Spousal Sponsorship

Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible to sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner.

Sponsors must be at least 18 years old, prove they do not receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability, and show they can meet the basic financial needs of their partners. Canadian citizens currently overseas need to prove they plan to return to Canada to live with the person they are sponsoring.

Spouses must be legally married to you and at least 18 years old.

Common-law partners must be at least 18 years old and have lived with you for a minimum of 12 consecutive months. Conjugal partners must be 18 years old at least, have been in a relationship with you for a minimum of 12 consecutive months, reside outside of Canada, and are unable to live with you in their country or marry you due to significant obstacles (e.g., same-sex marriage is not allowed in their country). 

Income requirement

In most cases, there isn’t an income requirement to sponsor your spouse or partner or dependent child. You only need to show that you have enough money to meet the income requirements if:

• you’re sponsoring a dependent child that has 1 or more dependent children of their own, or
• you’re sponsoring a spouse or partner that has a dependent child, and their dependent child has 1 or more children of their own.

Who can’t sponsor their spouse or partner

You can’t sponsor your spouse, partner or child if:

• you’re less than 18 years old
• you won’t live in Canada when the persons you want to sponsor become permanent residents
• you’re not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
• you’re a temporary resident, that is you’re visiting, studying or working in Canada on a visa or permit
• your permanent residence application is still in process
  • You must have permanent resident status at the time you submit your sponsorship application.
• you don’t have enough money to support the persons you want to sponsor (if applicable)

You may not be eligible to sponsor your spouse, partner if you:

• were sponsored by a spouse or partner and you became a permanent resident less than 5 years ago
• are still financially responsible for a previous spouse or partner that you sponsored. This means you’re still bound by the 3-year undertaking to take care of this person.

You may not be eligible to sponsor your spouse, partner or child if you:

• you have already applied to sponsor the spouse, parent or child you are currently seeking to sponsor and a decision on that application hasn’t been made
• are in jail, prison, or a penitentiary
• didn’t pay back:
  • an immigration loan
  • a performance bond
  • court-ordered family support payments such as alimony or child support (not applicable if you live in Quebec)
• didn’t give the financial support you agreed to when you signed a sponsorship agreement to sponsor someone else in the past (not applicable if you live in Quebec)
• declared bankruptcy and are not discharged (not applicable if you live in Quebec)
• receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability
• you were convicted of attempting, threatening to commit or committing a violent criminal offence, any offence against a relative, or any sexual offense inside or outside Canada
• can’t legally stay in Canada and must leave the country because you received a Removal Order