Guide 3900 – Before You Apply, Sponsor Spouse/Dependent Child
Defaults
You are not eligible to sponsor if you are in default of a previous undertaking. If you are in default and you submit an application to sponsor, it will be refused and the sponsorship fees that you have paidwill not be refunded or applied to subsequent sponsorship applications.
If you are in default of a previous sponsorship undertaking
Relatives you sponsored in the past received social assistance or welfare while the undertaking was valid.
You may not sponsor until you repay the full amount of any social assistance or welfare payment or repay the debt to the satisfaction of the government authority that issued the benefit or ordered you to pay.
If you are in default of an immigration loan
You received a transportation, assistance or Right of Permanent Residence Fee (previously called the Right of Landing Fee) loan and have missed payments or are in arrears.
You may not sponsor until you pay all arrears on your loan. For more information, contact Collection Services at 1‑800‑667‑7301 (in Canada and the United States only).
If you are in default of support payment obligations
You were ordered by a court to make support payments to a spouse or child and have neglected to do so.
You may not sponsor until you resolve the family support matter.
If you are in default of a performance bond
You agreed to pay money to guarantee that an immigrant would fulfil his or her obligations under immigration legislation.
You may not sponsor until you pay the full amount of the bond.
Provincial Authorities Contact Information
If the person you sponsor or a member of his family receives financial support under a federal, provincial or municipal assistance program during the validity of the agreement, you will be deemed in default of your obligations.
If you need information about how to repay the money owed, contact the corresponding provincial office listed below. The services offered by these offices are available during local business hours only.
- British Columbia
Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation
Sponsorship Default Coordinator
P.O. Box 9950 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, BC V8W 9R3
1 (866) 866-0800 - Quebec
Centre de service du recouvrement
1415 Jarry St. East, Suite 400
Montreal, QC H2E 3B4
Telephone: 1 (514) 873-4362
Fax: 1 (514) 352-2395 - Alberta
Alberta Human Services
Income Support Contact Centre
Telephone: 1 (866) 644-5135
Edmonton: 1 (780) 644-5135 - Newfoundland and Labrador
Department of Social Services
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6
Telephone: 1 (709) 729-0583 - Saskatchewan
Department of Community Resources and
Employment
Saskatchewan Social Services
1920 Broad Street, 11th Floor
Regina, SK S4P 3V6
Telephone: 1 (306) 787-1388 - New Brunswick
Department of Social Development
P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
Telephone: 1 (506) 453-2001 - Manitoba
Family Services
203 South Railway Street East
Killarney, MB R0K 1G0
Telephone: 1 (877) 812-0014 - Nova Scotia
Department of Community Services
P.O. Box 696
Halifax, NS B3J 2T7
Telephone: 1 (902) 424-4262 - Ontario
Ministry of Community and Social Services
Overpayment Recovery Unit
Box 333
Toronto, ON M7A 1N3
Toll free: 1 (888) 346-5184
Fax: 1 (416) 212-7707 - Prince Edward Island
Department of Social Services and Seniors
11 Kent Street, 2nd floor
P.O. Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
Telephone: 1 (902) 368-6369
Fax: 1 (902) 894-0242
Sponsors living in Quebec
The province of Quebec is responsible for determining whether sponsors living in the province have the financial ability to sponsor family members and the length of the undertaking.
Sponsors living in Quebec or currently outside Canada but who intend to reside in Quebec upon their return must only complete the Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking(IMM 1344), the Sponsor Questionnaire (IMM 5540) and provide the required documents. Sponsored persons who intend to reside with their sponsor in Quebec are not required to sign the IMM 1344.
If the federal eligibility requirements are met, the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) will send the sponsor a letter with instructions to download MIDI’s undertaking kit, then to complete and submit it to the MIDI with a copy of the letter from CPC-M.
For more information about Quebec’s requirements, you may call MIDI’s general information line at 514-864-9191 or 1-877-864-9191 or visit Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion(MIDI).
Length of Undertaking
Your obligations as a sponsor begin when your family members enter Canada to remain as permanent residents. The table below will help you determine how long your undertaking will be valid.
Spouse or your common-law or conjugal partner
Length of undertaking is three years after that person becomes a permanent resident.
Dependent child or a dependent child of your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner and is 19 years of age or over on the day he or she becomes a permanent resident
Length of undertaking is three years after that child becomes a permanent resident.
Dependent child or a dependent child of your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner and is under 19 years of age on the day he or she becomes a permanent resident
Length of undertaking is 10 years after that child becomes a permanent resident or on the day that child reaches age 22, whichever comes first.
