Canadian Citizen by Descent: Can You Sponsor Your Spouse for Permanent Residence?

If you recently discovered that you are a Canadian citizen by descent, you may now have access to important rights and benefits, including the ability to live, work, and travel freely in Canada.

But if you are married or in a committed relationship, you may also be wondering whether your Canadian citizenship automatically gives your spouse or partner any immigration status in Canada.

The short answer is no. Canadian citizenship by descent does not automatically extend to a spouse or partner.

However, as a Canadian citizen, you may be eligible to sponsor your spouse or partner for Canadian permanent residence.

Does Canadian Citizenship by Descent Apply to Your Spouse?

Canadian citizenship by descent generally passes through qualifying family relationships based on citizenship rules. Marriage itself does not automatically make someone a Canadian citizen.

This means that if you receive proof of Canadian citizenship by descent, your spouse's immigration or citizenship status does not automatically change.

However, becoming recognized as a Canadian citizen gives you the right to sponsor an eligible spouse or partner for permanent residence in Canada.

Can Your Children Also Be Canadian Citizens by Descent?

Depending on the circumstances, your biological children may also qualify for Canadian citizenship through the same family connection that allowed you to obtain citizenship.

Adopted children may also qualify, although additional steps can apply.

For children born or adopted on or after December 15, 2025, additional rules may apply. In certain situations, the Canadian citizen parent must show at least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada before the child's birth or adoption in order to pass citizenship to the child.

Because citizenship-by-descent rules can depend on the date of birth, generation, and family circumstances, each case should be reviewed individually.

Spousal Sponsorship Leads to Permanent Residence, Not Immediate Citizenship

Sponsoring your spouse does not make them a Canadian citizen immediately.

Instead, spousal sponsorship is a pathway to Canadian permanent residence.

Canadian permanent residents generally have the right to live, work, and study anywhere in Canada, subject to the conditions that apply to permanent resident status.

After becoming a permanent resident and meeting the applicable citizenship requirements, including physical presence requirements, your spouse may later become eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship.

In general, an applicant for Canadian citizenship must accumulate at least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada during the applicable five-year eligibility period before applying.

Who Can Be Sponsored?

Canadian citizens may be able to sponsor an eligible:

• Spouse;
• Common-law partner; or
• Conjugal partner.

A spouse is someone who is legally married to you.

A common-law partner is generally someone with whom you have lived continuously in a marriage-like relationship for at least 12 months.

A conjugal partner category may apply in certain situations where a couple has been in a genuine relationship for at least one year but has been unable to marry or live together because of serious legal, immigration, religious, social, or other barriers beyond their control.

The correct sponsorship category depends on the couple's individual circumstances.

Requirements to Sponsor Your Spouse or Partner

To sponsor your spouse or partner, you must meet certain eligibility requirements.

Generally, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old;
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible person registered under the Indian Act;
• Not be receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability;
• Be able to provide for the basic needs of yourself and the family members you are sponsoring; and
• Meet all other applicable sponsorship requirements.

Canadian citizens may sponsor a spouse while living outside Canada, but they generally need to demonstrate that they intend to return to Canada and live in Canada when their sponsored spouse becomes a permanent resident.

Certain circumstances may make a person ineligible to sponsor, including some criminal convictions, previous sponsorship issues, or other legal restrictions.

Inland and Outland Spousal Sponsorship

The sponsorship process may be different depending on where you and your spouse are living.

Outland Sponsorship

If your spouse or partner lives outside Canada, the application will generally be processed under the Family Class, often referred to as outland sponsorship.

Canadian citizens may also use the Family Class while living outside Canada, provided they can show their intention to return to Canada once their spouse or partner becomes a permanent resident.

Canadian citizens living in Canada may also choose outland sponsorship in some situations.

Conjugal partner sponsorship applications are processed through the Family Class.

Inland Sponsorship

If you and your spouse or common-law partner are living together in Canada, you may be able to apply under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class, commonly known as inland sponsorship.

Depending on eligibility and the stage of the application, a sponsored spouse or partner living in Canada may also be eligible for an open work permit while the permanent residence application is being processed.

Your Marriage Must Be Legally Recognized

If you are sponsoring a spouse, your marriage must generally be legally valid.

The marriage must be recognized under the law of the country where it took place and must also be recognized for Canadian immigration purposes.

For example, if a Canadian citizen by descent was married in the United States, IRCC may require the official marriage certificate issued by the relevant state or local authority as proof of the legal marriage.

Applicants should ensure that all marriage documents are complete and properly included in the sponsorship application.

What If Your Spouse Has a Criminal Record?

Criminal history can affect a person's ability to enter or immigrate to Canada.

Certain convictions may make a spouse or partner criminally inadmissible to Canada. This can include offences such as impaired driving or DUI, depending on the circumstances.

However, criminal inadmissibility does not always mean that immigration to Canada is permanently impossible.

Depending on factors such as the type of offence, sentence, and how much time has passed, a person may be able to address inadmissibility through options such as criminal rehabilitation.

These cases can be complex and should be reviewed carefully before submitting a sponsorship application.

Quebec Has a Separate Spousal Sponsorship Process

If you plan to live in Quebec, additional provincial requirements apply.

The sponsorship process generally begins with the federal government. Once Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada confirms the sponsor's eligibility, additional steps may be required through Quebec's immigration authorities.

Quebec has its own sponsorship undertaking requirements and eligibility conditions.

As a result, applicants planning to settle in Quebec should be prepared for additional documentation and processing steps.

What Documents Are Required for Spousal Sponsorship?

Both the sponsor and the sponsored spouse or partner must provide forms and supporting documents.

Depending on the circumstances, documents may include:

• Proof of Canadian citizenship;
• Passport and identity documents;
• Marriage certificate, if applicable;
• Proof of common-law relationship, if applicable;
• Relationship photographs;
• Communication records;
• Joint financial documents;
• Proof of shared residence;
• Police certificates;
• Financial and employment documents;
• Travel and immigration history; and
• Additional documents requested by IRCC.

Applicants must also provide evidence showing that the relationship is genuine and was not entered into primarily for immigration purposes.

The exact documents required depend on the sponsorship category and the applicant's individual circumstances.

Medical Examination Requirements

Family members included in a permanent residence application who are not already Canadian citizens or permanent residents may be required to complete an immigration medical examination.

IRCC normally provides instructions regarding the medical examination during the application process.

Applicants should follow the instructions provided by IRCC and complete the examination with an approved panel physician when required.

Do You Need an Immigration Representative?

Hiring an immigration representative is not mandatory.

Applicants can prepare and submit a spousal sponsorship application themselves. However, some applicants choose to work with an authorized immigration consultant or lawyer, especially where there are complications involving previous refusals, criminal history, relationship evidence, immigration violations, or other concerns.

Whether an applicant uses a representative or applies independently, it is important to provide complete, accurate, and consistent information throughout the application.