The Spousal Sponsorship program is an integral part of the Family Class Immigration. This program allows a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor their spouse or common-law partner for Canadian permanent residence.
This process involves Sponsorship application from Canadian sponsor and Permanent residence application from spouse/common-law. Both need to be approved by IRCC to receive a visa by a sponsored person.
These applications are of two types:
Outland/Overseas Sponsorship
This option is generally selected when the sponsored spouse/common-law partner lives outside of Canada. However, if the sponsored person is living in Canada, they can also apply through this.
These applications are processed by the visa office of the applicant’s country of origin, or where they have lived legally for at least one year.
Requirements for the Sponsor:
- The sponsor must be 18 years of age
- The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or Permanent resident residing in Canada
- The sponsor shouldn’t be in prison, under a removal order, bankrupt, or charged with a serious offense
- The sponsor cannot have been sponsored to Canada as a spouse within the last 5 years
- The sponsor shouldn’t have sponsored another spouse within the last 3 years
Requirements of the Sponsored Person:
- The sponsored person must be at least 16 years of age
- The sponsored person must not be too closely related by blood to the sponsor
Inland Sponsorship
This option is selected only if the sponsored person is residing inside Canada. They must have valid temporary status in Canada, either as a worker, student or visitor. The sponsored person is also eligible for an open work permit while their application is being processed.
Sponsorship Undertaking
The sponsor is financially responsible for the person sponsored for three years after the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.
