Spousal Sponsorship in Canada

Canadian Spousal Sponsorship 2025

Husband or Wife Sponsorship in Canada

Spousal immigration is an important aspect of Canadian immigration and thousands of people apply under this category every year. If you have a spouse who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, he/she can sponsor you to immigrate to Canada under certain conditions. This is a useful program for those people who cannot qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker or the Canadian Experience Class. Moreover, the applicant doesn’t have to meet strict policies as it would have to meet under the skilled worker programs. However, the sponsor must meet the eligibility criteria to be able to sponsor the spouse.

 

Are There Any Complications In Spousal Sponsorship Programs?

Ah, the spousal sponsorship program—sounds like a straight road to reuniting with your loved one in Canada, right? Well, not always. If you’re thinking it’s just a matter of filling out some forms and waiting for that golden “Welcome to Canada” approval letter, let me stop you right there. While the spousal sponsorship process is designed to bring couples together, it can get messy, frustrating, and even heartbreaking if you’re not prepared for potential complications.
So, let’s dive deep into the real issues that can trip you up in your spousal sponsorship application—and more importantly, how to avoid them like a pro!

1. Relationship Proof – It’s Not Just a Wedding Photo Album!

One of the biggest challenges in spousal sponsorship is proving that your relationship is genuine. And no, just slapping a few wedding pictures and lovey-dovey Instagram posts won’t cut it!
Common Issues:
• Not enough proof of cohabitation (for common-law couples).
• Lack of financial interdependence (joint bank accounts, shared leases).
• A short courtship period that raises red flags.
• Inconsistencies in your relationship timeline (when you met, got engaged, etc.).
• Spouses from countries with a high fraud rate in immigration cases.
How to Avoid This?
• Submit strong supporting evidence—think beyond photos! Include messages, call logs, shared finances, travel history, and affidavits from family/friends.
• Be prepared for an interview if IRCC suspects the relationship isn’t genuine.
• If common-law, document every aspect of your life together (lease agreements, utility bills, joint assets).

2. Financial Obligations – You’re on the Hook!

Think sponsoring your spouse is just about signing forms? Nope! As a sponsor, you’re financially responsible for them for three years—whether the relationship works out or not!
Common Issues:
• Sponsor doesn’t meet the financial requirements (no stable income, on social assistance).
• Not understanding that divorce doesn’t cancel your sponsorship obligation—yes, even if they leave you, you still owe!
• Misunderstanding the income requirement for dependents—especially if children are involved.
How to Avoid This?
• Make sure you meet the financial eligibility BEFORE applying.
• If you’re self-employed, provide consistent proof of income (tax returns, contracts, financial statements).
• Understand the three-year rule. Sponsorship means responsibility!

3. The Nightmare of Background Checks & Criminal Records

Both the sponsor and the applicant must clear background checks, and trust me, this is where things get delayed.
Common Issues:
• The sponsored spouse has a criminal record (even minor offenses can be an issue).
• Security concerns—if the spouse has past involvement in criminal organizations, terrorism, or political conflicts.
• Previous deportation orders or unresolved immigration violations in Canada.
How to Avoid This?
• Be 100% upfront about past legal issues—IRCC will find out anyway!
• If the spouse has a criminal past, call us today to explore options for criminal rehabilitation.
• Avoid false statements or misrepresentation—this could lead to a 5-year ban from reapplying!

4. Long Processing Times – Why Is It Taking Forever?!

IRCC says processing takes around 12 months, but delays happen. And sometimes, those delays feel like a lifetime.
Common Issues:
• Incomplete documentation—a missing signature or a wrong form version can push you back months!
• Increased security screening times based on nationality.
• Backlogs due to policy changes or staff shortages at visa offices.
• Interview requests adding extra months to processing times.
How to Avoid This?
• Double and triple-check all forms and documents before submission.
• Stay updated on IRCC processing times for specific visa offices.
• If delays happen, submit a case-specific inquiry or contact your MP.

5. Previous Sponsorships – Did You Sponsor Someone Before? Uh Oh!

If you’ve previously sponsored a spouse, IRCC might take a closer look at your case.
Common Issues:
• You sponsored someone in the past, and it didn’t work out.
• Not meeting the 5-year rule—you can’t sponsor a new spouse if less than 5 years have passed since you sponsored your last one.
• A pattern of “marriages of convenience” could lead to a fraud investigation or misrepresentation. 
How to Avoid This?
• If previously sponsored, explain what happened and show proof of genuine intent.
• Be transparent about previous marriages or relationships.
• If your ex accused you of sponsorship fraud, be ready to dispute it with strong evidence.

6. Spousal Sponsorship Refusals – Now What?

Not all applications get approved—and a refusal can be devastating. But it’s not the end of the road.
Common Reasons for Rejection:
• Insufficient proof of relationship.
• The sponsor didn’t meet financial requirements.
• Inadmissibility due to health, criminal, or security reasons.
• Application errors or missing documents.
What Can You Do?
• If you’re refused, don’t panic—you can appeal within 30 days (for inland applications) or reapply with stronger evidence.
• Hire an immigration lawyer for appeals if needed.
• Request GCMS notes to see exactly why your case was refused.

Final Thoughts – Is Spousal Sponsorship Worth It?

Absolutely, YES! But only if you do it right. The spousal sponsorship process can be stressful, complicated, and sometimes outright painful, but with the right preparation, you can avoid delays, refusals, and unnecessary headaches.
Before you apply, ask yourself:
– Is my relationship 100% genuine, with strong proof?
– Do I meet the financial requirements?
– Does my spouse have any background or medical concerns?
– Am I prepared for delays and possible requests for additional documents?

If you answered YES, then you’re on the right track! If not, fix those gaps now before submitting your application.
And hey—if you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t do this alone! Akrami & Associates can ensure your application is bulletproof from day one. Because trust me, the last thing you want is to spend years fighting an immigration refusal.

Got questions? Email us today at info@thevisa.ca or call us at 416.477.2545

 

Changes to Spousal Sponsorship application in December 2016

Sponsoring Spouse to Canada

On December 15, 2016, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made some changes to Spousal Sponsorship Application in order to reduce processing times. The Spousal Sponsorship Program is part of the Family Class immigration. Under this program, a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident can sponsor their spouse, common-law or conjugal partner to Canada for permanent residency options.

In 2015, over 70,000 applicants applied through the Spousal Sponsorship program, but only 48,000 applications were processed that year due to receiving more applications than expected. This increase delayed processing times, and therefore applicants have no choice but to wait for their application to be reviewed. So if you submitted an inland application, the expected wait time was approximately 26 months and 18 months for an overseas application.

The minister of IRCC, John McCallum, noticed this problem and announced that Canadians should not be apart from their loved ones for long periods of time and therefore processing times have now been reduced to 12 months. What this means is that anyone with a sponsorship application already in the system will receive a decision on their case by December 2017 at the latest, and about 80 percent of the new applications will be processed within a 12-month time frame.

Spousal Sponsorship Changes

  • Inland and Overseas application have been combined as one application package, meaning you no longer have to apply separately. Both inland and overseas sponsorship applications use the same application package and checklist.
  • A new basic guide has been created that helps clients through the application process. This guide summarizes the application process and simplifies the process of the application by providing step by step instructions of what they need to do to apply.
  • The document checklist has been made more personalized meaning the applicants can use one of four checklists to find out which forms and documents they need to submit.
  • The relationship questionnaire has been simplified meaning there are fewer questions and the questions have been made easier to understand.
  • Applicants no longer require to submit an medical exam up front, the applicant will be informed of instructions when medical exam is needed. Once you get the medical exam instructions you have 30 days to complete it. Upfront medical examination or no longer needed so just wait until you get instructions and complete the instructions within the deadline.
  • Applicants need to provide police certificates only from country they are currently living in and the country in which they have spent most of their adult life since the age of 18.
  • Other clearances will be requested if needed
  • The person that is being sponsored can now access more of their information through their online account. Through the account the sponsor can send additional documents as requested by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) get the latest up status on their application and receive messages through their online account.

How am I affected by the changes in the Spousal Sponsorship Application?

If you have applied for spousal sponsorship application before December 15, 2016, you are not affected by the new change, and therefore, you do not need to reapply. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has made a commitment to receiving a decision by the end of December 2017 for about 80 percent of the applications received. The applications are processed in the order they are received. To assist CIC with processing your applications faster, ensure your file is up to date and link your application to your online application. When you do this, CIC is able to communicate with you if there is anything else needed or any updates on your application.

If you applied for spousal sponsorship between December 15, 2016, and January 31, 2017, you can either use the new application package posted on the government website or the old application package. The goal of CIC is to process 80 percent of the applications that were submitted on or after December 15, 2016, and get a decision within 12 months of the application being received.

If you applied for a Spousal Sponsorship application after January 31, 2017, then you would have to use the new application package on the CIC website. So make sure you do not use the old package, as they will no longer be accepted.

Spousal Sponsorship Reducing the Backlog

As the large number of applications began to pile up in the immigration office, the government of Canada decided to take some necessary measures to reduce it. This backlog was not only causing delays to existing applications but was also debilitating the government’s capacity to attract potential new applicants. Along with many other immigration programs, the Spousal Sponsorship Program also saw important changes. Generally, the assessment process became more stringent and only after a long and thorough scrutiny process do the applications reach a decision. This takes a lot of time.

Factors to Consider when Preparing an Application as a Sponsor

The following is a list of important aspects that must be considered by a sponsor before preparing an application. Many cases get rejected because they fail to comply with one of the following requirements or fail to submit sufficient proof to support their case. It is essential that you consider these factors before applying to immigrate to Canada.

If you wish you sponsor your spouse, and you were yourself sponsored by a permanent resident in Canada a few years ago, it is legally possible. However, according to the latest requirement, you must wait for at least five years before you can sponsor your spouse. The time starts after you have received your permanent residence.

The government of Canada has been experiencing cases where people immigrate to Canada, and then due to a lack of financial resources, they turn to the government and other private organizations for support. To ensure that the sponsor is able to support the immigrant financially, the spousal sponsorship program obligates the sponsor to take the whole and sole responsibility for the immigrant. He/she must support the immigrant financially and must meet his/her living requirements.

Before preparing your application, you must provide proof that you have sufficient funds and/or income sources to not only support yourself and your dependents but also to support the sponsored immigrant. It is important to keep in mind that if you have taken loans in the past or have defaulted on any of them, you may have to provide additional proofs that your circumstances have changed and now you are in a state to support the immigrant.

Your history matters a lot when you are applying for Spousal Sponsorship Immigration. The government of Canada is interested to know how you have been in paying your credits or supporting an invited immigrant in the past when you are applying to immigrate to Canada. If you have sponsored a relative in the past and were not able to meet his/her requirements as promised, this is a red sign for you. You must prove that your circumstances were different then and must provide documents that prove your current financial standing.

Responsibilities for Sponsor and Applicant

For all sponsorship applications, sponsors must:

  • Ensure that they meet sponsorship criteria and eligibility requirements and are sponsoring a relative that is a member of the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class,
  • Complete the undertaking and the sponsorship agreement,
  • Respond to the self-declaration schedules related to sponsorship eligibility and their relationship with sponsored persons, including the length of the relationship,
  • Include bank or HPM receipt for payment of all applicable fees
  • State whether application should be discontinued if sponsorship requirements are not met,
  • Submit correctly completed and signed sponsorship and permanent residence application forms, with all required schedules and all required supporting documents to the CPC-V.

Spousal Sponsorship Roles and responsibilities of the CPC-V

The CPC-V will:

  • Review both the sponsorship and permanent residence applications to ensure that they are correctly completed and signed and contain the minimum requirements stipulated in the Regulations,

  • Ensures that the application includes proof of payment of applicable fees at a Canadian bank. Fees include:

    • sponsorship processing fee (non-refundable);
    • application processing fee for each person included in the application (refundable in certain circumstances); and
    • Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) (may be deferred or is refundable if permanent residence not received).
  • Processes the sponsorship application and assesses sponsors against sponsorship criteria and eligibility requirements including reviewing the application against the spousal policy criteria as needed,
  • Processes the application for permanent residence and assesses the applicant against eligibility requirements, including reviewing the application against the spousal policy criteria as needed;
  • Refuse the application or grants “approval in principle” based on sponsorship eligibility requirements,
  • Requests admissibility assessment for family members residing overseas from appropriate visa office, providing visa office with a copy of the application listing the names and addresses of these individuals,
  • Initiate request for background/security checks for applicant and in-Canada dependent children through an electronic download of required information with appropriate policing authority,
  • Refer to local CIC any cases requiring in depth investigation,
  • Completes admissibility checks (i.e. medical, security and background) and updates electronic record in FOSS. Once these updates are completed in FOSS, the local CIC will contact the applicant for a permanent residence interview and complete the permanent residence process

Assessing Relationship Types

Spouse

Documentary evidence can include:

  • a marriage certificate;
  • proof of divorce if either the applicant or spouse was previously married;

And

  • evidence that the applicant lives with the sponsor, e.g., mortgage, lease, or other documents showing the same address for both.

Evidence may also include the following:

  • Wedding invitations and photos; and
  • Documents from other institutions or other government authorities, such as the Canada Revenue Agency, indicating a marital relationship.

Common-law partner

In the case of a common-law partner, documentary evidence should include the following:

  • a statutory declaration of common-law relationship (included in the application package);
  • proof of separation from a former spouse if either the sponsor or the applicant were previously married; and
  • evidence that they have been living together for at least one year (e.g. documents showing the same address for both).

Evidence may also include the following:

  • documents from other institutions or other government authorities, such as the Canada Revenue Agency, indicating a marital or common-law relationship;
  • documents indicating joint ownership of property (mortgages, leases);
  • joint bank accounts; and
  • insurance policies.

Cohabitation

One of the eligibility criteria in R124 is cohabitation with a sponsor in Canada. Documents provided as proof of the relationship should also establish that the spouse or common-law partner and the sponsor are living together. If this is not clear from the evidence available, the CPC-V should request further documents or refer to a CIC for an interview (see sample letter in Appendix F – Invitation to Examination Interview).

Persons who are not cohabiting with their sponsor at the time CIC seeks to grant permanent residence (persons who have been removed or who have left Canada voluntarily) are not eligible to be granted permanent residence in the Spouse or common-law partner class and may apply in the family class (overseas).

Still Confused about Spousal Sponsorship?

There are many other requirements as well. To be sure that you are moving on the right path, you must consult an immigration consultant. We have helped many people who wanted to immigrate to Canada under the spousal immigration program. We can help you too. All you need to do is make a call, and we can take it from there. We’ll arrange an appointment for you, and a dedicated representative will discuss your matter. This experienced person will stay by your side throughout the process and will keep you informed about your application status.

We can Help You With your Spousal Sponsorship Application!

We can help icon

We have dealt with hundreds of Spousal Sponsorship application cases. We have helped our clients in their difficult situations and have guided them to draft a more effective applications. We can help you draft your application and arrange the required documents. A well-planned and complete application will increase your likelihood of acceptance and will save you from hassle.

If you are worried about the legal fees, don’t be! Our goal is to help everyone that is interested in immigrating to Canada. Contact us, and we can provide numerous options for you. You can also purchase our very affordable Do it Yourself Immigration Kit, which details everything for you. If you are still not sure, feel free to get back to us. We will review your case before you submit it to give you the best possible outcome.

Many changes have been made to the sponsorship applications to reduce processing times and have family members reunited faster. As simplified as the process has been made, it is still recommended to hire an immigration expert to assist you with the application process. Many clients still tend to make errors on their application that could potentially harm the decision on their application.

To avoid delays or refusals on your application, contact Akrami & Associates for the best possible outcome. Akrami & Associates has submitted many successful sponsorship applications, and we can help you too! Contact us today at 416-477-2545 to get your application started today.

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