Apply to sponsor your spouse, partner or children
Changes to conditional permanent residence
Sponsored spouses or partners: your permanent residence is no longer dependent on you living with your sponsor for a period of 2 years. Find out more about these changes.
Find out about important changes weve made to process your spousal sponsorship application within 12 months.
1. Find out how to apply
Find out who can apply to become a sponsor.
Use our basic guide (IMM 5525) to help you with the application steps, including:
- how to prepare and submit your application
- what to expect after you submit your application
Does your spouse or partner want to work while they are living in Canada and waiting for their application to be processed?
If you’re sponsoring your spouse or partner under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in-Canada Class, they may be eligible for an open work permit. Find out how to apply.
When we receive your application, we’ll check your application package to make sure it’s complete.
If documents or fees are missing, we’ll stop processing your application and send it back to you.
If your application has all the required documents and fees, we’ll:
- tell you that we started processing your application through:
- email or
- letter (if you don’t give us your email)
- give you:
- your file number
- information about the next steps
Find out when we get your family class sponsorship package.
Subscribe to our text message service.
As of September 30, 2017 this service will no longer be available. If you enroll on or before this date, you will still receive a text message.
Will you use our text messaging service?
2. Link your application to your online account
If you and the person you’re sponsoring both meet the eligibility requirements, we’ll send you (or your authorized paid representative) a request to link your application to an online account.
Find out how to link your application to your account once you create an account or sign in. If you have an authorized paid representative, they will need to link your application to their account.
Having trouble? See the top questions about linking your application in the Help Centre.
3. Send us the additional documents we need
We’ll send you, or your authorized paid representative, requests to submit additional documents through your online account.
Through your online account you can learn about the documents you need to send us, such as:
- police certificates
- the Schedule A form
- medical exam receipts
4. Track or update your application
During processing, track your application and make sure its up to date by:
- checking the status of your application
- updating your address or other information
- adding or changing your representative
- withdrawing your application
If you want us to release your information to someone else, you’ll need to fill out the form to authorize a designated individual.
5. Prepare for arrival in Canada
While you’re still overseas, find pre-arrival services to help plan your life in Canada.
To prepare for arrival at the Canadian port of entry:
- find out what documents you’ll need to show border officers
- learn what information you’ll have to provide
Once you arrive, find services and information for new immigrants to help you start your life in Canada.
