Sponsorship of spouse, partner, and dependent children

Updated 08/10/2026 — source IRCC and Government of Quebec.

Sponsoring spouses, partners, and dependent children

This program allows eligible Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor family members for permanent residence. IRCC currently acknowledges that the program is open.

What are the requirements for sponsors?

Must be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen, PR, or a person registered under the Indian Act; and eligible to sign a financial undertaking. PRs living outside Canada cannot sponsor. Citizens abroad must prove they will return when the sponsored person receives PR.

Generally, there is no minimum income requirement, except if the sponsored dependent child also has a dependent child. You must check for social assistance, unpaid sponsorship/support obligations, undischarged bankruptcy, and criminal cases or removal orders.

Individuals previously sponsored by a spouse who have held PR for less than 5 years, or who remain under an undertaking to a previous spouse, may not be eligible to sponsor again.

Who can be sponsored?

• Spouse: legally married, at least 18 years old, in a genuine relationship.
• Common-law partner: at least 18 years old, cohabiting continuously for at least 12 months in a relationship like marriage.
• Conjugal partner: at least 18 years old, residing outside Canada, in a committed relationship for at least 1 year with a factual barrier to marriage or cohabitation; must meet IRCC criteria.
• Dependent child: under 22 years old, unmarried or without a common-law partner; those 22 or older may qualify if financially dependent since before age 22 and unable to support themselves due to a physical/mental condition.

You must fully declare all family members, including non-accompanying children. The temporary policy for certain undeclared family members ended on September 10, 2026; applications eligible during the policy period will still be processed. Cases involving previously omitted family members require a separate assessment by an RCIC or lawyer.

Financial undertaking outside Quebec

The undertaking remains valid in cases of separation, divorce, or financial hardship. Sponsors must repay any social assistance received that falls under the undertaking.

Application Process

1. Assess eligibility and choose the appropriate category: Family Class or Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class.
2. Prepare sponsorship and PR applications, identity documents, proof of relationship, children's documents, and translations per the checklist.
3. Submit via PR Portal, sign forms, and pay government fees.
4. Monitor AOR and respond to requests for medical exams, biometrics, police certificates, or additional documents.
5. Complete PR confirmation procedures once approved.

Document requirements depend on country and family circumstances. Fees and processing times should be verified directly with IRCC when applying.

Open work permit while in Canada

Sponsored spouses, common-law or conjugal partners, and accompanying dependent children may be eligible for an OWP if they meet requirements. Typically, this requires an AOR confirming the PR application is in process, living with the sponsor in Canada, and having valid resident status.

Principal applicants may apply without an AOR if they have submitted a valid PR application and their permit/temporary status expires in 2 weeks or less. Those without valid status under the spousal public policy must wait for approval in principle before submitting a paper work permit application per IRCC instructions.

Submitting a PR application does not automatically authorize you to work or maintain temporary status. You must have valid work authorization before beginning employment.

If residing in Quebec

A sponsorship undertaking with MIFI is required in accordance with IRCC instructions and Quebec regulations. From July 2, 2026, to June 30, 2028, the intake limit for spouses and partners is 13,300 undertaking applications. Intake schedules depend on the date of the eligibility letter or AOR from IRCC, not just the date of PR submission. Eligible dependent children are exempt from these limits/schedules. Check the official schedule before submitting a MIFI application.

KeyApply Services

KeyApply assists with coordination, collection, and preparation of documentation; immigration consultation and representation are handled by an RCIC or licensed lawyer. The “Application Assessment” variant requires contact; service fees are quoted separately based on the scope of work.

When contacting us, be prepared with citizenship/PR status, location of both parties, timeline of relationship and cohabitation, marriage/divorce documents, children's information, and previous immigration records. You can call, email, or message via KeyApply.com.

Official Resources

• IRCC — Overview
• Sponsor eligibility
• Who you can sponsor and undeclared family members
• Financial undertaking
• How to apply
• Open work permit
• Quebec — Intake schedule and limits

Immigration Events and Live Stream Schedule