Applying for permanent residence from within Canada: Spouse or common-law partner in Canada class (IMM 5289)

Completing the sponsorship forms

The following text does not contain instructions for all the boxes on the forms. Most questions are clear; instructions are provided only when necessary. Note the following:

• Print clearly with a black pen or use a typewriter.
• Attach a separate sheet of paper if you need more space. Indicate your name, the title of the form and the number or letter of the question you are answering.
• You must answer all questions. If you leave any sections blank, your application will be returned to you and processing will be delayed. If any sections do not apply to you, answer “N/A” (“Not applicable”).

Warning: You must provide complete and accurate information. If you give false or misleading information, you risk a fine of up to $100,000 and up to five years in prison.

Application to Sponsor and Undertaking (IMM 1344A)

A – Sponsor

1. Tick one of the two boxes at the top of this form:

• If you tick the “proceed with the application for permanent residence” box and you do not qualify as a sponsor, your spouse or common-law partner’s application will be processed and refused. None of the fees will be refunded.
• If you tick the “withdraw your sponsorship” box and you do not qualify as a sponsor, your spouse or common-law partner’s application will not be processed. You will receive a refund for all fees paid, with the exception of the $75 sponsorship fee.

5. This may be a post office box, rural route number, or other mailing address. Include your postal code and your apartment number if you have one.

10. If applicable, write the date you became a permanent resident of Canada. The date is found in Box 45 of your Immigrant Visa and Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292).

11. If you are a naturalized Canadian citizen and no longer have your Immigrant Visa and Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or your Confirmation of permanent residence (IMM 5292), print the name you used at the time you became a permanent resident.

B – Co-signer

Spouse or common-law partner sponsors cannot have a co-signer. Print “N/A”.

C – Persons being sponsored

Attach a separate sheet if you need more space. Do not write in the boxes provided for length of undertaking and ID number. These are for official use only.

1. Print your spouse or common-law partner’s last name and given names.

2. Print “N/A”.

3. If your spouse or common-law partner has dependent children, print their first and last names in this section. Refer to the section titled “Dependent Children” in Part Two of this guide to determine who is a dependent child and whether the dependent child is type A, B or C.

4. Print full names of your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent children outside Canada.

6. Print the complete address where your spouse or common-law partner lives.

7. If different from question 6, print mailing address of your spouse or common-law partner.

D – Adoption

Print N/A and proceed to section E.

E – Eligibility assessment

This section must be completed by the sponsor. It will help determine if you are eligible to sponsor. If you find you are not eligible to sponsor, do not send in your application; it will be refused.

6. If you have declared bankruptcy, do not submit this application unless you have been discharged from the bankruptcy.

9. If you have been ordered to leave Canada, you will have received a written notice from us. If you are unsure if a removal order is in place, contact the Call Centre to ask about your status. If you answer “yes,” do not submit your application.

11. You may not sponsor anyone if you are in a jail, prison, penitentiary or reformatory. You may sponsor if you are on parole, probation, or are serving a suspended sentence.

16. If you have been charged with a serious criminal offence, you may send in your application; however, we will not process it until the courts have made a decision on your case. If you are convicted of this serious offence, the application may be refused.

F – Residency declaration

Print “N/A” and proceed to section G.

G, H, I

Read these sections carefully before signing Section J.

J – Signature(s)

You must sign this form; it cannot be signed by someone else on your behalf, such as a representative. If you do not sign your own application, it will be returned to you. Once the form is signed, it is a legal contract between you and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Note: The box requesting a co-signer’s signature is not relevant to this application and N/A should be written in this space.

Sponsorship Agreement (IMM 1344B)
(Quebec residents need not complete this form)

Both you and your spouse or common-law partner must sign this form. If it is not signed, you will be found ineligible to sponsor and your spouse or common-law partner’s application for permanent resident status will be returned.

Note: The box requesting a co-signer’s signature is not relevant to this application and N/A should be written in this space.

STEP 1. Sign the form.

STEP 2. Give the form to your spouse or common-law partner to sign. No one can sign the agreement on behalf of your spouse or common-law partner.

STEP 3. Make a photocopy of the form.

STEP 4. Send the copy to us at the time you submit the sponsorship forms and the application forms completed by your spouse or common-law partner. Keep the original for your records.

Sponsorship Evaluation (IMM 5481)
(Quebec residents need not complete this form)

The Sponsorship Evaluation will help us assess your past and current obligations with respect to sponsorship undertakings you have signed or co-signed. This form, and the supporting documents you will be sending with your application, will help us to determine whether you meet the residency requirement and whether you have the ability to support the applicant.

Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)

Complete this form if you are appointing a representative.

If you have dependent children aged 18 years or older, they are required to complete their own copy of this form if a representative is also conducting business on their behalf.

A representative is someone who has your permission to conduct business on your behalf with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. When you appoint a representative, you also authorize CIC to share information from your case file with this person.

You are not obliged to hire a representative. We treat everyone equally, whether they use the services of a representative or not. If you choose to hire a representative, your application will not be given special attention nor can you expect faster processing or a more favourable outcome.

The representative you appoint is authorized to represent you only on matters related to the application you submit with this form. You can appoint only one representative for each application you submit.

There are two types of representatives:

Unpaid representatives

• friends and family members who do not charge a fee for their advice and services
• organizations that do not charge a fee for providing immigration advice or assistance (such as a non-governmental or religious organization)
• consultants, lawyers and Québec notaries who do not, and will not, charge a fee to represent you

Paid representatives

If you want us to conduct business with a representative who is, or will be charging a fee to represent you, he or she must be authorized. Authorized representatives are:

• immigration consultants who are members in good standing of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC)
• lawyers who are members in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society and students-at-law under their supervision
• notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec and students-at-law under their supervision

If you appoint a paid representative who is not a member of one of these designated bodies, your application will be returned. For more information on using a representative, visit our website.

Section B.

5. Your representative’s full name

If your representative is a member of CSIC, a law society or the Chambre des notaires du Québec, print his or her name as it appears on the organization’s membership list.

8. Your representative’s declaration

Your representative must sign to accept responsibility for conducting business on your behalf.

Section D.

10. Your declaration

By signing, you authorize us to complete your request for yourself and your dependent children under 18 years of age. If your spouse or common-law partner is included in this request, he or she must sign in the box provided.

Release of information to other individuals

To authorize CIC to release information from your case file to someone other than a representative, you will need to complete form Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475) which is available on our website and from Canadian embassies, high commissions and consulates abroad.

The person you designate will be able to obtain information on your case file, such as the status of your application. However, he or she will not be able to conduct business on your behalf with CIC.

You must notify us if your representative’s contact information changes or if you cancel the appointment of a representative.

Document Checklist (IMM 5443)

The Checklist will help ensure that you attach all required documents to your sponsorship application. Enclose the Checklist with your application.

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