Apply for a Spousal Sponsorship Canada with the Help of Leading Immigration Lawyers

Apply for a Spousal Sponsorship Canada with the Help of Leading Immigration Lawyers

Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada who are over the age of eighteen (18) are eligible to sponsor certain family members. This includes sponsoring their spouse, common law partner, their dependent children and the dependent children of their spouse or common law partner whether they are living inside of Canada or living outside of Canada, as members of the Family Class

There are two steps to the Family Class Sponsorship and Application for Permanent Residence  process. First the sponsor’s spousal sponsorship application  is assessed and, if the sponsorship is approved, the second step is filing  the application for permanent residence for the foreign family members. 

As part of the application process, the sponsored spouse or common law partner and dependent children will require a medical examination. Any applicant over the age of 18 will also need to provide police certificates. 

If the application for permanent residence is approved, then the foreign spouse, common law partner or dependent children, will be issued Confirmation of Permanent Residence documents and permitted to immigrate to Canada.

Work with a Leading Immigration Law Firm

A Canadian immigration lawyer at Guberman // Appleby Immigration Lawyers can assist you with filing a spousal sponsorship. Contact us today to discuss options to sponsor your spouse or common law partner.

Family Class and Spousal Sponsorship Canada FAQs

Yes, you can withdraw your spousal sponsorship application.

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has moved to online processing for all spousal, common law and dependent child sponsorship applications.

To sponsor your spouse in Canada, you must be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, living in Canada and able to demonstrate that you are not in receipt of social assistance/state financial support, unless you have a disability. You will need to be able to demonstrate that you can provide basic needs for the person you are sponsoring. As well, if you are currently residing outside of Canada, you will need to demonstrate that you intend to live in Canada upon the approval of the permanent residence application.

There are certain reasons that you may not be eligible to sponsor your spouse such as failure to pay court-ordered dependent children or spousal support; default on a previous sponsorship, past declaration of an undischarged bankruptcy; convictions pertaining to a violent/sexual/crime against a relative; or that you were sponsored less than 5 years ago.   

For the purposes of a family class sponsorship for permanent residence in Canada, IRCC recognizes spouses of the opposite or same gender as a spouse or common law partner (continuous cohabitation for at least 12 consecutive months) or in a conjugal partnership (the foreign national lives outside of Canada and has been in a real relationship of mutual dependence for at least 12 months and there is a barrier to marriage or cohabiting).

Family sponsorship in Canada is a multi-step process.  We will take the time to assess your information and evaluate your case to advise you as to the necessary materials that are required to prepare the application. Medical exams and police certificates are required from the foreign national, in addition to materials that support the bona fides of the application and the application forms.

The application and information about the sponsor and the applicant for permanent residence are submitted together at the same time via an online process. Should IRCC have questions or requests for additional information throughout the process, our team of Canadian immigration lawyers will advise you. 

Initially, IRCC will evaluate whether the sponsor meets all requirements. If so, IRCC will advise that the sponsorship undertaking has been approved. Then, the application for permanent residence will be reviewed and the bona fides of the relationship will be assessed. Once the sponsorship is approved, the request for the medical examination is issued.  At any time throughout the process, IRCC may request clarifying information.

If IRCC determines that the applicant for permanent residence meets all the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations, the case will be approved.  Depending upon the circumstances, either a passport request letter will be issued, or landing instructions will be provided.

The Canadian immigration lawyers at Guberman // Appleby are here to guide you through the process every step of the way and help those who wish to immigrate to Canada. If you or your family member is interested in filing a Family Class Sponsorship Canada application, Contact us today