How to sponsor your spouse or child for Canada immigration

Key Takeaways

• Canadian citizens or permanent residents can sponsor spouses, partners, and dependent children under strict government rules.
• Family sponsorship fees in 2025 include $85 (sponsorship), $545 (applicant), $575 (residence), plus biometrics and child fees.
• Proof of real relationships, complete documents, and timely updates to IRCC are vital for successful sponsorship applications.

Bringing your family together in Canada 🇨🇦 is a main part of the country’s immigration policy. Many people who move to Canada 🇨🇦 or who were born there want to live with their loved ones. The government makes this possible with special programs. If you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, you can sponsor your spouse, partner, or dependent child for Canada Immigration. This means you help your loved one become a permanent resident of Canada 🇨🇦. This article covers every step you need to know about how to sponsor your spouse, what is expected from sponsors and applicants, the paperwork involved, how much you should pay, how long it takes, and important tips to avoid delays.

Checklist: What You Need Before You Start

Before you start the process, make sure you have:
– Proof that you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
– Proof of your relationship (marriage certificate, proof of living together, or evidence of conjugal partnership)
– Police certificates and completed medical exams for the applicant
– All government forms required by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
– Enough money to pay the required fees
– A written promise to support your spouse, partner, or child after they come to Canada 🇨🇦
– Extra documents if you live in Quebec 🇨🇦

Having all these ready will make your application’s journey smoother.

Step 1: Understanding Who You Can Sponsor

You, the sponsor, need to know which family members are allowed under Canada Immigration rules. You can sponsor:
– Your legally married husband or wife (your spouse)
– A common-law partner (lived together for at least 12 months in a row)
– A conjugal partner (you have a committed relationship, but you cannot live together or get married because of serious reasons beyond your control)
– Dependent children under the age of 22 who are not married
– Children over 22 may sometimes qualify, but only if they rely on their parent due to certain disabilities

Only the people above can be sponsored for Canada Immigration. Parents, grandparents, and other family members must use different programs.

Step 2: Do You Qualify as a Sponsor?

To sponsor your spouse, partner, or child, you must:
– Be 18 years old, or older
– Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada 🇨🇦
– If you are a citizen living outside Canada 🇨🇦, you must show you will return to Canada 🇨🇦 when your family member gets their permanent resident status
– Not be receiving government support (except for reasons of disability)
– Promise in writing to support the person you will sponsor for at least three years after they become a permanent resident (and longer for dependent children)
– Meet special extra rules if you live in Quebec 🇨🇦. Quebec’s government will ask you to sign another undertaking (promise to support). You must also pay an extra provincial fee.

If you don’t meet these requirements, IRCC will not let you sponsor your spouse (or any other allowed family member). People who broke sponsorship promises before or those in prison are also barred from being sponsors.

Step 3: Showing the Relationship Is Real

The IRCC is very careful—they ask families to prove their relationship is true. The type of documents you need depends on your situation.

Along with paperwork, you may include photos, messages, journeys together, proof of money sent, and other signs your relationship is real. If you send fake papers or the relationship is just for Canada Immigration, your application will be denied.

Step 4: Collecting Your Documents

Careful paperwork is key. For IRCC, you must collect:
– Forms showing who you are (passport pages, birth certificates)
– Proof of your relationship as listed above (marriage certificate, joint leases, children’s records, etc.)
– Police certificates (for every country the applicant lived in for more than 6 months after age 18)
– Results of a Canadian-approved medical exam for the applicant and children
– Biometrics (fingerprints and photo submitted at a collection point)
– Extra forms and an extra fee if applying from or planning to live in Quebec 🇨🇦

Print out a final checklist and check off each item before you send your file to IRCC. Missing items can slow your case.

Step 5: Submitting the Application

When your sponsor forms and the permanent residence application are complete, mail the whole package together (or submit online when allowed). Always keep a copy and use record mail or an online trusted method. At this point, you pay:
– Sponsorship processing fee
– Principal applicant processing fee
– Right of Permanent Residence fee
– Biometrics fee
– Dependent child fee (if included)
– (For Quebec applicants: extra provincial undertaking fee)

These fees can change, but for 2025 they are: $85 (sponsorship), $545 (main applicant), $575 (Right of Permanent Residence), $85 per person (biometrics), and about $150–$175 per child. If you are in Quebec 🇨🇦, you must pay an additional $289 provincial fee. Pay online through IRCC’s payment portal.

Step 6: Monitoring the Process

After you apply, IRCC officers check all documents. They will ask for biometrics, police certificates, and a medical exam if you didn’t include them already. You may be interviewed or asked for more documents. If the application is missing things, it could be returned without being reviewed.

Application streams:
– Inland applications (if your spouse or partner is living in Canada 🇨🇦 with you): Your spouse can apply for an Open Work Permit so they can work while waiting. However, they should not leave Canada 🇨🇦 until the process finishes, as leaving Canada 🇨🇦 while waiting on an inland case could cause issues.
– Outland applications (if your family member is outside Canada 🇨🇦): The applicant can travel but risks being refused re-entry until a decision is issued. Processing tends to be a little faster, but it depends on the case.

Processing times:
– Most cases take about 12 months if all documents are there and there are no delays. Inland applications can take up to 28 months, depending on how busy the IRCC is and on your situation.
– Missing documents, unclear relationships, or background problems can add months or lead to a denial.

IRCC will let you know by email or mail when they reach a decision.

Step 7: What Happens After Approval

When the application is approved, your sponsored spouse, partner, or child will receive instructions on becoming a permanent resident. They will get a Confirmation of Permanent Residence document and a visa (if they need one to enter Canada 🇨🇦).

After they arrive, as a sponsor you must help them meet their basic living needs—food, clothing, shelter, and health care not covered by the government—for at least three years. You will sign a contract agreeing to this. If you fail to support your sponsored family member and they collect government aid (welfare), you may be forced to pay it back and will lose your right to sponsor again in the future.

Step 8: If Problems Come Up

Some applications hit barriers:
– If IRCC decides the relationship is fake, or the applicant has a serious criminal history, they will refuse the application.
– If you send in false documents or don’t declare all your family members, you risk a ban from future Canada Immigration applications.
– If your application is returned for missing documents, fix mistakes and resend it. Be sure to keep to all deadlines given by IRCC.

If you live in Quebec 🇨🇦, you must also keep Quebec’s requirements. Quebec may refuse a sponsorship if you didn’t pay the provincial fee or meet local rules.

If your application is denied, you can appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division, but not every case qualifies, especially if the person was denied for criminality or security reasons.

Special Tips & Common Mistakes

• Double-check all forms for spelling errors and missing signatures.
• Read every instruction on the IRCC’s Family Sponsorship page.
• Combine as much proof as you can for your relationship—photos, messages, plane tickets, and more.
• Don’t leave out children, even if they don’t live with you. Irregularities can bar you from sponsoring in the future.
• Don’t wait until the last minute; gather documents early so nothing is missing or outdated.
• If your life situation changes (new job, new address, relationship breakdown), inform IRCC right away to avoid delays or refusals.

How to Handle Fees and Payments

Government fees should be paid only using official online payment systems recommended by IRCC. Never pay cash or use unofficial payment agencies. Always save your receipts and include proof of payment with your application.

Dependent child fees are about $150–$175 per child. Quebec 🇨🇦 applicants must pay the Quebec provincial undertaking fee, which is around $289.

What If You Live in Quebec?

Quebec 🇨🇦 has its own immigration rules, so you must:
– Submit extra forms to Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration (MIFI)
– Sign a new six-month or longer promise to support your spouse (or longer for children)
– Pay the provincial fee

The process is slightly different, so check Quebec’s immigration website for up-to-date forms and steps.

Quotes That Show Family Comes First

As reported by VisaVerge.com, the Canadian government believes family should come first. As one IRCC spokesperson put it, “Canada 🇨🇦 offers sponsorship programs for permanent residents or citizens … [to] bring their loved ones … with reduced processing times because Canada 🇨🇦 knows that family should never be put on hold.”

This quote sums up the reason why the family sponsorship category remains a key part of Canada Immigration policy every year.

Permanent Residence—What It Means

When your sponsored spouse, partner, or child comes to Canada 🇨🇦 as a permanent resident, they have almost all the rights of citizens, except the right to vote or hold some government jobs. They must follow the law and, after a few years, may qualify to become citizens. While in Canada 🇨🇦, they can work, study, and live freely.

Where to Get More Help

If the family sponsorship process seems hard or confusing, help is available. Some good steps to take include:
– Reading the official IRCC guide and forms
– Asking lawyers or trusted immigration consultants if needed
– Reaching out to local immigrant support groups
– Checking for updates, because rules and fees sometimes change

Summary and Next Steps

To sponsor your spouse, partner, or child for Canada Immigration, you must:
– Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
– Meet the government’s age and support rules
– Prove your relationship is real with lots of evidence
– Collect and send all needed documents
– Pay all the right fees
– Watch for updates about your case after you apply
– Help your family member settle after they arrive

If you keep careful records and follow all requirements, this pathway can help reunite your family in Canada 🇨🇦. For the most up-to-date, official details and to download forms, visit the IRCC’s Family Sponsorship page.

Canada 🇨🇦 puts families first, so sponsors who prepare well and meet all steps can look forward to being together sooner.

Learn Today

IRCC → Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; the federal agency managing immigration and citizenship procedures, including family sponsorship.
Permanent Resident → A person allowed to live, work, and study in Canada indefinitely, with almost all rights except voting and certain government jobs.
Conjugal Partner → Someone in a committed relationship with a Canadian, unable to marry or cohabit due to legal, cultural, or other serious obstacles.
Biometrics → Fingerprint and digital photo collection required by Canadian authorities as part of the immigration and sponsorship application process.
Open Work Permit → A document allowing spouses of sponsors in Canada to work for any employer while their sponsorship application is processed.

This Article in a Nutshell

Canada’s family sponsorship allows citizens and permanent residents to reunite with spouses, partners, and children. The process is detail-intensive, requiring strong evidence of genuine relationships, financial commitment, and thorough paperwork. Preparation and transparency smooth the path, as following IRCC’s rules closely gives families the best chance for swift Canadian immigration approval.
— By VisaVerge.com

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