Canada · Family

Sponsor your spouse, partner or child

Sponsor your spouse, partner or child is issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. VisaAI tracks 23 official requirements for it, each traced to the government page that states it.

Last verified against the official source on .

VisaAI is not a government body and does not issue visas. It cannot decide, predict or guarantee the outcome of an application, and this page is not legal or immigration advice.

Requirements change. Confirm every item on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s own page before you apply.

Each requirement below is written in plain English by VisaAI. The indented text beneath it is quoted from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s own page, so you can check what we say against what they say. Where a quotation shows “ ... ”, text has been left out.

Conditions you must meet

  • The sponsor must be at least 18 years old
    are at least 18 years old
  • The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or registered under the Canadian Indian Act
    are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada under the Canadian Indian Act
  • The sponsor must live in CanadaIRCC states two qualifications: a Canadian citizen living outside Canada must show they plan to live in Canada when the people they are sponsoring become permanent residents, and a permanent resident living outside Canada cannot sponsor at all.
    live in Canada If you’re a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must show that you plan to live in Canada when the people you’re sponsoring become permanent residents. If you’re a permanent resident living outside Canada, you can’t sponsor.
  • Commit to supporting the people you are sponsoring by signing an undertaking and sponsorship agreementThe undertaking and the sponsorship agreement are parts of form IMM 1344.
    commit to supporting the people you’re sponsoring by signing an undertaking and sponsorship agreement
  • Meet all other requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations
    meet all other requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
  • Income requirement (applies only in two specific cases) (IMM 1283)IRCC states there is no income requirement in most cases. It applies only where you are sponsoring a dependent child who has one or more dependent children of their own, or a spouse or partner whose dependent child has one or more dependent children of their own. The financial evaluation form IMM 1283 explains how much money is needed; the amount is not published on this page. VisaAI has no fact for a sponsored person's grandchildren, so this is stated rather than gated.
    In most cases, there isn’t an income requirement to sponsor your spouse, partner or dependent child. You only need to show that you have enough money to meet the income requirement if you’re sponsoring a dependent child that has 1 or more dependent children of their own you’re sponsoring a spouse or partner that has a dependent child, and their dependent child has 1 or more dependent children of their own The Financial Evaluation Form (IMM 1283) explains how much money you’ll need and how to fill out the form.
  • The sponsor must not be barred by a previous spousal sponsorshipIRCC states these two bars apply specifically to sponsoring a spouse or partner.
    You may not be eligible to sponsor your spouse or partner if you were sponsored by a spouse or partner and you became a permanent resident less than 5 years ago signed an undertaking for a previous spouse or partner that you sponsored and it hasn’t been 3 years since they became a permanent resident
  • The sponsor must not be otherwise barred from sponsoringIRCC lists further bars: a pending application to sponsor the same person, being in jail, prison or a penitentiary, being behind on payments for an immigration loan, a performance bond or court-ordered family support, having failed to give support agreed under a previous sponsorship agreement, an undischarged bankruptcy, receiving social assistance for a reason other than a disability, a conviction for a violent criminal offence, an offence against a relative causing bodily harm or a sexual offence within or outside Canada, and being under a removal order. IRCC notes some of these do not apply when sponsoring a spouse, partner or child in Quebec, and that other reasons may exist.
    You may not be eligible to sponsor your spouse, partner or child if you have already applied to sponsor the same spouse, partner or child and a decision on that application hasn’t been made yet are in jail, prison or a penitentiary are behind on payments for an immigration loan a performance bond court-ordered family support payments such as alimony or child support
  • You cannot have a co-signer when sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partnerStated in the IMM 1344 instructions for the spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child branch. A co-signer is permitted only where the form allows one.
    You can’t have a co-signer if you are sponsoring your spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner.

Official forms

  • Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344)IRCC states the form must be filled out and digitally signed by the sponsor, the co-signer if applicable, and the principal applicant (the person being sponsored). Typing your name counts as a digital signature. The application is returned if any signature is missing.
    Sponsoring your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344) Who must fill out this application form? This form must be filled out and digitally signed by: the sponsor, the co-signer, if applicable, the principal applicant (person being sponsored).
    Official form
  • Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)IRCC requires this form for both paid and unpaid representatives. It must be completed, signed by you, signed by your representative, and uploaded with the application. Paid immigration representatives must also be authorized. IRCC states a representative can never electronically sign the application for you.
    If you want to use a paid representative, you must: download the Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) form complete and sign it get your representative to sign it upload it with your application

Documents you must provide

  • One photo for the principal applicant and each accompanying family memberIRCC instructs you to scan and upload both sides of the photo, following the instructions in the online application.
    Photo specifications The principal applicant and their accompanying family members each need to give 1 photo. Follow the instructions in the online application to scan and upload both sides of the photo.
  • Proof of payment (fee receipt) included with the applicationIRCC requires fees to be paid online and the receipt included with the application.
    You have to pay your fees online (opens in a new tab) and include the receipt with your application. The instruction guide can help you understand which fees apply to you.

Steps in the process

  • Submit both the sponsorship and the permanent residence application together through the PR PortalIRCC states the principal applicant — the person being sponsored — submits both applications together online.
    To sponsor your spouse, partner or child, there are 2 applications: Sponsorship application: You apply to become a sponsor. Permanent residence application: Your spouse, partner or child applies for permanent residence. The principal applicant (the person you’re sponsoring) will submit both applications together online using the Permanent Residence (PR) Portal.
  • Get your application packageIRCC states the package holds the document checklist, all the forms both parties must fill out, and country-specific forms and instructions that depend on where the sponsored people live. Those contents were not extracted.
    See your application package for the document checklist for you and the people you’re sponsoring all the forms you and the people you’re sponsoring need to fill out country-specific forms and instructions based on where the people you’re sponsoring live
  • Answer every question, sign electronically and submit a complete applicationIRCC rejects incomplete applications. The principal applicant types their full name exactly as shown on their passport as the electronic signature.
    Before the principal applicant submits the application, they should make sure they answer all questions on the forms electronically sign the application (they will type their full name exactly as shown on their passport) include the processing fee receipt upload all the supporting documents If the application is incomplete, we’ll reject it.
  • A parent or legal guardian must sign for a dependent child under 18IRCC states the application is returned if any signature is missing.
    Note: A parent or legal guardian must sign on behalf of a dependent child under the age of 18, where they are the principal applicant being sponsored on an application. The application will be returned if any signatures are missing (see section 10 of the IRPR for more information).
  • Complete an undertaking with the Government of QuebecApplies only if the sponsor lives in Quebec. IRCC warns you must wait for its confirmation before submitting the Quebec undertaking, or Quebec will not process the application. VisaAI has no fact for the sponsor's province, so this is not gated by a rule.
    If you live in Quebec Once the principal applicant submits the sponsorship and permanent residence application, you must complete an undertaking with the Government of Quebec.
  • Medical exam and police certificate, if your situation requires themIRCC names both under 'other fees' as things you may need to pay third parties for, depending on your situation. It publishes no trigger and no amount on this page.
    Other fees Depending on your situation, you may need to pay third parties for a medical exam a police certificate

Government fees

  • Sponsor your spouse or partner — combined sponsorship, processing and right of permanent residence feeCAD 1,260 · CAD 660 amount without rprfCAD 1,260.00, which IRCC states includes the sponsorship fee, the processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee. CAD 660.00 is the same application without the right of permanent residence fee. IRCC lists the identical amounts for a spouse or partner abroad and in Canada.
    Spouse, partner or children (abroad) Fees $CAN Sponsor your spouse or partner This amount includes the sponsorship fee, the processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee. 1,260.00 Sponsor your spouse or partner without right of permanent residence fee This amount includes the sponsorship fee, the processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee. 660.00
  • Fee for a dependent childCAD 180CAD 180.00 per child, both to include a dependent child on the application and to sponsor a dependent child independently.
    Include any dependent child This amount includes the sponsorship fee, the processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee. 180.00 (per child) Independently sponsor a dependent child This amount includes the sponsorship fee, the processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee. 180.00 (per child)
  • Right of permanent residence feeCAD 600CAD 600.00. It is already inside the CAD 1,260.00 combined amount above — the CAD 660.00 variant is that amount with this fee removed. IRCC states it is payable before the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident, that it can be paid up front to avoid delays, and that it is the only fee refundable after processing starts. It does not apply to the dependent children of a principal applicant or sponsor.
    Right of permanent residence fee Fees $CAN Right of permanent residence fee 600.00 For most permanent residence applications, you need to pay the right of permanent residence fee (RPRF) when your application is approved. You will have to pay it before you can become a permanent resident.
  • Biometrics feeCAD 85 · CAD 170 family maximumCAD 85.00 per individual, with a maximum of CAD 170.00 for a family of 2 or more eligible people applying at the same time. IRCC's apply page states that in most cases you pay it when you submit the application, and that not paying may delay the application.
    Biometrics – per individual 85.00 Biometrics – per family of 2 or more eligible people Maximum fee for a family of 2 or more people applying at the same time Family members eligible for this fee are your spouse or common-law partner your dependent children and their dependent children Check if your child is a dependant. 170.00

Official sources

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