However, the regulations are broadly defined so you can still be eligible despite receiving social support. For instance, if you are receiving employment insurance benefits, you would still be admissible as a sponsor. Various benefits don’t hurt your eligibility to sponsor your spouse or common-law partner. These include:
- Subsidized housing
- Tax credits
- Child care subsidies
- Benefits widely available to both employed and unemployed residents of a particular territory or province
If you are receiving some form of social assistance, it is essential to check whether it disqualifies you from sponsoring your spouse or common-law partner.
No Travel Restrictions for Spouses and Common-Law Partners
The Canadian government, on March 18, 2020, prohibited entry of foreign nationals as a move to stop the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. The travel restriction is set to continue until; June 30, 2020. However, the government also announced that immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents of the country are exempt from the travel restrictions. Since spouses and common-law partners are immediate family members, they can still enter Canada from foreign countries.
All travelers will be expected to bring along the supporting documentation to assert their immediate family member status and type of relationship. Some of the documentation required includes:
- Marriage certificate for spouses or evidence of common-law status
- Canadian passport or permanent resident card
- Birth certificate
- Paper and electronic versions of the required documents
- Other documents that can prove an immediate family connection
Those exempt from the travel restriction will still be required to complete and pass a health check, especially if you are traveling by air. The health check will be conducted by the airlines before boarding your flight and only those with no symptoms of COVID-19 will be allowed to travel.
