Carlos’s sample assessment

What you’re aiming for

You are seeking: Spouse or partner sponsorship (join or sponsor family in Canada).

Paths worth a look

The ways to Canada that came up for you, most promising first.

1. Family sponsorship

   A lawyer looks closer

   8 of 8 requirements checked appear to be met. Needs professional judgment: Relationship must be genuine and not entered primarily for immigration; Canadian citizen sponsor living outside Canada: must live in Canada when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.

How we got there

Each requirement we checked, what we found, and the official page it comes from.

What’s working for you, and what’s in the way

Your action plan

1. Essential

   IRCC's document checklists for a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner (IMM 5533, IMM 5589, IMM 5629) ask a Canadian citizen sponsor who lives outside Canada for proof that they will live in Canada with the person being sponsored (and that person's dependent children, if any) once they become permanent residents. The checklists do not name specific documents, so gather records of the concrete steps taken to move back. The sponsor also completes the residency declaration in the sponsorship form (IMM 1344), confirming the province or territory where they plan to live.

2. Essential

   Include your marriage certificate or other proof that your marriage was legally registered with the government where it took place. A marriage licence, or a record of solemnization obtained in Canada, is not accepted. Check IRCC's country-specific requirements for the country where you married. For any document that is not in English or French, include a certified copy of the original, an English or French translation and, unless the translator is a Canadian certified translator (a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial organization of translators and interpreters in Canada), the translator's affidavit sworn before a notary public or another person authorized to administer oaths. Neither of you, nor a family member of the person being sponsored, may do the translation.

3. Essential

   IRCC's spouse checklist (IMM 5533) asks for proof that the relationship is genuine. If you live together, include documents from at least 2 of these: joint ownership of your home; a rental agreement naming you both; joint utility, credit card or bank accounts; vehicle insurance showing you both at the same address; government-issued documents showing the same address; or other documents showing the same address. If you don't live together, include proof of contact (up to 10 pages, with a certified English or French translation of any that are in another language) and proof of the sponsor's visits, or, if the sponsor has not visited, an explanation in the relationship form (IMM 5532). Include a birth certificate showing both parents for each child you have together. Unless you live together, have a child together, are both in a first marriage and have been married at least 2 years when you apply, also include up to 20 photos with a short description of each, and documents from at least 2 of: proof you are recognized as each other's spouse, financial support or shared expenses, recognition by family and friends, and past cohabitation.

4. Essential

   Everyone in the application who is 18 or older and is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (the person being sponsored and their family members) needs a police certificate from each country other than Canada where they spent 6 or more months in a row since age 18. The certificate for the country where they live now must be issued no more than 6 months before the application is submitted; for any other country, it must be issued after the last time they lived there for 6 months or more in a row. Some countries issue a police certificate only with a request letter from IRCC, so check IRCC's instructions for each country early. For a certificate in another language, include both the certificate and an English or French translation by an accredited translator.

5. Essential

   The person being sponsored and each family member who is not already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident need an immigration medical exam, even family members who are not coming to Canada. Wait for IRCC's instructions after the application is submitted, then get the exam within 30 days from a panel physician on IRCC's list (your own doctor can't do it). Someone already living in Canada whose immigration medical exam in the last 5 years showed low or no risk to public health or public safety may not need a new one, under a temporary public policy that runs until October 5, 2029.

6. Essential

   Proof of the sponsor's status: a permanent resident includes a copy of their permanent resident card (both sides; an expired card is accepted), and IRCC's spouse checklist also accepts a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR or eCOPR). A Canadian citizen includes a copy of one of: a citizenship certificate or card (both sides), a citizenship card without photo issued before February 15, 1977, a Canadian birth certificate (for Quebec, only one issued by the Directeur de l'état civil du Québec), or the Canadian passport page with the passport number, dates, photo, name, and date and place of birth. A person registered under the Indian Act can include their Indian status card instead.

7. Essential

   The person being sponsored includes copies of: the most recent passport or travel document for themselves and each family member coming to Canada (the pages with the document number, issue and expiry dates, photo, name, and date and place of birth, plus any passport pages with a Canadian entry stamp); a visa or residence permit for the country they live in, if it is not their country of nationality; birth (or baptismal) certificates for themselves and all dependants, whether or not they are coming; for an earlier marriage, the final divorce certificate or the annulment (or proof of legal separation if still married to someone else); the death certificate of a former spouse or common-law partner who has died; and, if someone else sponsored them before, an explanation with that sponsor's name and date of birth. If they live in Canada, they also include proof of their status in Canada. Check IRCC's country-specific requirements for national identity cards or a family booklet.

8. Essential

   The sponsor must show they can support the person being sponsored, even when no minimum income applies. A sponsor working in Canada includes an original letter from their current employer stating the period of employment, salary and regular hours per week (or supporting financial documents if self-employed), and either their most recent Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment showing line 15000 (Total Income) or a proof of income statement (Option C); without one of those for the most recent tax year, an explanation on a separate sheet with supporting financial documents. A sponsor not working in Canada includes other documents showing they can support the person being sponsored, with a detailed explanation, on a separate sheet, of how they plan to support themselves and that person.

9. Essential

   If the sponsor was married before, include a copy of the final divorce certificate, the final annulment certificate or the former spouse's death certificate for each earlier marriage. If the sponsor is still married to someone else but legally separated, include proof of the separation, such as income tax forms or legal documents.

10. Essential

    Besides these documents, IRCC's spouse checklist (IMM 5533) requires the forms and fees: the sponsorship application and undertaking (IMM 1344), completed and signed by both of you; the relationship form (IMM 5532), which both of you complete and sign; the forms the person being sponsored completes online (IMM 0008, and IMM 5406 and IMM 5669 for them and each family member 18 or older who isn't a Canadian citizen or permanent resident); a single receipt for the sponsorship, application and biometric fees; one photo of the person being sponsored and of each accompanying family member; and the checklist itself. Check IRCC's country-specific requirements for any extra forms. The checklist recommends paying the right of permanent residence fee with these fees: the application isn't returned if it's paid later, but paying later may slow processing. If the sponsor will receive IRCC's letters for, or act in any way on behalf of, the person being sponsored (or any of their children 18 or older in the application), each of them must complete a Use of Representative form (IMM 5476) naming the sponsor, or the application is returned without being processed.

11. With a lawyer

    Discuss with a lawyer: Relationship must be genuine and not entered primarily for immigration.

12. With a lawyer

    Discuss with a lawyer: Canadian citizen sponsor living outside Canada: must live in Canada when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.

Your next steps

1. Right now

   Check your answers and correct any errors. Start gathering the documents listed above.

2. With a professional

   Go over the requirements that need professional judgment, and the best strategy and timing, with a lawyer.

Good to know

• For a sponsored spouse, common-law or conjugal partner and their dependent children, the immigration medical exam is used to check whether a health condition is likely to endanger public health or public safety. Excessive demand on health or social services (the expected cost of their care, or its effect on waiting lists) is not a reason to refuse them.
• While the person being sponsored lives outside Canada, the application is made in the Family Class. If the couple comes to live together in Canada and the spouse or common-law partner has valid temporary resident status there (for example as a visitor), IRCC also accepts an application in the Spouse or Common-law Partner in Canada class; a conjugal partner must use the Family Class. IRCC's guide says to choose the Family Class if you plan to appeal a refusal: a sponsor can appeal a refused Family Class application to the Immigration Appeal Division (with some exceptions), and the in-Canada class has no such appeal. IRCC also warns that a spouse or partner in the in-Canada class who leaves Canada before becoming a permanent resident may not be allowed back in, and that if they can't return, a new overseas sponsorship application is needed. In either class, a spouse or partner who is in a genuine relationship with the sponsor, lives at the same address as the sponsor in Canada and has valid temporary resident status (or is eligible for and has applied to restore it) can apply online for an open work permit once IRCC has sent the acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) for the permanent residence application. A lawyer can help you choose the class and the timing in a consultation.
• If approved, the sponsor must repay any social assistance the sponsored person receives for 3 years (partner), up to 10 years (child), 20 years (parent or grandparent) or 10 years (other relative); Quebec periods differ.
• Rules, programs and how people are selected can change, sometimes quickly.
• Meeting the minimum requirements doesn’t guarantee an invitation or an approval.

How this was checked

Rules used

Official Government of Canada and provincial sources, checked October 20, 2026

Review

A made-up sample, not yet reviewed by a lawyer.

If things change

Change any answer and we’ll prepare a fresh assessment.