Canadian Spouse Visa
A Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is at least 18 years old may apply for a Canadian Spouse
Visa, also known as the Family Sponsorship Program, which enables them to sponsor their spouses,
common-law partners, conjugal partners, dependent children, parents, or grandparents to immigrate to
Canada and live with them.
Both the sponsor and the person being sponsored must be eligible and satisfy conditions, such as
passing security and medical exams.
For people who want to bring their family members to Canada and start a new chapter in their lives
together, the Canadian Spouse Visa is a popular choice. If the sponsored person satisfies the criteria
established by the Canadian government, it is a route to citizenship and permanent residency.
Some members of your family may be sponsored for a dependent visa in Canada, including:
1. A spouse or common-law partner
2. Children who are dependent
3. In some circumstances, parents or grandparents
4. Other eligible family members who meet certain requirements, such as brothers/sisters,
nephews, or nieces.
Criteria for becoming a sponsor
In order to sponsor a spouse or partner to immigrate to Canada, the sponsor must fulfill certain essential
requirements, which include:
1. Being a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
2. Be at least 18 years old
3. The sponsor must meet the income requirements to demonstrate their ability to financially
support their spouse or partner once they arrive in Canada.
4. Not be receiving social assistance (a few exceptions apply for those with disabilities).
5. Never had a crime against a family member, a violent or sexual offence, or both, found against
them.
6. Not be incarcerated or charged
7. Not be in the process of filing for bankruptcy or be bankrupt.
8. Not to have failed to meet the sponsorship requirements or to reimburse any social assistance
that their sponsored spouse or partner received during the previous five years after sponsoring
a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner.
There are several circumstances in which a sponsor may not be eligible to sponsor their spouse or
partner for immigration to Canada. These include:
1. The sponsor has previously broken their sponsorship commitments. This includes neglecting to
give a formerly sponsored spouse or partner financial support or to pay back any social aid the
sponsored spouse or partner received.
2. The sponsor has violated a court-issued support order, such as one requiring child or spousal
maintenance.
3. The sponsor has been found guilty of a crime involving violence or sexual assault, a crime
committed against a relative, or a crime that injured a relative. Included in this are offences
committed outside of Canada.
4. The sponsor has been imprisoned or under investigation.
5. The sponsor is subject to a Canadian removal order.
6. The sponsor filed for bankruptcy but has not yet received a discharge.
7. Within the previous five years, the sponsor's former spouse or partner who was sponsored
became a permanent resident of Canada.
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