Are you a Canadian citizen or permanent resident looking to reunite with your spouse or partner? You’re in the right place! Sponsoring your partner for Canadian permanent residency is a wonderful pathway to building your life together in Canada.

In this post, we will walk you through the essential steps and share practical tips on what you need to know to make your sponsorship application a success!

First things first, let’s talk about eligibility. To sponsor your partner, you need to be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and not receiving social assistance, unless for a disability. You’ll also need to be able to support your partner financially—so prepare to show that you can provide the basic needs for you both!

Wondering who you can sponsor? You can bring your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner to Canada. Each relationship category has specific criteria—don’t worry, we’ll explain that in detail so you know exactly what to prepare.

Now, if your partner is currently living in Canada, that’s great news! They might be able to apply for a spousal open work permit while waiting for their residency application to process. This means they could start working sooner and help support your new life together.

There’s also a distinction between inland sponsorship (for partners in Canada) and outland sponsorship (for partners living outside Canada). Each has its own steps and processing times, which we’ll break down for you.

Before you dive in, you must also be aware of the undertaking obligations—this is a big commitment to finance your partner’s basic needs once they become a permanent resident. You’re also signing a legally binding agreement, so you’ll want to understand what that entails fully.

Lastly, if you receive an invitation for a spousal sponsorship interview, stay calm! Just be prepared to answer some questions together about your relationship. This is a normal part of the process.

And that’s it! By following these steps and preparing properly, you’ll be well on your way to bringing your loved one to Canada. Good luck!