How long does the sponsorship undertaking last?

It depends on who you sponsor and, in some cases, their age; undertakings for parents and grandparents are much longer than for a spouse or partner. Quebec residents sign an additional provincial undertaking. Check the current lengths in the IRCC instruction guide for your program.

Do I need to meet an income requirement to sponsor my spouse?

Spousal and partner sponsorships generally have no minimum income requirement, though you must show you can meet basic needs and must not be receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability. Sponsoring parents or grandparents does carry an income requirement.

What happens if the sponsored person collects social assistance?

Any social assistance the sponsored person receives during the undertaking period becomes a debt you must repay before you can sponsor anyone else. The undertaking stays in force even if the relationship ends.

Do both the sponsor and the applicant sign IMM 1344?

Yes. The sponsor signs the application and undertaking, the principal applicant signs the agreement section, and a co-signer signs too if one is included. Unsigned forms are returned.

How much does it cost to sponsor a family member?

Fees include sponsorship, processing, and right of permanent residence components, and they change periodically. Check the current fee on the IRCC fee list before paying, since incorrect payment can get the package returned.

Immigration

IRCC Form IMM 1344: Fillable PDF

Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Sponsor a spouse, partner, child or other eligible family member for permanent residence.

Reviewed July 2026

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Form IMM 1344, Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking, is the core sponsor form in Canadian family class immigration. A Canadian citizen or permanent resident uses it to apply to sponsor a spouse, partner, dependent child, parent, grandparent, or other eligible relative, and in the same document signs a legally binding undertaking to support that person financially after they become a permanent resident.

IMM 1344 is a dynamic XFA form, which means it only works in Adobe Acrobat Reader on a computer. Download the official PDF from this page, save it to your device, then open it in Acrobat Reader to complete and validate it. Opening it in a browser tab or a phone preview shows only a placeholder page. IRCC replaces form versions regularly, so confirm on canada.ca that yours is current before you submit.

What is Form IMM 1344 used for

The form has three roles bundled into one document. It is the sponsor's application to be approved as a sponsor, the agreement between the sponsor and the sponsored person setting out mutual responsibilities, and the undertaking in which the sponsor promises the Government of Canada to provide for the sponsored person's basic needs so they do not need social assistance.

The undertaking is a serious financial commitment. Its length depends on who you sponsor, and it remains in force even if your circumstances change, for example after a divorce, a job loss, or the sponsored person moving out. Amounts of social assistance a sponsored person collects during the undertaking period become a debt the sponsor must repay.

Who can sponsor

Sponsors must meet eligibility requirements at the time of application and until a decision is made. The instruction guide for your specific program lists the full rules, and residents of Quebec also sign a separate undertaking with the province.

You must be at least 18 and a Canadian citizen, a person registered under the Indian Act, or a permanent resident.
Citizens living abroad can sponsor a spouse, partner, or dependent child only if they will live in Canada when the sponsored person lands; permanent residents must be living in Canada.
Certain situations bar sponsorship, including default on a previous undertaking or support order, certain criminal convictions, and undischarged bankruptcy.
Parents and grandparents sponsorship carries an income requirement, documented through forms IMM 5768 and IMM 5748.

How to complete IMM 1344

Save the PDF to your computer first, then open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader. The dynamic form adds fields as you answer, so work through it in order. Both the sponsor and the principal applicant sign it, and a co-signing spouse or common-law partner signs as well when their income is being counted.

When every mandatory field is complete, use the form's validate function. Validation flags anything missing and generates barcode pages that must be printed and included with your paper application. An unvalidated form is a common reason packages are returned.

Answer the sponsor eligibility questions honestly; a misrepresentation can lead to a ban from sponsoring and other consequences.
Make sure names, dates of birth, and the relationship claimed match the rest of the application package exactly.
Print the validated form with its barcode pages and sign and date it by hand where indicated.
Check the current fee for sponsorship applications on the IRCC fee list before you pay online.

After you apply

IRCC assesses the sponsor's eligibility and the sponsored person's permanent residence application together in most family class streams. Keep copies of everything you submit and tell IRCC about changes such as a new address, a new job, or changes to your family composition while the application is in process.

Because the undertaking is enforceable for years, consider having a regulated Canadian immigration consultant or an immigration lawyer review your situation before you sign, especially if your finances or family situation are complicated.

Frequently asked questions

IMM 1344 is a dynamic XFA PDF, and web browsers cannot render that format, so they display a placeholder page. Download the file to your computer, then open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader. The full form appears once a compatible reader opens it.

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