Who can Sponsor a Relative for Canadian Permanent Residence?

What are the Requirements to Sponsor an Immigrant to Canada Using Form IMM 1344?

Foreign family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to be sponsored for permanent residence in Canada. Persons who have been granted permanent resident status in Canada are given a P.R. card as proof of their status. As the Canadian government makes family reunification an important goal, on way to get such P.R. card is through family sponsorship.

A person looking to become a sponsor must meet the following requirements:

• Have at least 18 years of age
• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Reside in Canada
• Have financial proof to provide the basic needs for the person they are looking to sponsor

Sponsorship Application for spouse, common law partner or dependent child

Spouse, common law partner and conjugal partners are eligible for immigration to Canada through the sponsorship process using form IMM 1344. For sponsorship purposes, a spouse can be opposite or same-sex and must be married, in a common-law relationship, or in a conjugal relationship to the Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

An important aspect of the application is to provide proof of such relationship. If you are married, a marriage certificate will be enough if it took place in Canada, while if it took place outside Canada, the marriage must be legally both in the country where the marriage was performed and in Canada. Plus the marriage certificate must be translated if needed.

Another important aspect of the sponsorship application is to have enough funds to support your spouse, or partner upon arrival to Canada.