What does current or previous undertaking mean on my sponsorship application?

Current undertaking

This refers to the sponsorship application you (the sponsor) and your co-signer (if this applies) are currently preparing.

The undertaking includes all the people listed on the application, even if they’re not all coming to Canada.

If we approve the application, the undertaking will come into effect once the people you’re sponsoring become permanent residents.

Previous undertakings

This refers to

• undertakings still in effect and
• undertakings not yet in effect.

If we return or refuse an application, there is no undertaking.

Previous undertakings still in effect

This refers to any sponsorship applications we approved where

• you (or your co-signer, if you have one) are listed as either a sponsor or co-signer, and
• the people you sponsored became permanent residents

The undertaking stays in effect until it expires, even if the people you sponsored

• leave Canada or
• become Canadian citizens

Undertaking not yet in effect

This refers to the people on sponsorship applications that we

1. are processing, where you (or your co-signer, if you have one) are listed as either a sponsor or co-signer, or
2. approved, but the sponsored people have not yet become permanent residents

Their undertaking comes into effect if

• we approve the application and
• the people you’re sponsoring become permanent residents

This applies if:

• you’re submitting 2 sponsorship applications at the same time, or
• you and your co-signer each submit a sponsorship application

Length of undertaking

The length of undertaking depends on

• who you sponsored or co-signed an application for, and
• when you sponsored them