Sponsoring your spouse or partner for Canadian immigration allows them to become a permanent resident and live with you in Canada. The process involves meeting eligibility requirements, submitting an application, and following through with required documentation and interviews. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you successfully sponsor your spouse or partner.
1. Determine Your Eligibility
To be eligible as a sponsor, you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Not be receiving social assistance (except for disability reasons).
- Be able to financially support your spouse or partner.
- Not have been convicted of certain criminal offenses.
2. Identify Eligible Relationships
You can sponsor your partner under the following categories:
- Spouse: Legally married to you.
- Common-law partner: Have lived together for at least one year in a conjugal relationship.
- Conjugal partner: Have been in a relationship for at least one year, but are unable to live together due to circumstances beyond your control (e.g., immigration barriers, war, or persecution).
3. Gather Required Documents
You and your spouse/partner must provide:
- Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, photos, joint financial documents, etc.).
- Identity and civil status documents (passports, birth certificates, etc.).
- Police clearance certificates from every country where your spouse/partner has lived for six months or more since the age of 18.
- Medical exam results from an approved panel physician.
- Proof of financial support (if applicable).
4. Choose the Right Sponsorship Application
There are two types of sponsorship applications:
- Inland Sponsorship: If your spouse/partner is already in Canada, they can apply for an open work permit while waiting for their application to be processed.
- Outland Sponsorship: If your spouse/partner is living outside Canada, their application will be processed through the visa office in their home country.
5. Submit Your Application
- Fill out and submit the sponsorship application package from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
- Pay the required application fees online.
- Send the completed application to the designated IRCC processing center.
6. Wait for Processing & Respond to Requests
- Application processing times vary but generally take 12 months or more.
- IRCC may request additional documents or an interview with your spouse/partner.
7. Receive the Final Decision
If approved, your spouse/partner will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and can then become a permanent resident of Canada.