How to sponsor your spouse for Canadian immigration

If you are planning on getting married this summer, you can start your application to sponsor your spouse now.

How to sponsor your spouse or partner

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their spouse, common-law partner or foreign spouse to live with them in Canada and become a Canadian permanent residents.

To be eligible to sponsor your spouse or partner, you must meet the following requirements:

· you are over 18 years old,

· you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or registered under the Canadian Indian Act,

· you live in Canada or are a Canadian citizen and plan to return to Canada,

· you are not receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability, and

· You can meet the basic needs of yourself and your spouse or partner (and dependent children, if applicable).

The sponsored person must be at least 18 years old and pass all background, safety and medical checks.

Additionally, you and your foreign spouse or partner must prove that you are in a bona fide relationship. In the case of a sponsored spouse, you must prove that you are legally married. Alternatively, for a civil partnership, you must show that you and your partner have been or have been in a marriage-like relationship for at least 12 consecutive months. Additionally, as a spouse, you must demonstrate that you have been in a committed relationship for at least 12 months but have significant barriers to living together (for example, cultural, religious or immigration barriers).

There are two options when sponsoring a spouse or life partner: foreign or domestic sponsorship. The overseas sponsorship option is available to couples who are not currently living together in Canada but the sponsor lives abroad and the Canadian sponsor lives in Canada. The domestic sponsorship option is available to couples living together in Canada and the foreign spouse or partner has temporary worker, student or visitor status in Canada.

Can you go ahead with the application process before getting married?

If you live with a partner or are in a married relationship, you do not need to be married to begin the application process, as indicated by the 12-month relationship or cohabitation requirement. If you are not living together or living together but planning to get married soon, you can start the spousal application process before you get married. This speeds up the process so that applications can be submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) immediately after marriage.

If you are planning to get married this summer and want to apply now, it is best to speak with an experienced Canadian immigration attorney who can guide you through the process. A lawyer can help you prove the authenticity of your relationship and avoid mistakes that can cause unnecessary delays in the application process.

Additionally, IRCC announced that the average processing time for new spouse applications has returned to the 12-month service standard. IRCC has also launched an online case tracker that allows sponsors to monitor the progress of their application status.