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Guide 5525 - Basic Guide - Sponsor Your Spouse, Partner or Child-20161215-Flyabroad PDF
Guide 5525 - Basic Guide - Sponsor Your Spouse, Partner or Child-20161215-Flyabroad PDF
This is not a legal document. The explanations and definitions are not legal
definitions. In case of a discrepancy between the language in this document and the
relevant legislation or regulations, the legal text in the legislation and regulations
prevails.
Note: If you’re sponsoring an adopted child and other relatives, use the sponsorship package
for adopted children and other relatives (/english/information/applications/famcls.asp) instead.
You should be able to prepare your application package with all the requested
documents by following the steps in this guide.
If you need more information, you can click on the various links provided in the text or get
more details in this guide:
Complete guide for sponsors and applicants for permanent residence - spouses,
partners, children (/english/information/applications/guides/5289ETOC.asp)
Steps to apply
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5525ETOC.asp 1/22
2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
After you have read the definitions, please follow the steps in this guide to prepare and submit
your application, including the forms and documents that need to be submitted by:
the sponsor
the principal applicant
the principal applicant’s family members
Please see the Complete Guide for details on the length of the undertaking
(/english/information/applications/guides/5289ETOC.asp#length).
Before signing the undertaking, you should make sure that those you sponsor won’t need to
ask the government for financial help. If they receive social assistance, you’ll need to pay back
what they received during the undertaking period. You won’t be able to sponsor anyone else
until you have repaid the amount.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5525ETOC.asp 2/22
2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
The undertaking is a binding promise of support meaning that your responsibility to support
the applicant(s) will stay in effect for the length of the undertaking period even if your situation
changes. For example, the undertaking won’t be cancelled even if:
Eligibility
were sponsored by a spouse or partner and you became a permanent resident less
than five years ago
sponsored a previous spouse or partner and three years have not passed since this
person became a permanent resident
are in default of a previous sponsorship undertaking, an immigration loan, a
performance bond or family support payments
are still going through the process of bankruptcy (undischarged bankruptcy)
receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability
were convicted of a violent or sexual offence, an offence that caused bodily harm to a
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5525ETOC.asp 3/22
2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
To be eligible for permanent residence, the principal applicant and any dependants must
not be inadmissible (/english/information/inadmissibility/index.asp) to Canada.
After your application is received, we will send you an email or letter with instructions about
how to apply to the Quebec government (http://www.immigration-
quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate-settle/sponsors-sponsored/apply/undertaking-
application/index.html) to become a sponsor. If Quebec approves you as a sponsor, you will
get a Quebec Selection Certificate.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5525ETOC.asp 4/22
2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
If you need help, contact the Quebec ministry for immigration (http://www.immigration-
quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/reach/index.html).
Checklist for spouse (including dependent children) [IMM 5533] (PDF (Portable
Document Format), 1.30 MB (Megabyte)) (/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5533E.pdf)
Checklist for common-law partner (including dependent children) [IMM 5589] (PDF
(Portable Document Format), 1.30 MB (Megabyte))
(/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5589E.pdf)
Checklist for conjugal partner (including dependent children) [IMM 5629] (PDF (Portable
Document Format), 1.29 MB (Megabyte)) (/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5629E.pdf)
Checklist for a dependent child only [IMM 5534] (PDF (Portable Document
Format), 1.23 MB (Megabyte)) (/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5534E.pdf)
You must print, fill out and submit a copy of the applicable checklist with your application.
Place it at the top, as the cover of your application.
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2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
In addition, all family members must be examined as part of the process of applying for
permanent residence in Canada, even if they will not come to Canada with the principal
applicant.
Family members who are not declared and examined are excluded from the family class,
which means that they cannot be sponsored by you at a later date. Permanent residents who
did not declare all their family members on their application may also be subject to
enforcement proceedings that could lead to the loss of permanent resident status.
Find more information about why you must declare all family members
(/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=256&top=28).
Use your checklist to make sure you include all the documents you need to submit:
For each item on the checklist, choose the situation that applies to you and check
the correct box.
Only submit documents that apply to your specific situation. We will contact you if
we need more information.
You must attach a certified copy of the original document and a certified
translation of any documents that are not in English or French. Please check the
country-specific requirements to see if you need to submit any original documents.
Check for country-specific requirements
You may need to submit extra forms based on where the person you are
sponsoring lives.
You may need to follow special instructions about specific documents you need to
provide based on the country where the document is issued. For example, there
are specific requirements for civil documents from different countries (e.g. birth
certificates, other proof of identity, child custody documentation, family booklets,
etc.).
You will find your country-specific requirements
(/english/information/applications/spouse.asp#country) on the application kit
page. From the drop down box, select the country where the person you are
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5525ETOC.asp 6/22
2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
Before moving on to Step 6, check to make sure you have avoided these common mistakes:
When you submit the application package, remember to put forms in the order they are
listed on your checklist (IMM 5533, IMM 5534, IMM 5589 or IMM 5629).
Do not use staples, binders, plastic sleeves, folders or albums to submit your
application. Elastic bands for photos or paper clips are acceptable.
If the principal applicant is a dependent child, including someone younger than 18 years
old, make sure you submit the Additional Family Information [IMM 5406] (PDF (Portable
Document Format), 570.00 KB (Kilobyte)) (/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5406E.pdf) with
them listed as the principal applicant.
Make sure all email addresses on forms are correct. Errors or typos will cause delays in
being able to communicate with you, which could increase the time it takes to process
your application. Your application can only be processed accordingly with your response
and will be assessed based on the information you have provided.
If sponsoring more than one dependent child as a principal applicant, make sure you
submit individual complete applications for each child (i.e. each child should be listed
on their own Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and
Undertaking [IMM 1344] (PDF (Portable Document Format), 441.45 KB (Kilobyte))
(/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM1344E.pdf) and Generic Application Form for
Canada [IMM 0008] (PDF (Portable Document Format), 495.67 KB (Kilobyte))
(/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM0008ENU_2D.pdf)).
For spousal sponsorships, make sure you include a valid marriage certificate or proof
of registration of your marriage with your submission. A record of solemnization
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5525ETOC.asp 7/22
2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
(obtained in Canada) or marriage license will not be accepted as proof that the sponsor
and applicant are married.
If you don’t know the complete date of birth, use “*” (star sign/asterisk) to fill in the
spaces for the year, month or day.
If you don’t have a family name on your passport or travel document, enter all given
names in the family name field and leave the given name field empty.
If you don’t have a given name on your passport or travel document, leave the given
name field blank.
Addresses
Addresses should be written out in full without using any abbreviations. Use the apartment or
unit number, if applicable. Example: 999 Family Street, Unit #3, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada,
K3J 9T5
Email addresses
Make sure you have correctly typed (or clearly written) the email address for the
representative (if applicable), the sponsor and the principal applicant in the correct fields on
the IMM 5476, IMM 1344 and IMM 0008.
After we have accepted your application for processing and have created a record in our
system, we will send you an acknowledgement of receipt with your application number.
Providing an email address will make sure we communicate with you faster to:
application to your account, so that we can communicate with you more efficiently.
Signatures
Remember to check for a signature block on each form and sign it. Where a date is needed,
make sure you write one. Read the information below to see who needs to sign the forms. A
parent or legal guardian must sign on behalf of a dependent child under the age of 18, where
they are the principal applicant being sponsored on an application.
The principal applicant (person being sponsored) over the age of 18 must sign:
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2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
All dependants over the age of 18, whether accompanying or not, must sign:
Note: If your dependent child is the principal applicant on a sponsorship application, you
should complete this form on their behalf regardless of their age.
Once validated, the IMM 1344 and IMM 0008 forms will create a barcode page (see image
below). Place these barcode pages on top of your application.
Barcode page:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5525ETOC.asp 10/22
2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
Your dependent children don’t need to pay the right of permanent residence fee. This includes
any dependent child sponsored as a principal applicant.
Pay for your fees online and include a copy of the receipt with your application.
1. Place a copy of the checklist (IMM 5533, IMM 5534, IMM 5589 or IMM 5629) on top of
your complete application package. This will help make sure the application can be
processed as fast as possible when it arrives in our office.
2. If you are applying under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class and the
person you are sponsoring is also applying for an open work permit
(/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1163&top=17), after the checklist, you should
place:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5525ETOC.asp 11/22
2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
Note: Your spouse or common-law partner may be living in Canada with you, but if he
or she doesn’t plan to stay in Canada while the application is being processed,
choose this option.
or
4. Send the application package with all the requested documents to the address above.
Note: In order to link your application to an online account, you will need information from your
application package. Please see below for more information about linking your application.
It is important to make sure that we always have your or your representative’s most current
contact information, including phone numbers, emails, and mailing addresses. We will send
time-sensitive and official correspondence to the contact information we have on file. For
faster processing times, we will use your email, if you have provided one, and you should
answer as soon as possible. Make sure you check your spam folder in case our messages
are directed there. To make communication even easier and more secure, we recommend
creating an account online (see info below).
Sponsors
After we receive your application, it will be checked to make sure you have submitted all
forms and documents on the document checklist. If you have not, the application package will
be returned to you unprocessed. If the application has all the requested forms and documents,
you will get an email or letter confirming that the application has been accepted for
processing.
We will assess your eligibility to sponsor and you will get an email or letter advising you of the
decision.
1. Apply on paper
2. We send you instructions by
mail or email to create an online
account
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5525ETOC.asp 13/22
2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
3. Create your online account
4. Link your application to your
account
5. Get updates and messages
about your application online
With your acknowledgement of receipt email or letter, you will get instructions about how to
create an online account to link your paper application. To prepare, find out how to link your
application (/english/my_application/link.asp).
You will need the following details from your application to link it to your online account:
For faster processing times, you should link your paper application to your online account
within seven calendar days. We will communicate with you or your designated
representative through this secure method.
After linking your application, check right away to see what else we need to process your
application.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5525ETOC.asp 14/22
2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
A.
a request to submit a police certificate(s).
You may also see a request for other documents or information specific to your situation. We
can’t complete processing without the requested information.
If after seven days you have not linked your application, an email or letter will be sent to you
asking you for the requested documents.
Creating an online account and linking your application to that account will reduce the time it
takes to process your application because it reduces communication time. If you do not link
your paper application to an online account, it will likely increase your processing time.
Failure to respond to a request to submit documents within the allotted time could result in the
refusal of your application.
Police certificates
Sponsored spouses, partners and dependent children do not have to include police
certificates with their application package.
Once the application is being processed, we will ask for police certificate(s) from the principal
applicant and any family members over the age of 18 (whether they will accompany the
principal applicant to Canada or not). This is used to help assess admissibility.
When we ask you for police certificate(s) at this stage, you’ll have to submit them for:
the country where you currently live, if you have lived there for six months or more; and
the country where you have spent most of your adult life since the age of 18.
The same applies to your family members who need to submit a police certificate.
After your application has been reviewed, we will contact you if we need additional police
certificates to process your application.
If you (or your family members) can’t get a police certificate for the two situations above, you
will need to explain, in writing, why you can’t provide one. You should also include any
supporting documentation you already have to support your explanation. We will review your
explanation and let you know if we need more information or documentation.
Note: Some countries need a consent form from IRCC to issue a police certificate. Find out
(/english/information/security/police-cert/index.asp) if the country from which you need a police
certificate requires a consent form. If so, you should submit the consent form to us in place of
the police certificate. We will assess the consent form and start the police certificate request.
All applicants over the age of 18 and all principal applicants (including a dependent child
under the age of 18) must upload a validated electronic copy of this form within 30 days from
the date of the acknowledgement email or letter.
fill out this form electronically while waiting for your acknowledgement of receipt
make sure the form is validated
save a validated copy so it’s ready to upload to your online account as soon as you link
your application
Important: When you are completing your personal history, don’t leave any gaps in time.
Pay close attention to questions 6 and 9. Gaps in time will cause delays in processing
because we will ask you to re-submit a new form. Your application can only be processed
accordingly with your response and will be assessed based on the information you provide.
Name of
From To Job/Activity City/town Status company,
(YYYY- (YYYY- Activity Title, and in employer,
MM) MM) Type Position Country Country school etc.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5525ETOC.asp 16/22
2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
All of your family members need to have a medical exam, even if they aren’t applying to come
to Canada with you. Failure to declare and have family members examined will affect your
application, and your ability to sponsor them in the future.
After you have linked your application, you will be able to check to see if you have received a
request to do your medical exam.
download and print the IMM 1017 form, which will be issued to you and all family
members (if applicable) with instructions for completing the medical exam
make sure you bring the IMM 1017 form with you to your exam. This will ensure you
aren’t asked to do medical tests that aren’t needed to process your application.
take the medical exam within 30 days of receiving the request in your online account
You should not be concerned if you do not see a request to do your medical exam in your
online account immediately after you link your application. Because medical results can
expire, we might not issue medical instructions to you immediately after receiving your
application. This is to ensure a new medical exam will not be required again later. You should
monitor your online account so that you are able to comply within 30 days of receiving your
medical instructions.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5525ETOC.asp 17/22
2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
If you are applying under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class and you have
submitted an application for an open work permit, your work permit will be processed within
four months.
Photos
If your application is approved, photos will be used to create the first Permanent Resident
Card for you (and your family members, if applicable). To avoid delays in getting your card, it’s
important that the photos meet certain specifications. See Appendix B for photo
specifications.
You should monitor your online account (/english/e-services/account.asp) for any important
updates to your application.
We also recommend that you take the time to prepare for life in Canada
(/english/newcomers/before-move.asp) well in advance.
Principal applicant:
When a family applies for permanent residence together, one family member must be the
main or “principal” applicant. If the main purpose of the application is to sponsor a spouse or
partner for permanent residence in Canada, the principal applicant is the spouse or partner. If
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2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
the main purpose of the application is to sponsor a dependent child for permanent residence
in Canada, the principal applicant is the dependent child.
Spouse:
A partner with whom you are legally married. Includes both opposite- and same-sex
relationships, but does not include common-law partnerships. See section 2 of the IRPR
(http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/FullText.html) for the legal
definition of marriage.
Common-law partner:
A person who has been living together with another person in a conjugal relationship for at
least one year. Includes opposite- and same-sex relationships. See subsection 1(1) of the
IRPR (http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/FullText.html) for the legal
definition.
Conjugal partner:
A person outside Canada who has had a binding relationship with a sponsor for at least one
year, but could not live with their partner. Includes both opposite- and same-sex relationships.
See section 2 of the IRPR (http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-
227/FullText.html) for the legal definition.
Dependent child:
A child who depends on their parent (i.e. the principal applicant and/or the sponsor) for
financial or other support. A son or daughter is a dependant of their parent when the child is:
Accompanying dependant:
Any dependent child or dependant of a dependent child (grandchild) who plans to immigrate
to Canada with the principal applicant. They are included on the application.
When sponsoring more than one child as a principal applicant, each child must have its own
application form. They are not considered to be accompanying dependants of each other.
Non-accompanying dependant:
Children who meet the definition of a dependent child but who are not immigrating to Canada
along with the principal applicant. They must be listed on the principal applicant’s application
for permanent residence and must be examined in order to process the principal applicant
and remain eligible for sponsorship at a later date.
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2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
Family members:
An applicant’s closest relatives, in the context of an application. It is defined as a spouse or
common-law partner, dependent children, and their dependent children. See subsection 1(3)
of the IRPR (http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/FullText.html) for the
legal definition.
Family Class:
This immigration category allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor
certain members of their family to come to Canada as permanent residents. See section 116
of the IRPR (http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/FullText.html) for the
legal definition.
Make sure that you provide the correct number of photos specified in the Checklist.
You must provide identical and unaltered photographs.
Photographs may be in colour or in black and white.
Photographs must be original and not altered in any way or taken from an existing
photograph.
Photographs must reflect your current appearance (taken within the past six (6) months).
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5525ETOC.asp 20/22
2016/12/16 Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child
no smiling);
taken with uniform lighting and not show shadows, glare or flash reflections;
taken straight on, with face and shoulders centred and squared to the camera (i.e. the
photographs must show the full front view of the person’s head and shoulders, showing
the full face centered in the middle of the photograph);
taken in front of a plain white background with a clear difference between the person’s
face and the background. Photographs must reflect and represent natural skin tones.
bear the name and date of birth of the subject, as well as the name and complete
address of the photography studio;
bear the date the photograph was taken;
The photographer may use a stamp or handwrite this information. Stick-on labels are
unacceptable.
Date Modified:
2016-12-15
(http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2016/12/09/communique-canadas-first-ministers)
Canada's First Ministers release the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and
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Find out what our partners in Canada and around the world had to say about building a better
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Your feedback will help shape a healthier democracy. Have your say!
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5525ETOC.asp 22/22