Suppose you plan the sponsorship for your spouse or partner to help them become permanent residents in Canada, you will have to provide an undertaking with the commitment to fulfill their financial needs and other basic requirements. You will also need to support their dependent children if any.
Basic requirements
The basic requirements range from clothing, shelter, food, and other necessities based on their daily needs. Also, the public healthcare sector doesn’t include eye care, dental care, and healthcare services.
The undertaking you sign must ensure that the sponsored individual will not need financial assistance from the government.
Suppose they receive any social assistance during their stay, you will be liable to repay that amount spent on your spouse’s or partner’s social assistance. The undertaking indicates that irrespective of your changing circumstances in the future, you will be liable to support your spouse or partner for the duration of time they stay with you in Canada.
The mandatory conditions associated with your undertaking are as follows:
- The individual you sponsor acquires Canadian citizenship.
- Even if your circumstances cause separation, divorce, or you break your relationship with your spouse.
- You and your spouse fly to another country or settle in another province.
- You undergo financial constraints due to sudden situations.
The length of the undertaking
The undertaking length for a spouse, partner, or common-law partner is three years from that particular day your spouse became a permanent resident. This undertaking length differs for those in Quebec from the rest of Canada. The exact span of three years applies to dependent children above 22 years old. The dependent ones below 22 years old have the undertaking duration of ten years from that particular day they acquire permanent residency, or until the child turns 25 years old. The time depends upon which situation occurs first.
Cancellation of undertaking- is it possible?
If you change your sponsorship decision before sponsoring your spouse or partner, you must write to IRCC about the final decision. Once IRCC approves your decision not to support your spouse, you can withdraw your undertaking.
