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Sponsoring a Spouse or Common-Law Partner Who is Living with you in Canada

If you are living in Canada with a spouse or common-law partner and wish to support his or her application to immigrate as a member of the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class, you must first sponsor him or her for immigration.

To sponsor your spouse or your common-law partner you must sign an Undertaking with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. This is a promise to the Government of Canada that you will support your spouse or common-law partner and his or her dependent children for a period of three to 10 years so that they will not need to apply for social assistance.

You must also sign a Sponsorship Agreement with your spouse or common-law partner that outlines your mutual commitments to each other. You promise to provide for the basic requirements of your spouse or common-law partner and any dependent children for the duration of the Undertaking and your spouse or common-law partner promises to make every effort to become self-supporting.

Dependent Children:
All dependent children must be included on your sponsorship application and your spouse or common-law partner’s application to immigrate. Dependent children include your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent children and any dependent children of their dependent children.

To sponsor a spouse or common-law partner from within Canada:
You can sponsor a person as your spouse if that person is married to you and the marriage is a legally valid civil marriage. If your spouse is of the

• opposite sex and your marriage took place outside Canada, the marriage must be valid both under the laws of the jurisdiction where it took place and under Canadian law;
• same sex, your marriage must have taken place in Canada and be recognized by the authorities of the province where it took place. For additional information on same-sex marriages, consult our interim policy.

You can sponsor a person of the opposite or same sex as your common-law partner if you have lived together in a conjugal relationship for a period of at least one year.

Your spouse or your common-law partner must also

• be living with you in Canada;
• have a valid passport or travel document;
• be 16 years of age or older;
• be your spouse or common-law partner for genuine reasons and not primarily for the purpose of obtaining permanent residence in Canada; and
• not be subject to enforcement proceedings.

Application:
You will need to use this application guide and form to apply for Permanent Residence from within Canada or to sponsor a spouse or common-law partner living with you in Canada.

After reading the instructions completely, fill out the forms and send them to the location specified in the application guide. Send both sets of forms, supporting documents and fees, at the same time.