All You Need to Know About New Rules for Canada Spouse Visa

Canada has always appealed to immigrants from across the globe. The country has been welcoming more and more foreign nationals every year with open arms. Out of the 104 immigration programs available, spouses back home who are looking for immigration to Canada from India can consider Spousal Sponsorship Program. Under this, your spouse in Canada can sponsor you only if they hold PR status or citizenship.

In fact, in the recently announced Immigration Levels Plan, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to welcome 114,000 immigrants under the Family Class in 2024 (24% of the annual target). Additionally, by 2026, these numbers will rise to 118,000 immigrants. 

In 2024 alone, Canada aims for 82,000 admissions under Spousal, Partner, and Children Sponsorship, which will grow to 84,000 admissions in 2025 and 2026 each.

If are you thinking of applying for a Canada Spouse Visa soon, then you must know the new rules for spouses for PR holders and citizens of Canada.

Open Work Permits for Spouses of PR or Citizens of Canada

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released a new measure regarding work permits for spouses of permanent residents and Canadian citizens in May 2023. 

The spouses, common-law partners, and conjugal parameters of the PR holders and citizens in Canada are eligible to apply for an open work permit. This can be applied while their sponsorship application for PR is being processed. 

The major benefit of an Open Work Permit is that the sponsored spouse can work for any Canadian employer. Also, they can support themselves and their family financially while the application is in process. 

Earlier, open work permits were only issued to the applicants through inland sponsorship, or those who were already residing in the country on a Temporary Residence Visa (TRV).

With the introduction of this measure, the Canadian immigration authorities aim to process the spousal sponsorship program within 12 months.

Eligibility for Canada Spouse Visa

To bring your spouse to Canada, make sure you meet the given requirements set by the IRCC: 

• Your age must be 18 or above

• You must be residing in the Great White North holding a PR visa or citizenship

• You should have financial stability to sustain your living and provide for your spouse and dependent children

• You have to be lawfully married to your spouse 

• The Canadian government should not be helping in any way, except in the case of disability

• You should show you have a low-income threshold

• For those living in Quebec, they must follow all rules and regulations

Documents Needed to Apply for Canada Spouse Visa 

When applying for a Spousal Sponsorship Visa, you must submit all the documents required for spouse visa Canada to make sure your file is not refused or returned: 

• Filled out the application form

• ID proof like a valid passport or a driver’s license

• Pictures that prove you are legally married 

• Marriage certificate or divorce certificate (if applicable)

• A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)

• Medical exam results 

• Proof of payments made to the Canadian government

• In the case of children, provide documents like birth certificates or adoption papers

• Questionnaire for Sponsorship Evaluation and Relationship Information

• Invitation to weddings or photographs

Some additional documents to prove the relationship – 

• Official documents if you have a property together

• A copy of government-issued photo ID

• Joint bank accounts

• Car insurance

• Residential proof

To prove you and your partner are in a common-law relationship, submit these –

• Photographs confirming you have lived together for at least a year

• Birth certificates or adoption papers, if you have kids

• Relationship information and sponsorship evaluation

• Social media, emails, or letters that prove that your family and friends know about your relationship

• Employment or insurance benefit documents mentioning you and your spouse are each other’s recognized common-law partners.

So, if you are eyeing the Canada Spouse Visa in 2024, you must remember these new changes. When you apply for an open work permit, you must include all the documents and information as requested by the IRCC to avoid unnecessary delays. For professional advice on your spousal sponsorship, connect with the best Canada Visa Consultants in Ludhiana, Nationwide Visas. They can guide you through the process and even assist you with documentation and post-arrival settlement in Canada.