Belgium to Canada Spousal Sponsorship

Last updated: January, 2026

Are you planning to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner from Belgium to Canada? You may be wondering if there are any Belgium-specific hurdles to watch for.

The short answer is that Belgium does not have complex document rules—but there is one important country-specific requirement that often gets missed: an additional travel history form for adult applicants.

Based on IRCC’s Belgium instructions and the most common Belgium-specific oversights we see, here is exactly what you need to prepare to avoid preventable delays.

With the required IMM 5562 completed for all adults 18+, accurate police certificates, and clean, consistent translations where needed, Belgium-based sponsorship applications typically move forward smoothly with minimal follow-up.

Between 2016 and 2025, our Toronto immigration consultants assisted 131 clients from Belgium, so we know exactly where Belgium-based applications tend to slow down—and how to prevent it. If you’d like a full overview, you can visit our Spousal Sponsorship page, review our spousal sponsorship fees, and Toronto immigration consultants for personalized guidance based on your situation.

Country-Specific Documents

Additional forms for residents
Belgium has one extra required form for residents:

Supplementary Information – Your Travels (IMM 5562)

- The principal applicant and all family members aged 18 or older included in the application must complete this digital form.

This is the main Belgium-specific requirement, and missing it is one of the most common reasons IRCC returns or delays Belgium-based applications.

Belgium – document instructions
IRCC currently lists no special document instructions for Belgium.

That said, applications can still be delayed if documents are:

Uploaded with incomplete pages (especially civil records)
Difficult to read due to poor scan quality
Inconsistent in names or dates once translated

Make sure all civil documents are complete, legible, and clearly show official details.

The Hidden Hurdle

Police Certificate
Belgium does not have unusual police certificate rules, but the certificate must still meet IRCC’s standard requirements. To avoid issues:

Request the correct Belgian police certificate according to IRCC instructions
Ensure it covers the required period based on residence history
If the applicant lived in other countries for 6+ months since age 18, be prepared to submit additional police certificates

If the certificate is issued in a language other than English or French, a certified translation is required.