Sponsor your spouse, partner or child: prepare for arrival

When your sponsored family members arrive at the port of entry to Canada, they must show the border services officer their:

  • Confirmation of Permanent Residence
    • This is the document we sent when we approved their application
  • valid passport or travel document
  • permanent resident visa (if we issued one), which must be valid
  • Quebec Selection Certificate, if they’re going to live in Quebec
  • any other document we issued to them and told you to bring

If your family members are already in Canada

They’ll have to meet an immigration officer to receive their permanent residence. We call this a landing interview. We’ll send them instructions about what documents to bring with them, and the time and place of their interview.

What happens at the border

The border officer will:

  • check that their permanent resident visa and Confirmation of Permanent Residence haven’t expired
  • ask your family members to confirm information that they gave in their application

Your sponsored family members must tell the officer of any funds they’re bringing into Canada, including:

  • cash
  • stocks
  • bonds
  • money orders
  • traveller’s cheques

Get more information on the documents your family members need and the interview process when crossing the Canadian border.

If satisfied that they meet the requirements to enter Canada, the officer will:

Video: Before You Arrive in Canada

This video will help you get ready for your new life in Canada. It will explain some of the things you should do before you leave your country of origin to make sure you are prepared when you arrive in Canada.

Alternative formats and transcript

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