3. Check what income rules apply

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has guidelines that say what minimum necessary income a sponsor must have.

The income guidelines do not usually apply to sponsoring:  

• your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner  
• your dependent child, as long as they do not have dependent children of their own 
• the children of the spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner you're sponsoring, as long as those children do not have children of their own  

You do not have to meet a minimum necessary income for the sponsorships listed above.  

But the income guidelines will apply if your spouse or partner has a dependent child who has a dependent child of their own.

Figure out minimum necessary income

When the guidelines apply, the sponsorship package includes a Financial Evaluation form that people complete and include with their application.

Social assistance

Sometimes IRCC will refuse a spouse or partner's application for permanent residence if they think that the sponsored person may need to rely on social assistance in Canada.

If this happens, you may be able to successfully appeal the refusal to the Immigration Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board.