Dental care, eye care and other health needs not covered by public health services are also included. The undertaking ensures the applicant and his or her dependent children do not have to apply for social assistance.

Your obligations as a sponsor begin as soon as you sign the undertaking. The chart below will help you determine for how long your undertaking will be valid.

• is of the opposite sex

• is married to you and the marriage is legally recognized under federal law in Canada and in the country where it took place

B: Common-law partner

• is of the opposite or same sex

• Is cohabiting in a conjugal relationship with you and has done so for at least one year

• has valid temporary status as a visitor, student or temporary worker

C: Both spouse and common-law partner

• has valid legal status in Canada as a visitor, student or temporary worker

• is living with you in Canada

• has a valid passport or travel document

• is 16 years of age or older

• is your spouse or common-law partner for genuine reasons and not primarily for the purpose of obtaining permanent resident status in Canada

• is not subject to enforcement proceedings

In addition, you may not sponsor a person as your common-law partner if:

• you have lived apart from him or her for at least one year and are in a common-law relationship with another person.

• either of you is legally married to someone else, unless you have lived apart from that spouse for at least one year

*If you are a permanent resident charged with a criminal offence and the courts could sentence you to a jail term of more than six months, your sponsorship application will not be dealt with until the court makes a final decision.

• be 18 years of age or older

• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

• be sponsoring a member of the Spouse or Common-law Partner in Canada Class

• live in Canada and continue to live in Canada after the sponsored person obtains permanent resident status

• sign an agreement, along with your spouse or common-law partner, confirming that each of you understands your obligations and responsibilities.

• sign an undertaking promising to provide for your spouse or common-law partner’s basic requirements and, if applicable, those of his or her dependent children

• prove that you have sufficient income to provide basic requirements for your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent child. To do this, you must provide documents that show your financial resources for the past 12 months. This requirement applies only to dependent children who have dependent children of their own.

You may NOT sponsor if:

• you have an undertaking for a previous spouse or common-law partner that is still valid

• you receive social assistance for a reason other than disability

• You are in default of an undertaking, immigration loan performance bond or support payments (see Defaults section below)

• you are an un-discharged bankrupt

• you were convicted of a sexual offence or an offence involving family violence, unless you were granted a pardon or five years have passed after the expiration of your sentence

• you are a permanent resident who has been convicted of a serious criminal offence, has provided false information to Immigration, or has not met conditions of entry.*

• you are detained in a penitentiary, jail reformatory or prison

• you have already applied to sponsor your current spouse or common-law partner and a decision on your application has not yet been made

You are not eligible to sponsor if you are in default of a previous legal agreement. If you are in default and you submit an application to sponsor, it will be refused and the sponsorship fees you have paid will neither be refunded nor applied to subsequent sponsorships.

• If you are in default of: a previous sponsorship undertaking. Relatives you sponsored in the past have received social assistance or welfare while the undertaking was valid.

•  You may not sponsor until: you repay the full amount of any social assistance or welfare payment or repay the debt to the satisfaction of the government authority that issued the benefit or ordered you to pay.

• If you are in default of: an immigration loan. You received a transportation, assistance or Right of Permanent Residence fee (previously called the Right of Landing fee) loan and have missed payments or are in arrears.

•  You may not sponsor until: you pay all arrears on your loan. For information, contact Collection Services at 1 800 667-7301 (Canada and the United States only)

• If you are in default of: any support payment obligations. You were ordered by a court to make support payments to your spouse or child and have neglected to do so.

•  You may not sponsor until: you resolve the family support matter to the satisfaction of the provincial or territorial authorities who ordered the payment

• If you are in default of: a performance bond. You agreed to pay money to guarantee that an immigrant would fulfil his or her obligations under immigration legislation.

•  You may not sponsor until: you pay the full amount of the bond

STEP 1. There is only one copy of each form included in this guide. Before you begin, make enough photocopies of the blank forms for your needs. If you live in any part of Canada except Quebec, use the chart below to determine how many of each form you will need.

*If your spouse or common-law partner has dependent children who have children of their own, do not complete this form. Complete the form, Financial Evaluation (5482) instead.

If you and your spouse or common-law partner live in Quebec and you both intend to continue living there, complete only the following forms:

STEP 2. Give your spouse or common-law partner part two of the guide. It will list the forms he or she must complete for the permanent residence application. Your spouse or common-law partner must also provide supporting documents, including proof that he or she has undergone a medical examination.

STEP 3. Collect the documents you need to support your application. The Checklist will tell you which supporting documents must be originals and which should be photocopies. It will also tell you which require translation or certification (notarization).

Use the Checklist to make sure that you have included all of the required documents. We may request more information at any time during the process, even if the requested information is not listed on the Checklist.

STEP 4. Gather your spouse or common-law partner’s forms together with yours. Make sure all forms are completed and signed and are accompanied by the supporting documents, including proof of the medical examination and your receipt. Send everything to: