Democratic Republic of the Congo to Canada Spousal Sponsorship

Last updated: January 15, 2026

Spousal and partner sponsorship is one of the most important pathways for Congolese families hoping to reunite in Canada. Because conditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are uniquely complex, Congolese applicants should understand several country-specific challenges and documentation requirements that may affect the sponsorship process.

From 2016 to 2025, we supported 115 clients from Democratic Republic of the Congo through the Canadian immigration process. If you’d like a full overview of spouse sponsorship Canada, you can just book a consultation with our Licensed immigration consultants. Also, you can check our Immigration Consultant Cost.

Required Civil Documents

Low Registration Rates: The DRC has historically low birth and marriage registration rates. Many records are issued late (déclaration tardive), reconstructed, or recorded unofficially.
Supplementary Information – Your Travels (IMM 5562): The principal applicant and all family members included in the application who are 18 years old or older must complete this form
IRCC Preference: IRCC typically prefers full-form, recently issued civil documents rather than basic attestations. Applicants may need to revisit local civil registry offices (bureaux d’état civil) or municipal authorities (communes) to request updated copies.
Certificates of Notoriety or Judgment (Acte de Notoriété/Jugement Supplétif): When an original Acte de Naissance (Birth Certificate) or Acte de Mariage (Marriage Certificate) cannot be obtained, applicants must provide a Certificate of Notoriety (Acte de Notoriété). If this is not available, a Declaratory or Suppletory Judgment (Jugement Supplétif) rendered by the local Peace Court (Tribunal de Paix) may be accepted as the required legal substitute.
Details of Military Service [IMM 5546]
Complete this form for anyone included on the application who has ever
- held a high-ranking or senior official government position or
- served in the military, army, defence or police unit (including National Service) Submit a copy of all pages of their military card or booklet, including the blank pages

Police Certificates (PCC)

Required Document: Canada requires an “Extrait du casier judiciaire” (Criminal Record Extract).
Application Inside DRC: When the applicant is living in the DRC, this certificate must be obtained in person from the Direction Générale de la Police Judiciaire (DGPJ) in Kinshasa.
Application Outside DRC: When the applicant is living outside the DRC, they must apply through a DRC embassy or consulate, which then forwards the request back to Kinshasa for issuance.
Process Time: The centralized nature of this process and the requirement for official fingerprints often results in a longer processing time than in many other countries, especially for applicants residing abroad.

The Hidden Hurdle

Conflict and Displacement: Because the DRC experiences ongoing conflict—especially in eastern regions—applicants may have significant difficulty accessing local civil registry offices or be unable to travel to the regions where their records were originally issued. Many applicants have also lived long periods as refugees or displaced persons.
Mitigation: Applicants facing these issues must provide detailed explanation letters and replacement civil documents (like the Acte de Notoriété or Jugement Supplétif). They must also provide police certificates from any country where they stayed for six months or more after the age of 18 (e.g., refugee camps or temporary host countries).

Translation Requirements

DRC issues French-language civil documents, which is an advantage as French is one of Canada’s official languages, meaning translations are generally not required unless the document contains sections written in local languages.

If any document is not in English or French, include: