Spouse and Common-law Sponsorship Canadian permanent resident IRCC PR program is part of the Family Class immigration category under the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada IRCC. Under this program, an eligible Canadian citizen or permanent resident can sponsor a spouse or common-law partner for Canadian permanent residence.

The Canadian citizen or permanent resident in this case called the Spousal and Common-law Sponsorship under the family class and the foreign national or the sponsored person must be approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in order for the sponsored person to receive Canadian permanent resident PR from IRCC.

In order for the person being sponsored to receive a visa and Canadian permanent resident PR from IRCC through Spouse and Common-law Sponsorship family class immigration program, the sponsor and sponsored person must prove that their relationship falls under one of three categories:

• Spouse (wife or husband)
• Common-law Partner
• Conjugal Partner

NOTE: immigration Canada recognizes same-sex marriage, and same-sex partners may be eligible to apply under any of the above three categories, provided they meet all eligibility requirements.

To learn more about eligibility requirements for the sponsor and sponsored person, click here.

There are conditions to applications and Permanent residence granted under the Spouse and Common-law Sponsorship program:

• The sponsor is financially responsible for the sponsored person (Canadian permanent resident) for three (3) years after the sponsored person (applicant) becomes a permanent resident.
• Individual sponsored person (applicants) who come to Canada as a sponsored spouses are not eligible to sponsor a spouse or common law partner for five (5) years after receiving Canadian permanent residence.