Sponsor your spouse, partner or child: how to apply

How to apply

To apply to sponsor your spouse, partner or child, there are 2 applications:

1. You must apply to become a sponsor.
2. Your spouse, partner or child must apply for permanent residence.

Send both the sponsorship and the permanent residence applications together at the same time.

If you want to sponsor your adopted child or an orphaned family member, follow the instructions to sponsor your adopted child instead.

If you live in Quebec, find out the steps to take to sponsor your spouse, partner or child in Quebec.

There are 4 steps to sponsor your spouse, partner or child:

1. Get the application package

The application package includes the:

• document checklist for you and the persons you want to sponsor
• forms you and the persons you want to sponsor need to fill out
• instruction guide to help you and your family members fill out the forms correctly

Read the guide carefully before you complete the application form. The sponsorship application fee for processing your application can’t be refunded.

Make sure:

• you’re eligible to sponsor before you apply
• you list all your family members
• all the information on your application is true
• your application is complete

2. Pay your application fees

In most cases, your fees will include:

• processing fees for you, the persons you’re sponsoring and their dependants
• the right of permanent residence fee
• the biometrics fee

You have to pay your fees online (opens in a new tab).

Biometrics fee

In most cases, you must pay a biometrics (fingerprints and photo) fee when you submit your application. Otherwise you may experience delays. The biometrics fee covers the cost of collecting fingerprints and a digital photo.

Third-party fees

Depending on your situation, you may need to pay third parties for:

• your medical exam
• a police certificate

The instruction guide can help you understand which fees apply to you.

3. Submit your application

The mailing instructions are in the application guide.

You may use a courier service to submit your application, if you want to. Courier services will help you track your application. You can also use regular mail.

Find out how long it will take to process your application.

We’ll return your application to you if:

• it’s incomplete
• fees are missing

4. Send us additional information during processing

During processing, we’ll ask the person you’re sponsoring to submit their:

• biometrics
  • When the biometrics fee is paid, we’ll send your family members a letter asking them to give their biometrics.
  • Your family members must show this letter when they give their biometrics.
  • They have 30 days to give their biometrics in person at their closest collection point.
• medical exams
• police certificates
  • You need to include police certificates when you apply.
  • You need them for the person being sponsored and each family member 18 or older (who isn’t already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident).
  • Police certificates are generally valid for 1 year from the date they’re issued.
    • Depending on processing times, we may ask you for new certificates.

We’ll send instructions and let your family members how much time they have to send us this information.

You must tell us of any change in circumstances, such as:

• birth or adoption of children
• marriage or divorce or separation
• death of an applicant or a dependant