Canada Spousal Sponsorship — Cover Letter & Exhibit Index
IRCC / IMM 5532 · Last reviewed 2026-06-07 · Download PDF
IRCC officers assess spousal and common-law sponsorship applications against the genuineness of the relationship using the IMM 5532 form. A cover letter with a clear exhibit index helps the officer connect each IMM 5532 section to the documents you enclose.
Template
[SPONSOR FULL NAME]
[SPONSOR ADDRESS]
[CITY, PROVINCE, POSTAL CODE]
[EMAIL] / [PHONE]
[DATE]
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
[IRCC PROCESSING CENTRE / ONLINE PORTAL SUBMISSION]
RE: Application to Sponsor — Spouse / Common-Law Partner
Sponsor: [SPONSOR FULL NAME] (Canadian citizen / permanent resident)
Principal Applicant: [APPLICANT FULL NAME]
Application / UCI: [UCI OR APPLICATION NUMBER, IF ASSIGNED]
Dear Officer,
I am sponsoring my [spouse / common-law partner], [APPLICANT FULL NAME], a national of [APPLICANT COUNTRY]. We [were married on [DATE] in [PLACE] / have cohabited continuously since [DATE]]. Our relationship is genuine and was not entered into primarily for the purpose of acquiring any immigration status or privilege under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The enclosed evidence is organized to follow the IMM 5532 Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation form so that each section is supported by clearly labelled exhibits.
Exhibit A — Development of the Relationship (IMM 5532 Part C)
- Joint relationship narrative describing how we met, how the relationship developed, and our cohabitation history
- Chronological communication appendix ([NUMBER] pages of WhatsApp / Messenger / iMessage) with timestamps preserved, covering [START DATE] to [END DATE]
Exhibit B — Proof of Marriage or Common-Law Relationship
- Marriage certificate / registration of common-law status, with certified translation if not in English or French
- Evidence of cohabitation: joint lease or property documents, mail addressed to both partners at the same address
Exhibit C — Financial Interdependence and Shared Life
- Joint bank account statements, shared bills, money transfers between partners
- Photographs together and with family across time and locations, with date/location captions
- Travel records (boarding passes, passport stamps) documenting visits
All photocopies are true copies of original documents in our possession. Non-English/French documents are accompanied by a certified translation and the translator’s declaration.
Thank you for reviewing this application. Please contact me at the email or telephone above if any clarification is required.
Sincerely,
___________________________________
[SPONSOR FULL NAME], Sponsor
Date: [DATE]
When to use this template
Use this as the cover page of a spousal or common-law sponsorship application to IRCC. It maps your evidence to the IMM 5532 Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation form and the IMM 5533 document checklist so the officer can navigate your submission quickly.
How IRCC assesses genuineness
- How the relationship began and developed over time.
- Whether the couple has cohabited and for how long (12 months continuous for common-law).
- Financial interdependence and shared responsibilities.
- Knowledge of each other’s lives, families, and future plans.
Frequently asked questions
Is a cover letter required for Canadian spousal sponsorship?
IRCC does not require a separate cover letter — the IMM 5532 and IMM 5533 forms are the core of the application. However, a cover letter with an exhibit index is widely recommended because it lets the officer connect each part of the IMM 5532 to the documents you provide, reducing the chance of a procedural request for more information.
What is the difference between married and common-law sponsorship?
Married couples provide a marriage certificate. Common-law partners must show at least 12 months of continuous cohabitation in a marriage-like relationship, evidenced through joint leases, bills, and shared finances. The cover letter and exhibit index should reflect whichever category applies to you.
Do WhatsApp chats help a spousal sponsorship application?
Yes. A formatted chronological chat appendix supports the "development of the relationship" section of IMM 5532, especially for couples who spent time apart. Reference it by exhibit number in the cover letter and let the preserved timestamps demonstrate continuous contact.
Official sources
Free to use without attribution. Not legal advice. PartnerProof — document-formatting tool for immigration applications.