How to Sponsor Spouse Immigration Canada: Step-by-Step

Sponsoring a spouse or partner for Canadian permanent residence follows a specific sequence, and getting the order right matters, some decisions early on (like which stream to apply under) shape everything that follows. Here's the process broken down into the actual steps, in order.

Sponsor Spouse Immigration Canada

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This is general information, not legal advice. Every file has its own facts, and the right approach can vary. If you'd like a case-specific assessment, our team at Brace Law is happy to help.

Step 1: Confirm You're Eligible to Sponsor

Before anything else, make sure you qualify as a sponsor. You need to be:

·       A Canadian citizen, a person registered under the Indian Act, or a permanent resident

·       At least 18 years old

·       Living in Canada (or able to show you'll live in Canada once your spouse becomes a permanent resident, if you're a citizen currently living abroad)

·       Not receiving social assistance for a reason other than a disability

·       Free of certain disqualifying factors, a default on a previous sponsorship undertaking, an unpaid immigration loan, unpaid court-ordered child or spousal support, an undischarged bankruptcy, certain violent or sexual criminal convictions, or being under a removal order or incarcerated

One rule that surprises people: if you were sponsored as a spouse or partner yourself and became a permanent resident less than five years ago, you generally can't sponsor a new spouse or partner until that five-year mark passes.

There's no minimum income requirement for spousal sponsorship in the vast majority of cases, this is one of the more accessible sponsorship categories precisely because the financial bar is low. (The one exception: if your spouse's dependent child has a dependent child of their own, a financial evaluation kicks in.)

Step 2: Confirm Your Relationship Qualifies

You need to fit one of three categories:

·       Spouse — legally married, valid both where the marriage happened and under Canadian law (proxy, phone, fax, or internet marriages where one party wasn't physically present aren't recognized)

·       Common-law partner — continuous cohabitation for at least 12 months

·       Conjugal partner — a committed relationship of 12+ months where cohabitation wasn't possible due to a genuine immigration or legal barrier, and the partner is living outside Canada

Step 3: Choose Your Application Class, Inland or Outland

This is the decision that shapes your entire timeline, so it's worth pausing on.

Apply under the Family Class (outland) if:

·       Your spouse lives outside Canada

·       Your spouse is currently in Canada but doesn't plan to stay while the application processes

·       You're sponsoring a conjugal partner or dependent child

·       You want the option to appeal a refusal to the Immigration Appeal Division, with full rights to submit new evidence and call witnesses

Apply under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class (inland) if your spouse:

·       Lives with you in Canada

·       Has valid temporary resident status (or qualifies under a specific public policy covering certain inadmissibility issues like overstays)

The trade-off: inland refusals can only be challenged through judicial review at the Federal Court — a narrower process that only checks for legal errors in the original decision, without new evidence. Inland applicants can also apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit, letting your spouse work in Canada while waiting.

Step 4: Get Your Application Package and Country-Specific Checklist

Go to IRCC's application kit page and select:

·       Who you're sponsoring

·       The country where your spouse currently lives

·       The country where your supporting documents were issued

This generates your specific document checklist, the list of exactly which forms and documents apply to your situation. Download it fresh; don't rely on a version from a previous year or someone else's blog post, since requirements are updated periodically.

Step 5: Gather Your Documents

Using your checklist, collect:

·       Identity documents for both of you

·       Proof of your relationship (marriage certificate or common-law/conjugal evidence, plus ongoing proof like photos, communication history, joint finances, and travel records)

·       Your proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residence

·       Police certificates for your spouse (and any accompanying dependants 18+) from every country lived in for 6+ months since age 18

·       Any documents not in English or French, along with a certified translation and translator's affidavit

Step 6: Complete the Forms

Some forms are completed online directly in the IRCC portal (by the sponsored person):

·       IMM 0008 — Generic Application Form for Canada

·       IMM 5669 — Schedule A: Background/Declaration

·       IMM 5406 — Additional Family Information

·       IMM 5562 — Supplementary Information: Your Travels (if applicable)

Others are downloaded as PDFs, filled out, and digitally signed by both sponsor and sponsored person:

·       IMM 1344 — Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking

·       IMM 5532 — Sponsorship Evaluation and Relationship Questionnaire (required for spouse/partner sponsorships)

If you're using a representative, add IMM 5476 (Use of a Representative).

Step 7: Pay the Fees

Current government fees:

Item	Fee (CAD)
Sponsor your spouse or partner (with RPRF)	$1,260.00
Sponsor your spouse or partner (without RPRF)	$660.00
Include a dependent child	$180.00 per child
Biometrics (individual / family)	$85.00 / $170.00

Pay online — it's the only accepted method for applications submitted from within Canada — and save your receipt; you'll need to upload it.

Step 8: Submit Your Application Online

As of September 23, 2022, online submission is mandatory except in specific accommodation circumstances. Upload your completed forms, document checklist, supporting documents, and payment receipt, then have the sponsored person electronically sign the full application.

Step 9: Give Biometrics (If Required)

If required, you'll receive a Biometric Instruction Letter directing you to a collection service point. IRCC starts processing once biometrics are given, so book this promptly.

Step 10: Complete the Immigration Medical Exam

IRCC will send medical exam instructions (including the IMM 1017 form) at the appropriate point in processing — not necessarily right away, since medical results can expire. Every family member, even those not accompanying the sponsored spouse to Canada, must complete this exam.

Step 11: Respond to Any Requests, Promptly

If IRCC asks for more information or documents, respond within the deadline given. Missing a deadline can result in refusal. If you've linked your application to an online account, monitor it regularly — that's where requests will appear.

Step 12: Wait for a Decision

·       Outland: if approved, a permanent resident visa or Confirmation of Permanent Residence is issued. Your spouse becomes a permanent resident upon entering Canada with that document, within its validity period.

·       Inland: if approved, IRCC will contact your spouse for a final confirmation step, and permanent residence is finalized without them needing to leave Canada.

If refused, you'll receive a written explanation. Outland refusals come with a right of appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division; inland refusals are subject to judicial review only, and your spouse would need to leave Canada at the end of their period of temporary stay.

The Through-line: Completeness Is Everything

At almost every step above, the same risk repeats itself: IRCC's completeness check is binary. A missing form, an unsigned page, or an incomplete checklist means your entire package is returned to you unprocessed — not delayed, returned, with your place in the queue gone. Building the strongest, most complete application the first time is worth far more than saving a few days by rushing the process.

Considering Sponsorship? Sponsor Spouse Immigration Canada?

Every one of these steps has a right way to do it and a handful of common mistakes that cost couples months. Our immigration team at Brace Law walks clients across Oakville, Vaughan, and the greater GTA–Hamilton corridor through the entire process, from choosing the right stream to preparing a complete, well-documented application.