Yes. Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children are included in your permanent residence application, and in most cases they receive PR at the same time you do — even if they are currently outside Canada. Including them affects your required settlement funds and means they also complete medical exams and background checks. One important rule: declare all family members honestly, even if they are not coming with you now. Leaving someone out can prevent you from sponsoring them later and may count as misrepresentation.
Updated July 2026