Canada’s immigration policy makers have long upheld the goal of helping family members reunite with each other in Canada, which is why Canadian citizens and permanent residents have the right to sponsor their spouse (or common law partner) for immigration through spousal sponsorship. The Spousal Sponsorship Canada program is geared towards reuniting family members within Canada. This family sponsorship mechanism can provide a pathway for your spouse or common law partner to become a permanent resident of Canada or Canadian citizen.
Provided that all parties (the principal applicant and their spouses, common law partners, children or other family members) fill out the appropriate immigration applications and meet the necessary requirements for the spousal sponsorship Canada requirements, the Canadian government seeks to keep families together whenever possible. In keeping with this principle, family sponsorship can also help your parents, grandparents and other close family members become permanent residents or citizens.
For spousal and family sponsorship, both the sponsor and the sponsored person must be approved by the government department responsible for the Family Sponsorship program, which is the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Processing times vary depending on a number of factors, but this approach has worked for countless families, and it could help yours lay the foundation for a new life in Canada.
Qualifying for Spousal Sponsorship in Canada
For spousal or family sponsorship, the IRCC requires that the sponsored person be either a spouse, common-law partner or dependent child.
Definition of Spouse, Common-Law Partner and Conjugal Partner
A spouse is someone to whom you are legally married.
A common-law partner is someone to whom you are not legally married but have lived together continuously for at least one year (12 consecutive months). Brief separations during the year are acceptable for family or business reasons.
A conjugal partner is someone with whom you have a mutually dependent relationship for at least one year, and you have the same level of commitment as a marriage or common-law union.
NOTE: Canada recognizes same-sex marriage. For this reason, same-sex partners may apply for the Spousal Sponsorship program under the three categories listed above, as long as they meet the necessary spouse or common-law partner eligibility requirements.
Definition of a Dependent Child
There are two categories of what a dependent child is:
- The child is under 22 years old and has no spouse or common-law partner.
- The child is over 22 years old, has depended on their parents for support since before the age of 22, and are unable to financially support themselves because of a mental or physical condition.
