or cultural). Include letters, photos, or support evidence, and explain the obstacles.
- If Not Living Together: Share proof like emails, texts, or travel records of visits, and explain any time apart.
For Dependent Children:
You can sponsor a child if they’re not inadmissible and qualify as a dependant. They must be:
- Your biological or adopted child (or your spouse/partner’s), and meet one of these:
  - Under 22, single, and without a spouse or common-law partner, or
  - 22 or older, unable to support themselves due to a mental or physical condition, and dependent on you since before age 22.
- They must keep meeting these rules until IRCC finishes processing.
- Provide their birth certificate with your name. For kids not with their other parent, include custody papers or a declaration. For intercountry adoptions or orphaned relatives, follow specific IRCC steps.
- If sponsoring only your child: List them as the principal applicant, get the other parent’s consent, and declare any grandchildren (even if not coming).
- If sponsoring your spouse/partner and their child: List your spouse/partner as the principal applicant and the child as a dependant. Declare any grandchildren or children in the other parent’s sole custody (even if not coming), as they need medical and security checks. This helps your spouse/partner sponsor them later if circumstances change. Undeclared family members could risk their permanent resident status.

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.

Choose the Class of Application

When sponsoring, you’ll need to pick the right application class based on your situation:

For Conjugal Partner or Dependent Child: You must use the Family Class. These applications are processed outside Canada.
For Spouse or Common-Law Partner: You can choose between the Family Class or the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class. Specify the class on your checklist:
- Family Class: Choose this if your spouse or common-law partner lives outside Canada, lives with you in Canada but doesn’t plan to stay during processing, you want to appeal if refused, or you’re sponsoring a conjugal partner or dependent child.
- Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class: Choose this if your spouse or common-law partner lives with you in Canada and has valid temporary resident status, or is exempt from needing it under a public policy.

This choice affects how and where your application is handled, so pick the one that fits your circumstances.

📥 Download the Free Spousal / Partner Sponsorship Checklist

📺 Check out my step-by-step guide on YouTube

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.

Have questions? Visit IRCC’s website or talk to our immigration expert for help. Here’s to starting your new chapter in Canada together!

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