The process of sponsoring your spouse begins with the sponsor. As per IRCC, in order to be eligible to be sponsor, one must be:
At least 18 years old.
- Be a Canadian citizen, a person registered in Canada as an Indianan under the Canadian Indian act or a permanent resident living in Canada.
- If you are a Canadian citizen living outside of Canada, you must show that you plan to live in Canada when your sponsored relative(s) become(s) a permanent resident.
- You can’t sponsor someone if you are a permanent resident living outside of Canada
- Be able to prove that you are not receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability, and;
- Can provide for the basic needs of the person you are sponsoring ( in certain limited situations, that you meet the low-income cut-off
It is mandatory to have private medical insurance from a Canadian company.
- The insurance must be paid in full or in instalments with a deposit.
- It should be valid for a minimum of one year starting from the date of entry into Canada.
- The insurance policy should cover healthcare, hospitalization, and repatriation and must provide a minimum emergency coverage of $100,000.
- Obtaining insurance quotes will not be considered as proof of insurance.
Two types of Spousal sponsorship applications are:
Inland Spousal Sponsorship: As the name suggests this type of application is made where both Sponsor and applicant (person being sponsored) are present inside Canada. Permanent Residents or Canadian Citizen can sponsor their spouse who may be inside Canada on a valid visitor, work, or study Permit. This is the only Permanent Residency pathway where an out-of-status person can also be sponsored to become Permanent Residency. Another bright feature of this program is that it allows the applicant to apply for Spousal Open Work Permit. This will enable them to work and support themselves while they are waiting for their sponsorship application to be processed.
Outland Spousal Sponsorship:While it may be ideal for spouses to live together in the same country, this is often not the case for those applying for spousal sponsorship programs. Many couples live in different countries while applying for sponsorship, but fortunately, the Outland Sponsorship program provides a solution and allows spouses or common-law partners to apply for sponsorship from outside Canada. Additionally, the sponsored individual may be granted a temporary visa to visit Canada while their application is being processed.
