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Spousal Sponsorship

Find out if you're eligible to apply

Spousal Sponsorship requires both a Sponsor and an Applicant. The Principal Applicant is the spouse or common-law partner wishing to become a permanent resident. These questions are for the Sponsor.

Are you planning to sponsor a spouse or common-law partner?

About Spousal Sponsorship

One of the main goals of Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is to try and reunite family members in Canada. Through the Family Class, you may become a permanent resident if a family member who is either a Canadian citizen or permanent resident is eligible and willing to Sponsor you. If you are the person to be Sponsored, you are called the Principal Applicant. Although you may be sponsored by any eligible family member, at this time Immigrate Simply can only be used to sponsor a spouse or common-law partner. 

Sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner (and their dependents if applicable) means both the Sponsor and Principal Applicant have to complete immigration forms. Sponsorship is a serious responsibility, and the sponsorship forms confirm the legal obligations a Sponsor has for the Principal Applicant. If you are considering becoming a Sponsor, it is important to read through the IRCC guide on sponsorship to make sure you understand the scope of your responsibilities. The Principal Applicant has to provide supporting documentation to prove they have a genuine relationship to the Sponsor and evidence that they are admissible to Canada. A spouse or common-law partner already living in Canada has more than one path to permanent resident status, and an immigration professional can help you determine the best option for your circumstance.

Completing a Spousal Sponsorship application can be confusing and stressful. Immigrate Simply makes it easier to fill out your Sponsorship and Applicant forms by:

  • Streamlining the process of entering information 

  • Providing hints and tips alongside questions

  • Printing all the immigration forms you need for your application with the information you entered

After you finalize your forms on Immigrate Simply, you are ready to submit your Spousal Sponsorship application to IRCC :

  • Download your completed forms and checklist from Immigrate Simply

  • Gather the required documents listed on the checklist

  • Submit your application and all the required documents to IRCC and pay the IRCC fees

Immigrate Simply fills out the forms you need for a Spousal Sponsorship using the information you give us. The following forms relate to Spousal Sponsorship :

IMM 5533     Document checklist – married
IMM 1344     Application to sponsor
IMM 0008    Generic Application
IMM 5532     Relationship information
IMM 5406    Additional family information
eIMM 5669  Schedule A  Background/declaration
IMM 5589    Document checklist – common law
IMM 5409    Statutory declaration – common law 
IMM 5476    Use of Representative

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