Canada Immigration - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

There isn't an income requirement to sponsor your spouse or partner or dependent child.

So, when do I need to show proof that I meet the minimum necessary income requirements to sponsor my spouse or partner for a Canadian permanent residence?

You only need to show that you have enough money to meet the income requirements if:

1. you’re sponsoring a dependent child that has 1 or more dependent children of their own, or

2. you’re sponsoring a spouse or partner that has a dependent child, and their dependent child has 1 or more children of their own.

Having said that, since you as the sponsor are financially responsible towards your spouse/common-law or conjugal partner, you should always demonstrate that you have the capability to support their basic needs for at least the initial 6 months of them becoming a Canadian permanent resident.

Basic needs are:

1. food, clothing, shelter, and other needs for everyday living,

2. dental care, eye care and other health needs that aren’t covered by public health services.

Canada allows spouses and common-law partners of Canadians or permanent residents to obtain an Open Work Permit while their Inland spousal sponsorship application for permanent residence (PR) is being processed.

In order to be issued an open work permit, you must:

1. Have submitted an application under the Spousal/Common-Law Partner Sponsorship Immigration Program;

2. Reside at the same address as the sponsor (spouse/common-law partner);

3. Have a valid temporary resident status (as a visitor, student, or worker); and

4. Meet all eligibility requirements under spousal or common-law partner sponsorship, your spouse must meet all the eligibility requirements.

If you are legally divorced, then you can apply for a spousal sponsorship. However, if you were an applicant for spousal sponsorship in the last 5 years preceding the application, then you are not eligible for a spousal sponsorship.

There is a five-year sponsorship restriction for anyone who has been sponsored as a spouse/common-law partner himself or herself. This means that you cannot sponsor a new spouse or common-law partner within the first five years after you become a permanent resident, even if you have left your sponsor and you have now remarried.

No. To obtain permanent residence (PR) or Canadian Citizenship you have to go through a formal immigration process and follow the same steps and meet the same eligibility requirement as everyone else.

You may be able to withdraw your application as long as the person you are sponsoring has not received their Permanent Resident status in Canada. You may even be eligible for a refund if IRCC hasn’t actually started processing your application.

You do not need to demonstrate a minimum amount of income to sponsor a spouse. However, whenever you sponsor a family member to Canada, you must sign an undertaking, in which you promise to provide financial support for the basic needs of your sponsored family member.

Not all spouse visa refusals are eligible for sponsorship appeal. Only spouses or partners who submitted outland sponsorship can be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD).

You have 30 days after receiving the refusal letter to appeal to the IAD.

Yes, absolutely. You can leave at your own free will. However, in order to return to Canada, you will need to have proper documentation or visa (as applicable).

Only Canadian citizens have the option to apply for Spousal sponsorship while not being in Canada themselves. They, however, need to prove that they will move back to Canada once the sponsorship application has been approved.

Permanent residents of Canada can only be a sponsor while they are living inside Canada.

1. Check your eligibility to sponsor. Use this FREE Sponsorship Evaluation Tool to check your eligibility.

2. Get the application checklist. Ensure you have all the correct forms and versions of those forms as well.

3. Complete the application kit and attach all additional documents required. If you are submitting an online application, ensure to upload all relevant documents with your application package.

4. Pay your application fee. Ensure to include all dependents in your fee.

5. Apply to Sponsor

6. Apply to be sponsored

Inland Sponsorship is when you and your spouse or partner submit your application while residing together inside Canada. Inland spousal sponsorship is used for Spouse or Common-law partners who are currently co-habiting together.

Outland Sponsorship is when your spouse or partner is not residing with you in Canada. Outland spousal sponsorship is used for Spouse or Conjugal partners who are currently not co-habiting together.

In both cases, the sponsor and the applicant need to declare that they will be residing in Canada once the application is approved (if they're already not).

Stage 1 approval means IRCC has deemed you eligible to apply for permanent residence in Canada based on the type of application you submitted.

Stage 2 approval means IRCC has assessed the application package and has determined you to be qualified for Permanent Residence in Canada based on the type of application you submitted. This is also known as - Approved in Principle.

Final Decision - Means your application has been approved and the required paper work needs to be completed to declare you as a Canadian Permanent Resident. Once the paperwork is complete, you will be issued a CoPR or PR card which ever may apply to you.

Under a temporary public policy Students are allowed to work full-time in Canada while completing their education as long as their work is not affecting their study permit requirements. This means they need to maintain proper attendance and grades in order to keep working more than 20 hours a week.