Sponsorship of a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child living outside Canada — Part 1: The sponsor’s guide (IMM 3900)

Overview

Family reunification has long been a key objective of Canada’s immigration policy. The Canadian government allows citizens and permanent residents of Canada to sponsor members of the family class, but it requires that arriving immigrants receive care and support from their sponsors. Members of the family class include a sponsor’s spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner; a dependent child of the sponsor; the sponsor’s mother or father; a person the sponsor intends to adopt; and other relatives of the sponsor as defined by regulation.

This application package consists of a guide for you, the sponsor, which includes all forms related to the sponsorship application, and a guide for your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child living outside Canada, as well as all forms related to the immigration application they and their family members must complete.

If you wish to sponsor a member of the family class other than your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child, do not use this kit.

A separate package entitled Sponsorship of parents, grandparents, adopted children and other relatives was designed for persons who want to sponsor a child whom they have adopted while they were living in Canada or whom they intend to adopt in Canada, or any other relative who is a member of the family class. Make sure you have the right kit for your needs. Contact our Call Centre or visit our website (www.cic.gc.ca) for more information. See also Whom can you sponsor using this application package? in this guide.

Amendments to the Citizenship Act limit citizenship by descent

On April 17, 2009, the rules about citizenship by descent changed. Citizenship by birth outside Canada to a Canadian parent (citizenship by descent) is now limited to the first generation born abroad. This limit applies both to persons born outside Canada to a Canadian parent on or after April 17, 2009, and to foreign-born persons adopted by a Canadian parent who apply for a grant of citizenship through the adoption provisions of the Citizenship Act on or after April 17, 2009. To see how this limit may apply to you or your children born outside of Canada, please see www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/rules-citizenship.asp

Generally, if you are a Canadian citizen born or naturalized in Canada, your children born outside of Canada are citizens by birth and it is not necessary or possible to sponsor them. You should instead apply for proof of citizenship. If, however, you are a Canadian citizen who was born outside of Canada and obtained citizenship by descent through your Canadian parent (including those adopted outside of Canada who obtained citizenship through the adoption grant provisions in the Citizenship Act), then you can sponsor your child born outside of Canada or your foreign-born adopted child.

Before submitting an application

Read all the information in this package. It will help you decide if you should apply.

If you had the application kit mailed to you, detach Part 2: The Immigrant’s Guide and accompanying forms and send them to the person you want to sponsor. If you are downloading from our website, make sure the person you want to sponsor has access to all the information pertaining to the application for permanent residence, the specific instructions that apply and all related forms.

It is your responsibility to ensure the forms are completed, signed and returned to you with the proper documentation.

The forms you and the person you want to sponsor must complete are listed in the section How to apply to sponsor.

If you have any questions after reading this application package, visit our website or contact our Call Centre.

Note: If the person you want to sponsor or his/her dependants became permanent residents of Canada sometime in the past but have subsequently left the country and have since been living outside Canada, they may not have lost their permanent resident status. If they have not lost their permanent resident status, you will not be able to sponsor them. For further information on re-entry of permanent residents to Canada, see the guide Applying for a Travel Document on our website.

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