Sponsor your spouse, partner or child: prepare for arrival

Be prepared. Know what to expect if your application is approved.

If your family members are already in Canada

We’ll contact your family members with instructions on how to confirm their permanent residence status online through the Permanent Residence Portal.

In some cases, your family members may need to meet with an immigration officer for an in-person interview. If an interview is required, we’ll tell them what documents to bring and the time and place of their interview.

If your family members are outside Canada

When they arrive

When your sponsored family members arrive at the port of entry to Canada, they must show the border services officer

• their Confirmation of Permanent Residence
  • This is the document we sent when we approved their application.
• their valid passport or travel document
• their valid permanent resident visa (if we issued one)
• any other document we issued to them and told them to bring

The officer will

• check that your family members’ permanent resident visa and Confirmation of Permanent Residence haven’t expired
• ask them to confirm information that they gave in their application

Your family members must tell the officer of any funds they’re bringing into Canada, including

• cash
• stocks
• bonds
• money orders
• traveller’s cheques

To help speed up entry into Canada, tell your family members to keep their passport and other documents with them at all times. They shouldn’t pack these documents in their luggage.

Get more information on the documents your family members need and on the interview process when crossing the Canadian border.

If they meet the requirements to enter Canada

If the officer finds that your family members are admissible to Canada, the officer will

• allow them to enter Canada as permanent residents
• start the process of mailing their permanent resident card to the address on their Confirmation of Permanent Residence
  • Make sure their Canadian address is correct.