This page provides general legal information. Your eligibility and best next step depend on your facts and the rules in force when action is taken.
Who may sponsor
Current IRCC rules allow qualifying Canadian citizens, permanent residents and certain persons registered under the Indian Act to sponsor a spouse, partner or dependent child if the applicable requirements are met. Residence rules differ for citizens and permanent residents.
Relationship categories and evidence
Spouse, common-law partner and conjugal partner are legally distinct categories. A common-law relationship generally requires at least 12 consecutive months of cohabitation. Beyond formal status, IRCC assesses whether the relationship is genuine and not entered into primarily for immigration purposes.
The undertaking
A sponsor signs an undertaking to provide financial support for the sponsored person for the applicable undertaking period. The obligation can continue even if personal circumstances later change.
Applications filed from inside Canada
An in-Canada spouse or partner may have different processing and work-permit considerations. IRCC currently provides an optional open-work-permit pathway for certain sponsored spouses, partners and accompanying dependent children who meet the conditions.
What to bring
Sponsor proof of Canadian status; passports; marriage or relationship documents; address/cohabitation history; prior marriages; children/family details; immigration history; prior refusals; and representative samples of relationship evidence.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (Canada.ca)