Sponsorship Co-Signer: When Required – Complete Guide

Executive Summary

When sponsoring family members for Canadian immigration, you may find yourself in a situation where your income alone doesn’t meet the minimum requirements. This is where a sponsorship co-signer becomes essential—a qualified individual who shares the financial obligation of supporting your sponsored family member.

A co-signer isn’t just a backup plan; they become legally bound to the same undertaking you sign as the primary sponsor. This means they’re equally responsible for supporting the sponsored person for the duration of the undertaking period, which can range from 3 to 20 years depending on the relationship and program.

What this means for you: If you’re considering family sponsorship and your income falls short of requirements, understanding co-signer obligations isn’t optional—it’s critical for both your application’s success and your family’s financial security.

The decision to involve a co-signer carries significant long-term implications that extend far beyond the initial application. Both sponsors share joint and several liability, meaning either party can be held responsible for the full amount if the sponsored person requires social assistance.

Co-Signer Requirements

Who Can Be Your Co-Signer

Not everyone can serve as a co-signer for your sponsorship application. The eligible individuals are strictly limited to:

Spouse or Common-Law Partner: Your current spouse or common-law partner can co-sign your sponsorship undertaking, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements. This is the most common co-signer arrangement we see at AVID.

What this means for you: Your spouse doesn’t need to be the parent of the person you’re sponsoring. They simply need to be your legal spouse or common-law partner and meet the financial and eligibility criteria.

Essential Eligibility Criteria

Your co-signer must meet the same basic eligibility requirements as a primary sponsor:

Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Residence: The co-signer must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian under the Indian Act. Temporary residents, including work permit holders, cannot serve as co-signers.

Age Requirement: Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of signing the undertaking.

No Outstanding Immigration Debt: The co-signer cannot have any unpaid immigration loans or outstanding sponsorship debt to the Government of Canada.

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: Don’t assume your spouse’s previous sponsorship undertaking has ended just because the sponsored person became a citizen. Check the exact end date of any previous undertaking before proceeding.

Financial Qualifications

The combined income of you and your co-signer must meet the minimum necessary income (MNI) requirements for your family size, including the sponsored family members.

Income Assessment Period: Both sponsor and co-signer must demonstrate they met the MNI for the three consecutive tax years before the application date.

Acceptable Income Sources: Employment income, self-employment income, pension income, and certain government benefits count toward the MNI. Social assistance payments (except for disability benefits) do not qualify.

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: Even if your combined income barely meets the MNI, having a comfortable buffer above the minimum strengthens your application and provides financial security if circumstances change.

Legal and Personal Restrictions

Criminal Background: Both sponsor and co-signer cannot have been convicted of certain offenses, including violent crimes, sexual offenses, or offenses against family members.

Previous Sponsorship Defaults: If either party has defaulted on a previous sponsorship undertaking, they cannot sponsor until the debt is repaid.

Bankruptcy Status: Individuals who are currently undischarged bankrupts cannot serve as sponsors or co-signers.

When Co-Signers Are Needed

Income Shortfall Situations

The most straightforward scenario requiring a co-signer occurs when your individual income doesn’t meet the minimum necessary income threshold for your family size.

Calculating Your Need: Take your total family size (including yourself, your dependents, and the family members you’re sponsoring) and compare your income against the current MNI table. If there’s a gap, you need a co-signer whose income can bridge that difference.

What this means for you: The income requirement isn’t just about the application year—you and your co-signer must have met the combined MNI for three consecutive tax years. This retroactive requirement catches many applicants off guard.

Parent and Grandparent Program Specifics

The Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) has unique co-signer considerations due to higher income requirements and longer undertaking periods.

Higher Income Thresholds: PGP sponsorships require income that’s 30% above the low-income cut-off (LICO), which is significantly higher than other family class sponsorships.

Extended Undertaking Period: Parents and grandparents require a 20-year undertaking period, meaning you and your co-signer are financially responsible for two decades.

If you’re applying for PGP, here’s what to watch for: The income requirement applies to both the sponsor and co-signer individually for the most recent tax year, then combined for all three years. This dual requirement has specific implications for couples where one spouse has irregular income.

Multiple Family Member Sponsorships

When sponsoring multiple family members simultaneously, the financial obligations multiply, often necessitating a co-signer even for sponsors who might otherwise qualify alone.

Cumulative Income Requirements: Each additional family member increases your required MNI. Sponsoring parents plus siblings, for example, can quickly push income requirements beyond what many single sponsors can meet.

Overlapping Undertakings: If you have existing sponsorship undertakings that haven’t expired, those sponsored family members still count toward your total family size for income calculations.

Risk Mitigation Scenarios

Some sponsors choose to include a co-signer even when not strictly required, as a risk management strategy.

Employment Uncertainty: If your income comes from contract work, seasonal employment, or a volatile industry, a co-signer provides stability and reassurance to immigration officers.

Age Considerations: Sponsors nearing retirement age may benefit from including a younger co-signer who will remain in the workforce throughout the undertaking period.

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: Don’t add a co-signer “just in case” without fully understanding their obligations. Co-signers have the same legal responsibilities as primary sponsors, and this decision affects both families for years or decades.

Co-Signer Obligations

Financial Undertaking Responsibilities

When someone agrees to be your co-signer, they’re entering into a legally binding agreement with the Government of Canada. This isn’t a character reference or moral support—it’s a contractual obligation with real financial consequences.

Joint and Several Liability: This legal term means the government can pursue either you or your co-signer for the full amount if the sponsored person receives social assistance. They don’t have to split the bill between you—they can collect the entire amount from whichever party is more accessible or financially capable.

What this means for you: If your co-signer disappears, moves abroad, or becomes financially insolvent, you remain fully responsible for the entire undertaking. Similarly, if you face financial difficulties, your co-signer can be held responsible for amounts you cannot pay.

Duration and Scope of Obligations

The undertaking period varies significantly based on the relationship to the sponsored person and their age at the time they become permanent residents.

Spouse or Partner: 3 years from the date they become permanent residents Dependent Children under 22: 10 years or until they turn 25, whichever comes first Dependent Children 22 and older: 3 years from permanent residence Parents and Grandparents: 20 years from permanent residence Other Eligible Relatives: 10 years from permanent residence

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: The undertaking period starts when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident, not when you submit your application. Processing delays don’t reduce your obligation period.

Types of Support Covered

Your undertaking covers basic needs and social assistance, but the definition is broader than many co-signers realize.

Basic Needs: Food, clothing, shelter, utilities, personal and household items, healthcare not covered by public health insurance, and transportation.

Social Assistance Repayment: If the sponsored person receives provincial social assistance, you and your co-signer must repay these amounts to the government.

Healthcare Considerations: While provinces provide healthcare coverage, some services may not be covered immediately for new permanent residents. Co-signers should understand potential gaps in coverage.

Default Consequences

Failing to meet undertaking obligations has serious and long-lasting consequences for both sponsors and co-signers.

Immigration Debt: Unpaid social assistance becomes a debt to the federal government, affecting your ability to sponsor other family members in the future.

Collection Actions: The government can pursue standard debt collection methods, including wage garnishment and asset seizure.

Credit Impact: Outstanding sponsorship debt can appear on credit reports and affect your ability to obtain loans, mortgages, or other financial products.

Future Sponsorship Restrictions: You cannot sponsor additional family members until all sponsorship debt is repaid, regardless of who was responsible for the default.

Application Process

Co-Signer Agreement Procedures

Adding a co-signer to your sponsorship application requires specific forms and documentation that must be completed accurately and submitted together with your primary application.

Form IMM 1344A: Your co-signer must complete the “Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking” form. This isn’t a supplementary form—it’s the same comprehensive application you complete as the primary sponsor.

Simultaneous Submission: Both sponsor and co-signer applications must be submitted together. You cannot add a co-signer after your application has been processed or if you receive a request for additional income documentation.

What this means for you: Plan for the co-signer requirement from the beginning. Attempting to add a co-signer mid-process typically requires withdrawing and resubmitting your entire application.

Documentation Requirements

Co-signers must provide the same level of financial documentation as primary sponsors, creating a comprehensive financial picture of the combined household.

Tax Documentation: Three years of Notice of Assessments, T4 slips, and any additional tax documents for both sponsor and co-signer.

Employment Verification: Current employment letters stating position, salary, and employment duration for both parties.

Banking Information: Recent bank statements and proof of any other assets or income sources.

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: Include a brief letter explaining the co-signer relationship and their commitment to the undertaking. This personal touch can strengthen your application’s narrative.

Assessment Criteria

Immigration officers evaluate co-signer applications using the same criteria applied to primary sponsors, but with additional scrutiny on the relationship dynamic and combined financial stability.

Relationship Verification: Officers verify the legitimacy of the sponsor-co-signer relationship, particularly for spouses and common-law partners.

Combined Financial Assessment: The evaluation considers both individual and combined financial capacity, looking for consistency and sustainability over the three-year assessment period.

Risk Evaluation: Officers assess whether the co-sponsorship arrangement appears genuine and sustainable, or if it seems designed solely to meet minimum requirements.

Approval Considerations

The presence of a co-signer can strengthen your application, but it also introduces additional variables that officers must evaluate.

Positive Factors: Stable, long-term relationship between sponsor and co-signer; combined income well above minimum requirements; both parties have consistent employment history.

Potential Concerns: Recent marriage or relationship; co-signer with irregular income or employment gaps; combined income barely meeting minimum requirements.

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: Don’t have your co-signer sign forms or provide documents without fully understanding the commitment. Immigration officers can detect reluctant or uninformed co-signers, which raises questions about the application’s viability.

Managing Co-Sponsorship

Communication Strategies

Successful co-sponsorship requires ongoing communication and shared understanding of obligations throughout the entire undertaking period.

Regular Check-ins: Establish a schedule for discussing the sponsored family member’s settlement progress and any support needs that arise.

Financial Planning: Both parties should understand how they’ll handle financial support if needed, including who covers immediate needs and how costs will be shared.

Documentation Sharing: Maintain shared records of any support provided, including financial assistance, housing support, or other aid given to sponsored family members.

Obligation Monitoring

The undertaking period can span decades, making it essential to track obligations and stay informed about changes that might affect your responsibilities.

Address Updates: Both sponsor and co-signer must notify IRCC of address changes throughout the undertaking period.

Income Changes: While there’s no requirement to report income changes after approval, significant changes in either party’s financial situation should prompt discussions about continued ability to meet obligations.

Sponsored Person Status: Stay informed about the sponsored person’s circumstances, including employment status, family changes, and any potential need for social assistance.

Relationship Changes

Life circumstances change, and co-sponsorship arrangements must adapt while maintaining legal obligations.

Divorce or Separation: The end of a marriage or common-law relationship doesn’t terminate co-sponsorship obligations. Both parties remain legally bound for the entire undertaking period.

Geographic Separation: If the co-signer moves to another province or country, obligations continue, but practical support arrangements may need adjustment.

What this means for you: Before agreeing to a co-sponsorship arrangement, consider the long-term nature of the commitment and discuss how you’ll handle potential relationship changes.

Professional Guidance

Given the complexity and long-term nature of co-sponsorship obligations, professional guidance can be invaluable for both initial planning and ongoing management.

Legal Consultation: Consider consulting with an immigration lawyer to fully understand the legal implications and create agreements between sponsor and co-signer.

Financial Planning: Work with financial advisors to ensure both parties can sustain their obligations throughout the undertaking period.

Immigration Expertise: AVID’s experts can help you navigate the application process and provide ongoing support for managing sponsorship obligations.