Spousal & partner sponsorship · Canada
Bring your spouse or partner to Canada. Start with a straight answer.
Book a 15-minute video consultation with immigration lawyer Shadman Siddiky. Find out if you qualify and what to do next.
- Credited toward your retainer if you hire the firm
- On Google Meet, from anywhere in the world
- English, French, Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi or Urdu
15-minute consultation
On Google Meet · Paid securely by card
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How it works
- 1
Book and pay online
Answer five quick questions, pick a time and pay by card. It takes about two minutes.
- 2
Meet on Google Meet
You receive a calendar invitation with your private Meet link. Your partner can join the call too.
- 3
Leave with a plan
Understand your options, the main risks in your file, and the documents to start gathering.
What we can help with
Every relationship is different. IRCC looks closely at whether a relationship is genuine and whether the sponsor meets the requirements, so preparation matters.
Spouses & common-law partners
Married couples and partners who have lived together for at least 12 months.
Inland or outland
Choosing the right class, and open work permits for eligible partners already in Canada.
Quebec sponsors
The additional Quebec undertaking with the Ministère de l'Immigration (MIFI).
Conjugal relationships
Couples who could not live together or marry because of significant barriers.
Refusals & appeals
Procedural fairness letters, Immigration Appeal Division appeals and Federal Court review.
Complicated histories
Previous sponsorships, prior refusals, age gaps, short relationships or inadmissibility concerns.
Your lawyer
Me Shadman Siddiky
Shadman Siddiky is an immigration lawyer and the founder of Siddiky Law in Montreal. The firm's practice covers sponsorships, permanent residence, temporary residence, refugee matters and appeals.
Consultations are available in English, French, Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, so you and your family can discuss your case in the language you are most comfortable with.
Common questions
What does the consultation cost?
$80 CAD for 15 minutes with the lawyer, paid by card when you book. If you then hire the firm, that amount is credited toward your retainer. You are under no obligation to go ahead.
Who can sponsor a spouse or partner?
Generally, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act who is at least 18 years old. Permanent residents must live in Canada; citizens living abroad must show they plan to return when their partner becomes a permanent resident. Some people are barred from sponsoring — for example, because of a previous sponsorship undertaking or how they themselves immigrated.
What counts as common-law or conjugal?
Common-law partners have lived together continuously for at least 12 months. A conjugal relationship is a committed relationship of at least one year where the couple could not live together or marry because of significant legal or immigration barriers.
Should we apply inside or outside Canada?
It depends on where your partner lives, their status, travel plans and appeal rights. The two routes have different consequences if something goes wrong, which is one of the first things we review.
I live in Quebec. Is anything different?
Yes. After the federal approval of the sponsor, Quebec sponsors also sign an undertaking with the Quebec government (MIFI) before the file continues.
Our application was refused. Is it too late?
Not necessarily. Depending on the type of application, a refusal may be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division or challenged in Federal Court. Deadlines are short, so book as soon as possible and bring the refusal letter.
How does the video consultation work?
Right after booking you receive a Google Calendar invitation with a Google Meet link. Open it on a phone or computer at the scheduled time — no account or download is required on a computer. You can forward the invitation to your partner.