Canadian citizens and eligible permanent residents may be able to sponsor qualifying family members for Canadian permanent residence.
For many families, the most common applications involve a spouse, common-law partner or dependent child.
IRCC requires both the sponsor and the person being sponsored to meet applicable requirements.
Spousal Sponsorship
A Canadian citizen or permanent resident may be able to sponsor an eligible spouse for permanent residence.
Applications must demonstrate that the relationship is genuine and was not entered into primarily for immigration purposes.
Evidence may include marriage documentation, shared residence, financial arrangements, communication records, photographs and other evidence appropriate to the couple’s circumstances.
Common-Law Partner Sponsorship
For Canadian immigration purposes, common-law partners generally must have lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months.
Simply being in a long-term relationship does not automatically establish common-law status.
Inland and Family Class Applications
The appropriate application strategy can depend on where the applicant is living, current temporary resident status, travel plans and other circumstances.
Certain sponsored spouses or partners living in Canada may also qualify to apply for an open work permit once the applicable requirements are met.
Sponsorship Is a Legal Commitment
Sponsors must sign an undertaking agreeing to provide financial support to the sponsored family member for the applicable undertaking period.
Our Family Sponsorship Services
Topic Immigration assists with spouse and common-law sponsorship, dependent children, inland and Family Class applications, relationship evidence, procedural fairness concerns and applications involving prior immigration issues.
Bring Your Family Together in Canada
Contact Topic Immigration for a confidential assessment of your family sponsorship case.
