Spouse Sponsorship
Canadian citizens and permanent residents who satisfy certain requirements can sponsor their spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner to become a permanent resident of Canada.
Canadian immigration law defines spousal relationship as follow:
- Spouse: a person with whom you are engaged in a legal marriage relationship
- Common-law partner: a person who is cohabiting with the person in a conjugal relationship and has done so for at least a year.
- Conjugal partner: a person outside Canada who has a binding relationship with the sponsor for at least a year but who couldn’t live with them.
The person you are sponsoring must:
- Be at least 18 years old;
- Pass all background, security and medical checks.
Family Class Free Assessment
Eligibility Criteria
The sponsor must satisfy the following requirements to be able to sponsor his spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner:
- must be at least 18 years old
- must be Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian
- If you’re a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must show that you plan to live in Canada when the persons you want to sponsor become permanent residents.
- You can’t sponsor someone if you’re a permanent resident living outside Canada.
- You’re able to prove that you’re not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability
- you can provide for the basic needs of any persons you want to sponsor
How to Apply
To apply to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, there are 2 applications that must be submitted:
- You must apply to become a sponsor.
- Your spouse, partner or child must apply for permanent residence.
If the person you are sponsoring lives outside Canada , you must apply under family class. However, if the person lives with the sponsor inside Canada with a valid immigration status, you must apply under spouse or common law partner in-Canada class