4. Start your application

You make your sponsorship application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). IRCC decides if:

• you qualify to be a sponsor
• your spouse or partner meets the requirements to become a permanent resident, for example, they're not inadmissible to Canada because of their criminal record
• your marriage or relationship is genuine and not started mainly for immigration reasons

To complete your sponsorship application, you and your spouse or partner need to:

• fill out the required forms, and
• include all of the documents that are on the checklist in your application package.

For more information about making an application, read the question How do I sponsor my spouse or partner to become a permanent resident if they’re living outside Canada?