How to apply for sponsorship
To apply to sponsor your spouse, partner or child, there are 2 applications:- You must apply to become a sponsor.
- Your spouse, partner or child must apply for permanent residence.
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
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
Helping your spouse, partner or child with their application?
There are certain steps you need to complete if you want to:- prepare your family members’ application for them (this would mean that you’d be acting as their representative)
- check on their application status
Find out how to act as a representative or access your family members’ information.
2. Pay your application fees
Our fees changed
The fees for most of our economic immigration programs and the right of permanent residence increased as of April 30, 2020. Find out more.
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
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: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.
Some biometrics collection sites are closed. If the site closest to you is closed, we’ll extend your deadline to give your biometrics. Find out how COVID-19 is affecting biometrics.
- 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.
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