How to Sponsor Your Spouse for Permanent Residence in Canada

Canada is a popular destination for immigrants from all over the world. One of the most common ways to immigrate to Canada is through family sponsorship, specifically spousal sponsorship. If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and you want to sponsor your spouse for permanent residence, here is what you need to know.

Eligibility Requirements for Sponsorship

To sponsor your spouse for permanent residence, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must not be receiving social assistance (with some exceptions).
• You must be able to provide for the basic needs of your spouse, such as food, clothing, and shelter.
• You must not have been convicted of certain crimes, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, or any offence against a family member.

Eligibility Requirements for the Spouse

To be sponsored for permanent residence in Canada, your spouse must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• They must be legally married to you or in a common-law relationship with you.
• They must be at least 18 years old.
• They must not be closely related to you (i.e. parent, grandparent, sibling, or child).
• They must not be inadmissible to Canada for criminal or medical reasons.

Application Process

To sponsor your spouse for permanent residence, you must submit an application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The application process involves two stages:

Sponsorship Application: You, as the sponsor, must submit a sponsorship application to IRCC. This application includes information about you, your spouse, and your relationship.

Permanent Residence Application: Your spouse must submit a permanent residence application to IRCC. This application includes information about your spouse, their education and work experience, and their language skills.

Processing Time and Fees

The processing time for spousal sponsorship applications varies depending on the country where the application is being processed. However, in general, it can take anywhere from 12 to 18 months.

The fees for spousal sponsorship applications include a sponsorship fee and a permanent residence fee. The sponsorship fee is currently CAD 75, and the permanent residence fee is currently CAD 1,050. These fees are subject to change, so it's important to check the current fees before submitting your application.

Documents required for Spousal Sponsorship

Here are some of the documents that are typically required for spousal sponsorship:

For the Sponsor

Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residence: You will need to provide a copy of your Canadian passport or permanent resident card.

Proof of relationship: You will need to provide evidence that you are legally married to your spouse or have been living in a common-law relationship for at least 12 months. This can include a marriage certificate, joint utility bills, joint bank accounts, and photographs.

Proof of income: You will need to show that you have sufficient income to support your spouse and any dependent children. This can include pay stubs, tax returns, and employment letters.

Police certificates: You will need to provide a police certificate from each country where you have lived for more than 6 months since the age of 18.

Medical exam: You will need to undergo a medical exam to ensure that you do not have any medical conditions that would make you inadmissible to Canada.

For the Spouse

Identity documents: Your spouse will need to provide a copy of their passport or other government-issued identification.

Proof of relationship: Your spouse will need to provide the same evidence of your relationship that you provided.

Police certificates: Your spouse will need to provide a police certificate from each country where they have lived for more than 6 months since the age of 18.

Medical exam: Your spouse will need to undergo a medical exam to ensure that they do not have any medical conditions that would make them inadmissible to Canada.

Education and work experience: Your spouse will need to provide evidence of their education and work experience, such as diplomas, degrees, and employment letters.

Language proficiency: Your spouse will need to provide evidence of their proficiency in English or French, which are the two official languages of Canada.

Conclusion

Sponsoring your spouse for permanent residence in Canada can be a lengthy and complex process, but it can also be a rewarding one. If you meet the eligibility requirements and are willing to go through the application process, you could be reunited with your spouse in Canada and start a new life together. For more information on spousal sponsorship and other immigration programs, visit Canada Immigration Visa.