You can sponsor a foreign citizen to immigrate to Canada as well as to become a permanent resident. To sponsor a person with whom you are in a relationship must have citizenship of Canada or permanent resident status.
You must be able to demonstrate the legitimacy of your relationship with the sponsored person through proof and accompanying documents to be eligible for spousal or common-law partner sponsorship. The standards for proving your relationship will vary depending on whether you are married or have a partner.
Proving your relationship with your Spouse
IRCC offers the following collection of documents that can be used to demonstrate your marital status:
- “Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation” section of form IMM 5532, must be completed.
- Two documents: a certificate of marriage and evidence that the relationship was confirmed with a government department.
- If your spouse has a divorce record, you must provide it.
- Long-form identity documents or records of adoption that list the names of both parents if you share children.
- Photographs and wedding cards.
Couples must additionally present documentation from two or more of the following sources:
- Proof of shared ownership of property investment.
- The couple is listed as tenants on the rental agreement.
- A record of any combined credit cards, bank accounts, or other accounts with utilities like gas, internet, telephone, or electricity.
- The couple’s auto insurance demonstrates that they have both identified themselves to the insurance provider as inhabitants of the same residence.
- Proof of official identification such as a driving license.
- Other records demonstrating the couple’s shared address (such as tax records, phone bills, pay stubs, etc.).
Demonstrating your partnership with your partner
Additionally, the IRCC provides a list of documents that can be used as proof of your relationship with your spouse, among them:
- “Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation” questionnaire, IMM 5532, fully filled.
- If either individual was previously engaged, a certificate of separation from that partner.
- An IMM 5519 form must be filled out if one of the partners has ever been a part of a common-law partnership with another individual.
- If the couple has children together, a long-term birth certificate with the names of both parents.
- Photographs of the couple.
Applicants must additionally submit at least two sets of the documentation listed below (or a written justification if you are unable to submit documents from at least two of the listed entities):
- Documentation attesting to the couple’s legal common-law partnership such as insurance benefits or employment.
- Proof of the couple’s financial assistance or combined obligations.
- Proof that relatives and/or friends are aware of the connection such as social media information showing the relationship in public or in letters.
The couple must present proof of at least 2 different sets of documents if they are cohabitating:
- A rental agreement or proof of shared ownership of a home proving the couple’s occupancy are both acceptable.
- A record of shared service accounts like telephone, gas, electricity, or internet.
- Joint bank accounts or credit cards.
- The couple’s auto insurance demonstrates that they both listed the same address as their primary residence with the insurance provider.
- Proof of official identification such as a driving license with the same address.
- A variety of other documents are provided to the couple that shows their same residence.
Whereas if a couple is not now cohabitating, they must provide proof that they were previously cohabitating for at least a year by doing the following:
- Documentation that they should have communicated by letters, printed messages, emails, social media posts, or other documentation that attest to their communication. It should not exceed 10 pages.
- Flight tickets, boarding cards, and passport photocopies with stamps are acceptable forms of proof that a Canadian citizen or permanent resident has contacted their spouse. The sponsored person must provide an explanation in the IMM 5532 questionnaire if visits were not made.
