After you apply

Application assessment process

We’ll review your sponsorship application and return it to you if:

• it's incomplete
• the sponsorship and processing fees are missing

If we begin to process your application, we’ll:

• send you an acknowledgment of receipt letter with an application number,
• assess your eligibility as a sponsor, and
• assess if the person you are sponsoring meets the permanent residence requirements.

Processing time ^?

Varies by country

Check application processing times

If we refuse you as a sponsor

Your relative can still apply for permanent residence. Their application may not be approved.

If we approve you as a sponsor

We’ll assess if the person you want to sponsor meets the permanent residence requirements. If their permanent residence application is refused, we’ll let you know why the application was refused and how to appeal the decision.

Your relative can link their application to their online account

When we start processing your family member’s application, we’ll send them a letter with their application number.

After they get this letter, the principal applicant can link their application to their online account. This way, they can communicate with us quickly and securely and get updates and messages about their application online.

Find out how to create an online account and link an application.

You (the sponsor) can link their application for them if you’re handling your family member’s application and you’re designated as their representative.

See the top questions about linking your application.

Check the status of your application

For sponsors

Sponsors can check the status of their application by using our online tool.

As the sponsor, if you want to check on your family member’s application status, you must first request access to their information.

For the persons being sponsored

The persons you’re sponsoring can check their application in 2 ways. They can either

• use our client application status tool, which is updated daily or
• create an online account and link their paper application to it
  • They can only do this when we’ve started processing their application and have sent them their application number.

Change in contact information or in personal circumstances

To avoid delays in processing, make sure your contact information and your application details are up to date.

Use our web form to tells us about changes in your application, such as

• the birth or adoption of a child
• a marriage or a divorce
• contact information updates, including
  • email
  • phone number
  • mailing address

Keep checking your old contact methods until we update your application.

Withdraw your sponsorship application

You can withdraw your sponsorship application any time before the relative you’re sponsoring becomes a permanent resident of Canada.

You may be able to get a refund if we haven’t started processing your application.

Use our web form to request the withdrawal of your sponsorship application. In your request, include your

• full name
• date of birth
• country of birth
• application number (if you know it)
• relative’s client ID number (UCI) (if you know it)
• signed withdrawal request letter

Add or change a representative or get access to your family member’s information

Even as the sponsor, you don’t automatically get access to your family member’s information. You have to request it.

If you want to handle your family member’s application for them

You’ll be acting as what we call a representative if you want to

• fill out and submit your relative’s application for them
• communicate with us on their behalf

To become your family member’s representative, complete, sign and save the form to appoint or change a representative (IMM 5476). The people you’re sponsoring must also sign the form unless they’re under 18.

Include the form with your application. If you’ve already submitted your application, send it to us through our web form.

In your request, include your

• full name
• date of birth
• country of birth
• application number (if you know it)
• relative’s client ID number (UCI) (if you know it)

You can upload the form after you’ve completed all the required fields.

If you want to check on your family member’s application status

As the sponsor, you may want to have access to your relative’s information without being in charge of their application. For example, you may want to check their application status on their behalf, but not act as their representative.

To protect their privacy, they need to give us their written consent before we’ll share any of their personal information with you or give anyone access to their application information.

Find out how the persons you’re sponsoring can give you access to their information.

Submit your right of permanent residence fee or request a refund

Use our web form if

• the visa office has instructed your relative to pay the right of permanent residence fee or
• you want a refund for the right of permanent residence fee

You can only get a refund once you’ve declined your right of appeal.

In your request, include your

• full name
• date of birth
• country of birth
• application number (if you know it)
• relative’s client ID number (UCI) (if you know it)
• copy of the official receipt
• signed right of appeal letter
• letter of explanation (if you’re requesting a refund)

Need help?

If you need help, you can find answers to your questions in the Help Centre.