Canadian Family Sponsorship: Sponsor Your Spouse, Partner, and Children

If you are married, in a common-law relationship or in a conjugal relationship with someone who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you can apply to join your partner in Canada through the Family Sponsorship program.

Who is eligible for Family Sponsorship in Canada?

To be eligible for spousal sponsorship you must meet the following criteria:

• Your sponsor must be a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act;

• You and your sponsor must be 18 years of age or older;

• If you are a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, though this does not bar you from applying to sponsor your spouse or partner, you must show that you plan to live in Canada with your spouse, partner or dependant children when they become permanent residents;

• If you are a permanent resident, you can only sponsor your spouse, partner or dependant child if you are living in Canada;

• The person you are sponsoring must be your spouse or partner (common-law or conjugal), and dependant children.

In addition to the above, if you live in the province of Québec, you must also fulfil the requirements of Québec's immigration ministry. Once the Canadian Federal government has approved you as a sponsor, you will also need to complete an undertaking with the province of Québec and apply for a Certificat de Sélection for your child or partner.

What can prevent someone from being sponsored to Canada or sponsoring their spouse or partner to Canada?

• If you were sponsored by a previous spouse or partner less than 5 years ago;

• You are still financially responsible for a previous spouse or partner that you sponsored;

• You are incarcerated;

• You have not paid court-ordered family support (not applicable in Québec);

• You receive social assistance for any reason other than a disability;

• Or the individual you are sponsoring has a criminal record,

You may face a bar to eligibility.

How long does it take to sponsor your spouse or partner to Canada?

Sponsoring a spouse or partner takes approximately 22 months if they reside outside of Canada. Sponsoring a spouse or partner living in Canada can take approximately 14 months.

How much does it cost to sponsor a spouse or partner?

Sponsor a spouse partner from $1,165.00 Canadian, not including legal fees should you hire a lawyer or immigration consultant.

Can I sponsor my spouse/partner to Canada without a job?

Yes. You do not need to be employed to be a sponsor. Though it is preferable to have a job or be self-employed when making a sponsorship application, if you are unemployed and can demonstrate that you can support yourself financially through other means such as your savings or investments, you can be eligible to sponsor.

Although there is no minimum necessary income to sponsor your spouse or partner, it is helpful to look at the minimum necessary income tables for parental sponsorship in determining if you have the necessary income to sponsor your partner.

Income required for the 3 tax years right before the day you apply

Size of Family Unit	2021 Tax Year	2020 Tax Year	2019 Tax Year
2 Persons	$32 898	$32 270	$41 007
3 Persons	$40 444	$39 672	$50 414
4 Persons	$49 106	$48 167	$61 209
5 Persons	$55 694	$54 603	$69 423
6 Persons	$62 814	$61 613	$78 296
7 Persons	$69 934	$68 598	$87 172
More than 7, for each additional person add	$7 120	$6 985	$8 876

To qualify as a sponsor, you must demonstrate that you can financially support your spouse, partner or dependant children and that they will not need to rely on social assistance from the government.

How to apply for Spousal Sponsorship

When applying for spousal sponsorship it is very important that you complete your application correctly. Though the application may seem easy, any mistakes or missing information can not only result in an added delay to your application but may also have long-term effects on your family. To schedule a consultation to see how I can help you with your spousal sponsorship application, click here.