Ivory Coast to Canada Spousal Sponsorship
Last updated: January, 2026
Sponsoring your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner from the Republic of Ivory Coast? While the forms are largely standard, the civil documents require careful attention due to the prevalence of late birth registrations.
From 2016 to 2025, we supported a number of clients from Ivory Coast through the Canadian immigration process. If you’d like a full overview of spouse visa Canada requirements, you can just book a consultation with our Canadian immigration experts. Also, you can check our Immigration Consultant Cost.
Country-Specific Documents
- Travel History (IMM 5562): Required for the principal applicant and all family members aged 18+.
- Military Service (IMM 5546): Required if the applicant has served in the military, police, or gendarmerie.
- Note: If applicable, submit a full copy of the service booklet, including blank pages.
Required Civil Documents
- National Identity Card (CNI): You must provide a clear photocopy of the valid Carte Nationale d’Identité (CNI).
- Police Certificate: Applicants aged 18+ must provide the Extrait de Casier Judiciaire (Bulletin No. 3).
- Issuing Authority: This must be issued by the Ministry of Justice or the competent Court of First Instance (Tribunal de Première Instance) in the applicant’s place of birth.
The Hidden Hurdle
In Côte d’Ivoire, many birth certificates are issued long after birth (Acte de Naissance). IRCC scrutinizes these closely.
- If the birth certificate was NOT issued at the time of birth: You cannot simply submit the certificate. You must also provide:
- The Supplementary Judgment (Jugement Supplétif) that authorized the late registration.
- Secondary Proof: School records, baptismal certificates, or a Household Registry that lists the parents to confirm identity.
Translation Requirements
Official documents from Côte d’Ivoire (Birth Certificates, Police Certificates, Judgments) are issued in French, which means they are accepted as is by IRCC. You only need to provide translations if a document is in a local dialect or a language other than English or French.
