What to understand
A Canadian citizen or permanent resident may be able to sponsor an eligible spouse or partner who lives outside Canada. Both sponsor eligibility and the relationship category matter; living abroad does not itself establish eligibility.
What to prepare
Start with the current sponsor and applicant checklists. Collect civil-status records, relationship history, identity documents and country-specific documents. Keep copies of what you submit and monitor requests after filing.
Important to know
A visit to Canada during processing is a separate temporary-entry question. Sponsorship does not guarantee a visitor visa or an approval.
Check the official requirements
Program rules, eligibility, fees and processing times may change. This guide is general information, not legal advice or a guarantee of any outcome. Check the current government instructions before applying.
Visit the official Canada.ca information