Spouse Visa for Canada PR – How to Apply?

Lenient Immigration policies by the Canadian Government have made it possible for many migrants to live in their dream country. If you are a permanent resident of Canada, you can invite your spouse to accompany you while you live and Work in Canada. This article will give you a brief idea of the Canada PR Spouse visa process. 

While other Canadian visas have strict measures for entry in Canada, Spouse visa applications for a Canada PR applicant have liberal guidelines to enter the country and live with their partners legally.

What is Canada Spouse Sponsorship Visa:

Under the spouse sponsorship program, a Canadian citizen or Canadian PR holder can invite their spouse or common-law partner as Canada Permanent residents. Canada Spouse visa allows spouses to live, work and Settle in Canada.

Who Can Apply for Canada Spouse Visa:

 A Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada can apply for the permanent residency of their spouse under a Canada Spouse visa. A sponsor can apply for the Canada PR spouse visa for their:

• Spouse
• Common-law-partner
• Conjugal Partner

Eligibility Requirements for Canada Spouse Visa:

To be eligible to sponsor a spouse, the sponsor must meet immigration requirements as per IRC guidelines. You are eligible to sponsor a spouse under the following conditions:

• You are 18 years or older.
• You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
• You commit to providing basic needs to your spouse or partner.

You can not sponsor your spouse under the following conditions:

• You are younger than 18 years.
• Your permanent residence application is still in process.
• You are a temporary visa holder, meaning you are on a study visa, work visa, or visitor visa in Canada.

There are Two Main Applications for Canada Spousal visa:

1. You, as a sponsor, have to apply for the sponsorship of your spouse.
2. Your spouse must apply for permanent residence of Canada.

 Note: Applicants must submit sponsorship and residency applications together simultaneously.

Steps to Apply for a Canada Spouse Visa:

There are four critical steps to sponsor your spouse on Canada PR:

1. Get the Application Package: 

You must read and follow the instructions mentioned on the application package. The application package includes forms for you and your spouse, a document checklist, and an instruction guide to fill in the details correctly.

Make sure you mention all your relatives. The information you provide in the application must be complete and accurate. Incomplete or wrong information may reject the sponsorship application.

2. Pay the Application Fees:  

IRCC has increased application processing fees for Family class sponsorship on April 30, 2022. The total cost for a Spouse sponsorship visa is CAN $1080, which includes the application processing fee and right of permanent residence fee.

In most cases, biometric fees are covered in the application; however, you may need to pay an additional cost for the medical report and police clearance certificate. 

3. Apply: 

The application guide has complete mailing instructions. Make sure to send the application to the correct IRCC visa center. It is advisable to use tracking services offered by the visa application center to ensure that your application is received at the immigration Canada office.

If you apply online, you will receive a confirmation message with a confirmation number that you can use for your reference.

4. Send additional information during processing:

The sponsored person will be asked to submit additional documents such as biometrics, medical exam results, and a police clearance certificate. A police clearance certificate is valid for one year from the date of issue.

We advise you to book the biometric as soon as possible to avoid delays in your sponsorship visa processing.

Canada Spouse Visa Processing Times: 

The ideal processing time to sponsor a spouse is 12 months. However, the processing time for spouses living outside Canada may take up to 24 months. The processing time also includes the time required to give their biometrics.

Canada Spouse Interview Questions:

Most of the time, the officer waives Spouse visa applications without questions. Although an interview will be arranged if the officer doubts the genuine relationship of the applicants or if he is unsatisfied with the documents provided.

The immigration officer will conduct separate interview sessions for the applicant and sponsor and can ask them a few questions about their relationship. 

 How much does it cost to apply for a Canadian spouse visa:

As per the new fee structure released on April 30, 2022, the application fee to sponsor your spouse in Canada is CAD$1080.

• Sponsorship fee $75
• Principal Applicant Processing fee $490
• Right of Permanent Residence Fee $515

After successful application of your sponsorship visa, Canada immigration will ask your spouse to provide the following documents:

• Passport or photocopy of the passport
• Two photos 
• Right of permanent resident application fee(if not paid earlier)

After verifying the documents, they will receive a letter confirming their permanent residency status in Canada. This document is known as Confirmation of Permanent residency(CoPR), and it has a date of expiry mentioned. The sponsored person must enter Canada before the expiry date. At the Canadian port of entry, an officer will check the CoPR letter and ask a few questions to your spouse before they allow your spouse to enter as a Canadian Permanent Resident in Canada.

We hope that the above information will be helpful for you to bring your spouse to Canada permanently.