Canadian spousal sponsorship is how a Canadian citizen or permanent resident can sponsor their partner to come to Canada and live permanently. In Canada, we know how important it is for families to be together. For this reason, applications for spousal sponsorship are considered a top priority. To successfully sponsor a spouse, partner or child for Permanent Residence you must qualify as a sponsor.
You must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident;
- Be at least 18 years old;
- Live in Canada or if you are a citizen, then you must show that you plan to live in Canada when your sponsored relative becomes a Permanent Resident;
- Satisfy Quebec specific laws regarding sponsorship if you live in Quebec; and
- Be able to prove that you have enough income to provide basic needs of the person or people that you are sponsoring.
You cannot be a sponsor if you:
- Were sponsored by a spouse or partner and became a Permanent Resident less than five years ago;
- Were sponsored by a previous spouse or partner and three years have not passed since this person became a Permanent Resident;
- Are in default of a previous sponsorship undertaking;
- Are in the process of a bankruptcy proceeding;
- Receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability;
- Were convicted of a violent or sexual offence or are in jail;
- Are under a removal order; or
- Have already applied to sponsor your current spouse, partner or child and a decision has not yet been made
If you are sponsoring a spouse or partner, the sponsored spouse must be at least 18 years old and the relationship must be a genuine one.
If you are sponsoring a child, the child must be under 22 years old and unmarried. If the child is older than 22 years of age and dependent on the parent’s financial support because of a mental or physical condition, then that child may also qualify to be sponsored despite being older than 22 years of age. Once the sponsorship application is in process, sponsored family members over the age of 18 years old will need to submit police certificates and all family members will need to have a medical exam.
There are two separate streams for spousal or partner sponsorship applications:
- Overseas sponsorship application – For spouses or partners living outside of Canada.
- In-land sponsorship application – For a spouse or partner who is living in Canada. Applicants under this category may also be eligible to apply for a work permit when the sponsorship application is filed.
If you are married and looking into sponsoring your husband or wife, immigration officers will expect to see the following evidence:
- Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation questionnaire
- Marriage certificate (see common-law if you are not married)
- Wedding invitations and photos
- Birth certificates or adoption records for any children you and your spouse have together
- Proof of registration of marriage with a government authority
And at least two of the following documents:
- Proof that you and your spouse own property together
- Shared bank accounts,
- Utility bills with both of your names,
- Copies of government-issued IDs,
- Car insurance,
- Pay stubs or tax forms that show that you live at the same address
How Much Does it Cost to Sponsor Your Spouse to Canada?
The government processing fees to sponsor your spouse in Canada are listed below. If you are sponsoring your spouse and they have dependent children, then an additional $150 payment will be required for each child included in the application
- Sponsorship fee $75
- Principal applicant processing fee $475
- Right of permanent residence fee $500
- Bio-metrics: $85
- Total: $1135
If the sponsor resides in Quebec or intends to reside in Quebec upon the issuance of permanent residence, an additional fee of $289 CAD will need to be paid in addition to the fees mentioned above.
How Much Money do You Need to Sponsor Your Spouse to Canada?
Unlike most other forms of Canadian sponsorship, you do not need to demonstrate a minimum amount of income to sponsor a spouse. However, whenever you sponsor a family member to Canada, you must sign an undertaking, in which you promise to provide financial support for the basic needs of your sponsored family member.
The length of the undertaking depends on the category of sponsorship. For spousal sponsorship (including spouses and common-law or conjugal partners), the length of the undertaking is 3 years from the day the sponsored individual becomes a Canadian permanent resident
How Long Does it Take to Sponsor Your Spouse in Canada?
Sponsorship applications take approximately 12 months to process from start to finish. They are typically not processed much faster than 12 months but they can take longer, depending on the nature of your case.
If you have a complicated case, or the visa office requires additional proof of your relationship, this will delay the processing of your case and it will take longer.
The best way to ensure your sponsorship application is processed as quickly as possible is to make sure it is done right the first time. The lawyers and legal professionals at Canadim have helped thousands of spousal sponsorship applications. Find out how Indoz Overseas can help bring your loved ones to Canada by taking our free online assessment.
