Sponsorship Undertakings: What are your responsibilities as a sponsor?

Learn about your financial responsibilities and obligations to the government when you sponsor your spouse or dependent child(ren) for permanent residence in Canada.

Sharifa N. Khan, Canadian Immigration Lawyer

11/25/20252 min read

a close up of a typewriter with a sign that reads contact

Recently, I received a call from a Canadian whose husband had left her within a month of arriving to Canada, after she sponsored him for permanent residence. To make matters worse, the sponsor had recently been made aware that her spouse was receiving social assistance and that she would be responsible for repaying this amount in full to the government. What stood out to me the most about this call was the sponsor’s insistence that this could not be the case, particularly as she believed she had been scammed by her spouse.

I directed the caller to review the Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344) form that both she and her husband would have signed and submitted with their sponsorship application, as this form acts as a contract between the sponsor, sponsored person(s), and the government, and clearly lays out the obligations of the sponsor (see: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/imm1344.html).

It is important for sponsors to understand that applying to sponsor a loved one creates an agreement with the government: for a pre- determined period, the sponsor will meet the basic needs of the sponsored individual if they are not able to support themself in Canada. This includes, but is not limited to: providing food, clothing, shelter, personal requirements, and health care (including dental care and eye care not covered by public health care) for your loved one(s). Your provision of these necessities must be sufficient for your love one(s) to live in Canada. In fact, your undertaking as a sponsor specifically promises that your loved one(s) will not need to apply for social assistance, as you will provide for all their basic needs.

The length of time for this undertaking varies depending on the age of the person you are sponsoring and their relationship to you, and applies even if the relationship between the sponsor and sponsored person(s) breaks down (such as in the case of the caller):

This undertaking will remain in effect despite any change in circumstances, including the break-down of the relationship(s) or job loss. While there are situations, including in cases of abuse, that the government might consider in deciding whether to enforce the collection of debt as a result of a sponsored family member accessing social assistance, this is a highly- discretionary decision that does not cancel the debt.

Sponsorship Undertakings: What are your responsibilities as a sponsor?

Canadian Immigration Lawyer & Notary Public