Sponsor your family members (2024)

About the process

If you’re eligible, you can sponsor your spouse, partner or dependent children to become permanent residents of Canada.

If you do, you must be able to:

• support them financially
• make sure they don’t need social assistance from the government

Fees

Sponsor a spouse, partner from $1,205, or a child from $170

Processing time^?

Check application processing times

The persons you sponsor may need togive biometricsafter they apply. This processing timeincludesthe time they need to give their biometrics.

You can sponsor your spouse, partner or dependent child if:

• You’re at least 18 years old
• You’re a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the CanadianIndian Act
  • 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

If you live outside Quebec

To become a sponsor, you must promise to financially take care of the persons you are sponsoring for aperiod of time. We call this promise an undertaking.

The undertaking commits you to:

• providing financial support for your sponsored family members, starting when they become permanent residents
• repaying any provincialsocial assistanceyour sponsored family members get during that time

Also, you and your sponsored family members need to agree to certain responsibilities during the undertaking period. We call this the sponsorship agreement.

The sponsorship agreement means that:

• you’ll provide for the basic needs of your sponsored family members
• the person you sponsor will make every effort to support themselves and their family members

When you apply, you’ll have to complete and sign a form that includes the undertaking and the sponsorship agreement.

Income requirement

In most cases, there isn’t an income requirement to sponsor your spouse or partner or dependent child. Youonlyneed to show that you have enough money to meet the income requirementsif:

• you’re sponsoring a dependent child that has 1 or more dependent children of their own,or
• you’re sponsoring a spouse or partner that has a dependent child, and their dependent child has 1 or more children of their own.

TheFinancial Evaluation form instructionsexplain how much money you’ll need and how to fill out the form.

You’ll get the form when you download your application package.

If you live in Quebec

You must meetQuebec’s immigration sponsorship requirementsafter we approve you as a sponsor. You must sign anundertakingwith the province of Quebec.

The Quebec ministry in charge of immigration will assess yourincome.

Who can’t sponsor their spouse, partner or child

You can’t sponsor your spouse, partner or child if:

• you’re less than 18 years old
• you won’t live in Canada when the persons you want to sponsor become permanent residents
• you’re not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the CanadianIndian Act
• you’re a temporary resident, that is you’re visiting, studying or working in Canada on a visa or permit
• your permanent residence application is still in process
  • You must have permanent resident status at the time you submit your sponsorship application.
• you don’t have enough money to support the persons you want to sponsor (if applicable)

You maynotbe eligible to sponsor yourspouse, partner if you:

• were sponsored by a spouse or partner and you became a permanent resident less than 5 years ago
• are still financially responsible for a previous spouse or partner that you sponsored. This means you’re still bound by the 3 year undertaking to take care of this person.

You maynotbe eligible to sponsor yourspouse, partneror childif you:

• you have already applied to sponsor the spouse, parent or child you are currently seeking to sponsor and a decision on that application hasn’t been made
• are in jail, prison, or a penitentiary
• didn’tpay back:
  • an immigration loan
  • a performance bond
  • court-ordered family support payments such as alimony or child support(not applicable ifyou live in Quebec)
• didn’t give the financial support you agreed to when you signed a sponsorship agreement to sponsor someone else in the past (not applicable ifyou live in Quebec)
• declared bankruptcy and are notdischarged(not applicable ifyou live in Quebec)
• receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability
• you were convicted of attempting, threatening to commit or committing a violent criminal offence, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence inside or outside Canada
• can’t legally stay in Canada and must leave the country because you received aRemoval Order

There may be other reasons that make you ineligible to sponsor your spouse, partner or child. If we determine you’re not eligible to sponsor, we’ll tell you why.

Read more abouteligibility requirementsin the complete instruction guide.

You can sponsor yourspouse,common-law partner,conjugal partnerordependent children.

Your spouse

Your spouse can be either sex and must be:

• legally married to you
• at least 18 years old

Your common-law partner

Your common-law partner:

• isn’tlegally married to you
• can be either sex
• is at least 18 years old
• has been living with you for at least 12 consecutive months, meaning you’ve been living together continuously for 1 year in a conjugal relationship, without any long periods apart
  • Any time spent away from each other should have been
    • short
    • temporary

If you or your common-law partner choose to end the relationship, we consider the relationship to be over.

You’ll need togive proof of your common-law relationship.

Your conjugal partner

Your conjugal partner:

• isn’t legally married to you or in a common-law relationship with you
• can be either sex
• is at least 18 years old
• has been in a relationship with you for at least 1 year
• lives outside Canada
• can’t live with you in their country of residence or marry you because of significant legalandimmigration reasons such as
  • their marital status (for example, they’re still married to someone else in a country where divorce isn’t possible)
  • their sexual orientation (for example, you are in a same-sex relationship, and same-sex relationships are not accepted, or same-sex marriage is illegal where they live),
  • persecution (for example, your relationship is between different religious groups which is not accepted and they may be punished legally or socially)

You’ll need to give proof that you could not live together or get married in your conjugal partner’s country (for example, proof of refused long-term stays in each other’s country).

Dependent children

Children qualify as dependants if they meetbothof these requirements:

• they’reunder22 years old
• they don’t have a spouse or common law partner

Children 22 years old or older qualify as dependants if they meetbothof these requirements:

• they are unable to financially support themselves because of a mental or physical condition
• they have depended on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22

With the exception of age, your dependent child must continue to meet these requirements until we finish processing your application.

Use ouronline tool to check if a child qualifies as a dependant.

If they qualify as a dependent child, you can sponsor

• your own child
  • If you’re a Canadian citizen, your child may also be a Canadian citizen, even if they weren’t born in Canada. You can’t sponsor your child for permanent residence if they’re Canadian citizens already.Check if your child is already a Canadian citizen.
  • If you’re sponsoringjustyour child, without sponsoring your spouse or partner, you’ll name your child as theprincipal applicantin the application. You’ll have to show that the other parent or legal guardian agrees to your child immigrating to Canada. See yourchecklistfor what you’ll need to provide.
  • If the child you want to sponsor has a child of their own (your grandchild), you’ll include your grandchild as a dependant in the application.
  • If you want to sponsor youradoptedchild or an orphaned family member, follow the instructions to sponsor youradopted childororphaned family memberinstead.
• your spouse or partner and their child
  • If you’re sponsoring your spouse or partneranda child (either their own child or a child you’ve had together), you’ll name your spouse or partner as theprincipal applicantand the child as the dependant in the application.
  • If the child you want to sponsor has a child of their own, you’ll include the grandchild as a dependant in the application.

Eligibility of the people you’re sponsoring

To show they meet the eligibility requirements, your spouse, partner, dependent child and their dependent children (if applicable) must provide:

• all required forms and documents with their application
• any additional information we request during processing, including
  • medical exams
  • biometrics

You can’t sponsor someone who isinadmissibleto Canada. This means they’re not allowed to come to Canada.

How to apply

You must now apply online

As of September 23, 2022, you must apply online for this program.

If you can’t apply online, and require accommodations, including for a disability, you can ask for the application inanother format(paper, braille or large print).

To apply to sponsor your spouse, partner or child, there are 2 applications:

1. You must apply to become a sponsor.
2. Your spouse, partner or child must apply for permanent residence.

If you want to sponsor youradoptedchild or an orphaned family member, follow the instructions to sponsor youradopted childinstead.

If you live in Quebec, find out the steps to take tosponsor your spouse, partner or child in Quebec.

There are 4 steps to sponsor your spouse, partner or child:

1. Apply to sponsor

The sponsor must

• download and complete the PDF forms in the application package
• digitally sign, along with the person you’re sponsoring (principal applicant)

The person you’re sponsoring (principal applicant) will

• upload them to their online application
• electronically sign for the entire application, including those of any other family members

Get the application package

Theapplication packageincludes the:

• document checklist for you and the persons you want to sponsor
• forms you and the persons you want to sponsor need to fill out
• instruction guide to help you and your family members fill out the forms correctly

Read the guidecarefully before you complete the application form. The sponsorship application fee for processing your application can’t be refunded.

Helping your spouse, partner or child with their application?

There are certain steps you need to complete if you want to:

• prepare your family members’ application for them (this would mean that you’d be acting as theirrepresentative)
• check on their application status

You have to request permission and provide the right forms with your application.

Find out how toact as a representative or access your family members’ information.

2. Apply to be sponsored (permanent residence)

Sign in or create aPermanent residence online application portal account.

You must fill out these digital forms online

• Generic Application Form for Canada(IMM0008)
• Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
• Supplementary Information – Your travels (IMM 5562)

Photo specifications

You need one photo for each person on your application.

Follow the instructions in the online application to scan and uploadboth sidesof your photo.

Working in Canada

If youalready havea work permit, you can keep working as long as the permit is valid.

If youdon’t havea work permit, you may be eligible for an open work permit if you meet both of these requirements:

• You live in Canada with the person sponsoring you.
• You got an acknowledgement of receipt that says your permanent residence application is being processed.

You can’t apply for your open work permit in thePermanent Residence Portal. We’ll refuse your work permit application if you do.

You must apply for your work permit through yourIRCC secure account. If you’re using a representative to apply, they’ll use theAuthorized Paid Representative portal.

Find out how to apply for your open work permit as a sponsored spouse or common-law partner.

Technical issues

Using an immigration representative

3. Pay your application fees

Your fingerprints and photo (biometrics)

Book your biometrics collection appointment as soon as you can to avoid processing delays.Find out how to give biometrics.

In most cases, your fees will include:

• processing fees for you, the persons you’re sponsoring and their dependants
• theright of permanent residence fee
• the biometrics fee

You have topay your fees online (opens in a new tab).

Biometrics fee

In most cases, you must pay abiometrics(fingerprints and photo) feewhen you submit your application. Otherwise you may experience delays. The biometrics fee covers the cost of collecting fingerprints and a digital photo.

Third-party fees

Depending on your situation, you may need to pay third parties for:

• yourmedical exam
• apolice certificate

The instruction guide can help you understand which fees apply to you.

4. Send us additional information during processing

During processing, we’ll ask the person you’re sponsoring to submit their:

• medical exams
• police certificates
  • You need to include police certificates when you apply.
  • You need them for the person being sponsoredandeach family member 18 or older (who isn’t already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident).
  • Police certificates are generally valid for 1 year from the date they’re issued.
    • Depending on processing times, we may ask you for new certificates.
• biometrics
  • When the biometrics fee is paid, we’ll send your family members a letter asking them to give their biometrics.
  • Your family members must show this letter when they give their biometrics.
  • They have 30 days to give their biometrics in person attheir closest collection point.

We’ll send instructions and let your family members how much time they have to send us this information.

You musttell usof any change in circ*mstances, such as:

• birth or adoption of children
• marriage or divorce or separation
• death of an applicant or a dependant

5. Submit your online application

Before you submit your application, make sure you:

• answer all questions
• electronically sign your application (type your full name exactly as shown on your passport)
• include your processing fee receipt
• upload all the supporting documents

If your application is incomplete, we’ll reject it. You’ll have to fix any errors and then re-submit it.

6. Get updates about your application online

If you and the person you are sponsoring meet the eligibility requirements, we will mail or email you a request to link your application to an online account.

Find outhow to link your applicationto your account after youcreate an account or signin.

Due to mailing delays caused by COVID-19, we’ll now return incomplete applications byemailif we’ve made a digital copy. Otherwise, we’ll mail it back to you.

Be sure to check the email you gave us when you submitted if you

• are waiting to hear about your application or
• think there may be forms or documents missing

On this page

• Processing your application
• Track and update your application

Processing your application

Processing time

Check application processing times

You’ll get an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) after we receive your application and check that it’s complete.

In line with Canada’s immigration and privacy laws

• we may use electronic methods to help process applications and make decisions, including on your application
  • Methods could include computer analytics, automation and others.
• we may use personal information we collect on an application and supporting documents to support electronic processing
  • This could include research, statistics, evaluating programs and policy, internal audits, compliance, risk management, developing computer analytics, strategy development and reporting.

Find out more about how we use electronic systems.

We’ll review your sponsorship application and return it to you if

• it’s incomplete
• fees are missing

If we begin to process your application, we’ll

• send you an
  • application number
  • acknowledgment of receipt
• assess your eligibility as a sponsor
• assess if the person you’re sponsoring is eligible for permanent residence

Your spouse or partner may be able to join you in Canada sooner

After you submit a permanent residence (PR) application to sponsor your spouse or partner, they could benefit from faster processing for a visitor visa.

Your spouse or partner may be eligible for faster processing if you

• submitted anapplication to sponsor your spouse or partner
• received an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) that confirms the application is in progress

Applications that need more information, for example custody documents for a child, will take longer to process.

When you receive the AOR for your spousal sponsorship application, your spouse or partner can apply for a visitor visa. If they’re eligible, their application willautomaticallyreceive faster processing. Youdon’tneed to request it.

Your spouse or partner must still meetallof the requirements to beeligible for a visitor visa.

If your spouse or partner is approved for a visitor visa, they can apply for an open work permit when they arrive in Canada.

• How to apply for a visitor visa
• How to apply for an open work permit

If we refuse you as a sponsor

If we refuse you as a sponsor, you can choose to have us continue processing the application for permanent residence for your family members.

• If you choose to withdraw your application, you won’t get the CAN$85 sponsorship fee back. You’ll get all other fees back.
• If you want us to continue processing, you won’t get any fees back.

If you’re approved as a sponsor

We’ll assess the eligibility of the person(s) you want to sponsor.

Your family members can link their application to their online account

When we start processing their application, we’ll send your family members a letter with their application number.

After they get this letter, they can link their application to their online account. This way, they can communicate with us quickly and securely and get updates and messages about their application online.

Find outhow to create an online account and link an application.

You (the sponsor) can link their application for them if you’rehandling your family members’ applicationand you’re designated as their representative.

See thetop questions about linking an application.

The people you’re sponsoring must send us supporting documents

Your fingerprints and photo (biometrics)

Book your biometrics collection appointment as soon as you can to avoid processing delays.Find out how to give biometrics.

During processing, we’ll ask the people you’re sponsoring to submit their:

• medical exams
• police certificates
• biometrics
  • When the biometrics fee is paid, we’ll send your family members a letter asking them to give their biometrics.
  • Your family membersmust show this letterwhen they give their biometrics.
  • They have 30 days to give their biometrics in person attheir closest collection point.

We’ll send instructions and let your family members know how much time they have to send us this information.

You musttell usof any change in circ*mstances, such as:

• birth or adoption of children
• marriage or divorce or separation
• death of an applicant or dependant

If you live in Quebec

You must do the following steps before we assess the eligibility of your family members:

• The person you’re sponsoring must complete and sign the formDemande de sélection permanente – Catégorie du regroupement familial (PDF, 269KB)(in French only) and return it to you promptly.
• You must enclose this form with yourundertaking applicationto the Government of Quebec.

If the Government of Quebec approves your undertaking application, they’ll send us the information we need to process your family members’ permanent resident application.

If we approve your family members’ permanent residence application

To finish processing their application, your spouse, partner and child, and their dependants who are immigrating to Canada with them (if applicable), will have to send us:

• their passports, or photocopies of their passports (we’ll let you know which one they should send)
• 2 photos
• proof of payment for theright of permanent residence fee, if you haven’t sent it to us already.

We’ll let them know where to send this information.

Documents your family members will get

If your family members are outside Canada

We’ll send them these documents once we finish processing their application:

• a document confirming they have been approved to become Canadian permanent residents
  • We call this document theConfirmation of Permanent Residence.
• a permanent resident visa, if required
  • If the persons you’re sponsoring are from countries whose citizens need a visa to travel to Canada, we’ll give them a permanent resident visa in their passport. We’ll do this even if they’re already in Canada.

Once your family members receive these documents, they can travel to Canada.Make sure to check the expiry dates on the permanent resident visa and Confirmation of Permanent Residence.Your family members mustmeet an officerat a Canadian port of entrybefore their documents expire. The officer will make the final decision to allow your family members to enter Canada as permanent residents.

Find out more about how your family members canprepare for arrival.

If your family members are inside Canada

They have to meet an immigration officer to receive their Confirmation of Permanent Residence.

We’ll send them a letter to schedule their appointment and we’ll let them know what documents to bring. The officer will make the final decision to allow your family members to stay in Canada as permanent residents.

If we refuse your family members’ permanent residence application

If we refuse their permanent residence application, we’ll let you know:

• Why we refused it.
• How to appeal the decision, if you’re sponsoring a spouse, partner or child from outside Canada.
  • You can’t appeal our decision if you’re sponsoring a spouse or partner who’s inside Canada.

Track and update your application

During processing, track your application and make sure it’s up to date by:

• checking the statusof your application
• updating your address or other information, if necessary
• adding or changing your representative or getting access to your family’s information, if necessary
• withdrawing your application, if desired
• paying the right of permanent residence fee or requesting a refund

Check the status of your application

If you’re a sponsor

You can use theApplication Status tracker(opens in a new tab)

• to find outwhere we are with your application
• only afteryou get an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter or email
  • You’ll get an AOR after we receive your application and check that it’s complete.

Due to COVID-19, it’s taking uslongerto

• check that your application is complete
• send you an AOR letter or email with your application number

As the sponsor, if you want to check on the application status for your spouse, partner or child, you must firstrequest to get access to their information.

If you’re being sponsored

You can check your application in 2 ways:

In your online account

Follow these steps:

1. Get the application number. You’ll receive this by mail when we’ve started processing your application.
2. Create an online account.
3. Link your application to the account.

In the Application Status Tracker

You can also use theApplication Status tracker(opens in a new tab).

If your processing time has passed

If your application iscomplex, it may take us longer than normal processing times to process it.

Donotcontact us about your application status if youdon’t have an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter.

Keep your information up to date

To avoid delays in processing, make sure your contact information and your application details are up to date.

Tell us about changes in your application, such as:

• marriage or divorce or separation
• birth or adoption of a child
• death of an applicant or dependant
• contact information updates, including
  • email
  • phone number
  • mailing address

Don’t mail us changes for your contact or application information.If you do, we won’t acknowledge your request and we won’t update your application. This could lead to a delay in processing your application.

If you change your contact information, make sure you check your old contact information until we update your application.

Add or change a representative or get access to your family member’s information

Even as the sponsor, you don’t automatically get access to your family members’ information. You have to request it.

If you want to handle your spouse’s, partner’s or child’s application for them

You’ll be acting as arepresentativeif you want to

• fill out and submit your family member’s application for them
• communicate with us on their behalf

To become a representative for your spouse, partner or child, complete, sign and savethe form to appoint or change a representative. The person(s) you’re sponsoring must also sign the form,unlessthey’re under 18. Include the form with your application.

If you’ve already submitted your application, send it to us through ourweb form.

In your request, include your

• full name
• date of birth
• country of birth
• application number (if you know it)
• relative’s client ID number (UCI) (if you know it)

Upload the form after you’ve completed all the required fields.

If you want to check on your spouse’s, partner’s or child’s application status

As the sponsor, you may want to access your family members’ information without being in charge of their application. For example, you may want to check their application status on their behalf, but not act as theirrepresentative.

To protect their privacy, they need to give us their written consent before we’ll share any of their personal information with you or give anyone access to their application information.

Find out how the persons you’re sponsoring cangive you access to their information.

Withdraw your sponsorship application

You can withdraw your sponsorship application any timebeforethe person you’re sponsoring becomes a permanent resident of Canada.

You may be able toget a refundif we haven’t started processing your application.

Use ourWeb formto request the withdrawal of your sponsorship application.

In your request, include your

• full name
• date of birth
• country of birth
• application number (if you know it)
• relative’s client ID number (UCI) (if you know it)
• signed withdrawal request letter

Submit your right of permanent residence fee or request a refund

The right of permanent residence fee must be paid before the people you’re sponsoring can become permanent residents. If it wasn’t paid, we’ll contact them to explain how they canpay the right of permanent residence fee online.

You can request a refund for the right of permanent residence fee if:

• you’re withdrawing your sponsorship
• your family member was refused
  • We can only issue refunds once you decline your right of appeal.

Sending proof of payment or requesting a refund

Use ourweb form. In your request, include the following:

• full name
• date of birth
• country of birth
• application number (if you know it)
• relative’s client ID number (UCI) (if you know it)
• copy of the official receipt
• copy of signed right of appeal letter (if you have one)
• letter of explanation (if you’re requesting a refund)

Don’tsend the same request more than once. It’ll delay the processing of your application.

Be prepared. Know what to expect if your application is approved.

If your family members are already in Canada

We’ll contact your family members with instructions on how to confirm their permanent residence status online through the Permanent Residence Portal.

In some cases, your family members may need to meet with an immigration officer for an in-person interview. If an interview is required, we’ll tell them what documents to bring and the time and place of their interview.

Services to help them get settled

You and your family members can contact a service provider organization in Canada to get free newcomer services. These organizations offer services such as

• help finding a job
• language assessment or training
• help signing up kids for school
• help connecting with others in your community

Find newcomer services near you

Enter your postal code, city, province, territory or full addressto find free services near you(required)

If your family members are outside Canada

Before they arrive in Canada

Even if your family members haven’t arrived in Canada, you and your family can get free in-person and online services to help prepare them for life in Canada. We call thesepre-arrival services. These servicescan help your family

• find out more about living and working in Canada
• learn English and French
• connect with others in your community

Learn more about free pre-arrival services

When they arrive

When your sponsored family members arrive at the port of entry to Canada, they must show the border services officer

• their Confirmation of Permanent Residence
  • This is the document we sent when we approved their application.
• their valid passport or travel document
• their valid permanent resident visa (if we issued one)
• any other document we issued to them and told them to bring

The officer will

• check that your family members’ permanent resident visa and Confirmation of Permanent Residence haven’t expired
• ask them to confirm information that they gave in their application

Your family members must tell the officer of any funds they’re bringing into Canada, including

• cash
• stocks
• bonds
• money orders
• traveller’s cheques

To help speed up entry into Canada, tell your family members to keep their passport and other documents with them at all times.They shouldn’t pack these documents in their luggage.

Get more information on thedocuments your family members needand on theinterview processwhen crossing the Canadian border.

If they meet the requirements to enter Canada

If the officer finds that your family members are admissible to Canada, the officer will

• allow them to enter Canada aspermanent residents
• start the process of mailing their permanent resident card to the address on their Confirmation of Permanent Residence
  • Make sure their Canadian address is correct.