How does a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, or dependent children get permanent resident status?
The application process involves two steps:
1. If you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you must apply to sponsor them.
2. Your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, or dependent children must then apply for permanent residence.
If you sponsor your spouse or partner, and your dependent children as a group, all of their applications for permanent residence must be filled out at the same time to be mailed together.
The applications for both sponsorship and permanent residence should be filled out and sent at the same time. There are two steps to process the application forms:
· The sponsorship application is processed by the Case Processing Centre (CPC) in Mississauga, Ontario (for family members living outside Canada), or the CPC in Vegreville, Alberta (for family members living inside Canada).
· If you are approved as a sponsor, the permanent residence application is sent to the appropriate Canadian visa office.
If you live in Quebec, you must also meet Quebec immigration sponsorship requirements. For more information, see the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
How to apply?
1. Obtain an application kit.
You will need an application kit for sponsorship and an application kit for permanent residence for your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, or dependent child.
Depending on whether your relatives live inside or outside Canada, the application kits for sponsorship and permanent residence are different. Be sure to choose the correct application package. For instance:
· If your spouse, partner or accompanying dependent child lives with you in Canada, use the Application for Permanent Residence in Canada—Spouse or Common-law Partner.
· If your spouse, partner or dependent child lives abroad, use the Application to Sponsor a Member of the Family Class.
You can download and print the forms you need from Find an application form or guide in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page.
You can also have the applications mailed to you:
· If you are in Canada, contact the Call Centre (see Contact Us at the top of this page).
· If you are outside Canada, contact the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate responsible for your area.
2. Read the guide.
Read the guides for both the sponsorship and the permanent residence applications carefully before you complete the application forms. The fee for processing your forms is not refundable, so make sure you are eligible before you apply.
3. Complete the application forms and attach the necessary documents.
Use the instructions in the guide to help you fill out the application form. Be sure to provide the required documents. They are listed in the Document Checklist in the kit. If information or documents are missing, your application may be delayed.
· As the sponsor, you will sign an agreement that commits you to supporting your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner for three years. If you sponsor a dependent child, you will commit to supporting the child for 10 years or until the child is 25 years old, whichever comes first.
· Your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner must promise to make every effort to become self-supporting.
· If you sponsor your dependent children who are not accompanying your spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, you will have to complete a separate application and pay the applicable fees for each of these children.
· Have the person(s) you are sponsoring complete the application for permanent residence.
There are some extra steps to follow if the person(s) you want to sponsor lives outside Canada:
· Have the person(s) you want to sponsor complete the medical examination requirements. Instructions are in the application kit. There is also information about medical examinations in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page.
· Assemble the final application for permanent residence, including applications, supporting documents, and proof that the medical examination has been done.
Note: Misrepresenting your situation in any way can make you inadmissible to Canada. You cannot misrepresent any relevant facts in your application. You cannot misrepresent your family members and marital status, and you must inform Citizenship and Immigration Canada of any change in circumstances. You must identify all your family members in the application. If you fail to disclose and/or have examined any of your close family members at any time between the date of the original application and the date your family member is granted permanent residence, you will be barred from sponsoring those members in the future.
4. Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.
The fees are:
· $75 for the sponsorship application
· $475 for the principal applicant
· $150 for a dependent child of the principal applicant who is under 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship
· $550 for a dependant of the principal applicant who is 22 or older, or who is under 22 and married or in a common-law relationship and
· $490 for the right of permanent residence fee which your spouse will be required to pay before the status is granted.
You can pay fees:
· at most banks. If you use this method, you must get an original receipt of payment (form IMM 5401) to bring with you when you pay. This form is not available online. You must have it mailed to you. See Order a receipt of payment (IMM 5401) under Related Links at the bottom of the page.
· online through Pay application fees in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page. Once you have paid your fees online, you must print a receipt of payment form and include it with your application. Be sure to print the actual receipt, not the “payment confirmation form” page. See Payment of fees through the Internet under Related Links at the bottom of the page for more information.
If you live outside Canada, but submitted your application in Canada, online payment is recommended.
If you cannot pay online, you may pay fees with an international money order or a bank draft made payable to the Receiver General for Canada. It must be in Canadian funds.
To ensure the bank draft or money order can be cashed at a Canadian financial institution (such as a bank or Western Union) you must include some information. On the front, you must clearly write the financial institution’s
· name and complete address (not a post office box number) and
· account number(s).
It is very important to include this information. If you do not, your application may be delayed or returned to you.
5. Mail the application and documents.
The application kit has the address you need for mailing your application to the Case Processing Centre (CPC) in Mississauga, Ontario (for family members living outside Canada) or CPC in Vegreville, Alberta (for family members living inside Canada).
You can find information on how long it will take to process your application in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page.