How to Sponsor Your Partner to Canada

You can sponsor your common-law partner to Canada if the following requirements are met:

• you and your common-law partner are not legally married;
• your common-law partner can be of either sex;
• your common-law partner is at least 18 years old;
• your common-law partner has been living with you for at least one year in a conjugal relationship, without any long periods apart.

Also, you will need to give proof of your common-law relationship. For example, demonstrate shared ownership of residential property, joint leases or rental agreements, bills for shared utility accounts, important documents showing the same address, and identification documents. You can find the document checklist online and find out what to submit with your application. 

You can sponsor your conjugal partner to Canada if the following requirements are met:

• your conjugal partner is not legally married to you or in a common-law relationship with you;
• your conjugal partner can be of either sex;
• your conjugal partner is at least 18 years old;
• your conjugal partner has been in a relationship with you for at least one year (12 months);
• your conjugal partner lives outside Canada; 
• your conjugal partner can not live with you in their country of residence or marry you because of significant legal and immigration reasons (for example, their marital status, their sexual orientation, persecution).

It is worth mentioning, that you will need to give proof that you could not live together or get married in your conjugal partner’s country. For example, you can provide proof of refused long-term stays in each other’s country.

The people you want to sponsor must show that they meet the eligibility requirements. Your partner must submit all required forms and documents together with their application and provide any additional information if needed. This may include medical exams and biometrics. Remember, you can not sponsor someone who is not allowed to come to Canada.

To be eligible to sponsor your partner to become a permanent resident of Canada you must be able to support your partner financially and make sure they do not need social assistance from the Canadian government.

Please check whether you can sponsor your partner to Canada before application. You are not allowed to sponsor your partner if you are less than 18 years old; if you will not live in Canada when the partner you want to sponsor becomes a permanent resident of Canada; if you are not a Canadian citizen, or a permanent resident, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian; if you are a temporary resident, visiting, studying or working in Canada on a visa or permit; if your permanent residence application is still in the process; if you do not have enough money to support the partner you want to sponsor in Canada.

Also, you may not be eligible to sponsor your partner to Canada if you were sponsored by a spouse or partner and you became a permanent resident of Canada less than five years ago. You will not be allowed to sponsor your partner to Canada if you are still financially responsible for a previous spouse or partner that you sponsored to Canada and you are still bound by the three-year undertaking to take care of this person. Other conditions that can prevent you from sponsoring your partner are:

• if you have already applied to sponsor the partner and you are currently seeking to sponsor and a decision on the previous application has not been made;
• if you are in jail, prison, or a penitentiary;
• if you did not repay an immigration loan or court-ordered family support payments;
• if you did not provide the financial support you agreed to when you signed a sponsorship agreement to sponsor someone else in the past;
• if you declared bankruptcy and are not discharged;
• if you receive social assistance (disability as a reason is an exception);
• if you were convicted of attempting or committing a violent criminal offense, offense against a relative, or any sexual offense;
• you are not allowed to stay in Canada legally and are obliged to leave the country.

Other reasons can make you ineligible to sponsor your partner to Canada too. Though, some of these requirements are not applicable if you live in Quebec.

The application process to sponsor your partner to Canada starts with the preparation of the application package. Remember to list all your family members, provide the information that is true and check if your application is complete before submitting it. The application fees you will have to cover include processing fees for you and your partner, the right of permanent residence fee, and the biometrics fee. It is worth mentioning, that you will have to pay your fees online.

You can send your application package using a courier service. It is easier to track your application if you use a courier service, but you can also use regular mail. On average, the application process can take up to 12 months. Sometimes, your application will return to you if it is incomplete or some fees are missing. Remember to inform about any change in your circumstances, for example, if you give birth or adopt children, marry, or divorce, or separate.

When your application process starts, you will be sent an application number and an acknowledgment of receipt. Your eligibility as a sponsor will be assessed first, and later if the partner you are sponsoring is eligible for permanent residence in Canada, too. Only after you are approved as a sponsor, the eligibility of the partner you want to sponsor will be assessed. 

If your partner’s permanent residence application is approved, they will have to send their passports, or photocopies of their passports, two photos, and proof of  decision, but only if you are sponsoring a partner from outside Canada. You are not allowed to appeal the decision if you are sponsoring a partner who is inside Canada.payment for the right of permanent residence fee if you have not sent it before. If your partner is outside Canada, they will be sent the Confirmation of Permanent Residence and a permanent resident visa, if needed. After your partner receives these documents, they can travel to Canada. If your partner is inside Canada, they have to meet an immigration officer to receive the Confirmation of Permanent Residence. The final decision to allow your partner to stay in Canada as a permanent resident will be made by this officer.

If your partner`s application for permanent residence is refused, you can appeal the decision, but only if you are sponsoring a partner from outside Canada. You are not allowed to appeal the decision if you are sponsoring a partner who is inside Canada.

Regards,

International Experience Club

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