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  1. Home/
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  3. Canada/
  4. Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada)

🇧🇷 Brazilian applicants · 🇨🇦 Canada

Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) for Brazilian citizens

Permanent residence sponsorship of spouses, common-law partners, or conjugal partners by Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyPermanent residence.

This page covers the Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) specifically for Brazilian applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to Brazil. The general eligibility criteria apply to everyone.

What Brazilian applicants should know

Brazilian spousal applicants typically file outland via the consulate in São Paulo. Brazilian marriage certificates from cartórios de registro civil are accepted with Hague apostille via the Brazilian MFA. Federal Police criminal clearance is the standard police-certificate document. Inland applications using the Open Work Permit option are common where the Brazilian spouse already holds a Canadian work or study permit.

Source: IRCC · Reviewed 2026-06-01 · Confirm current rules on the primary source linked in the sidebar.

Processing time
15 months – 1.7 years
Government fees
CAD 1,205 (principal) including RPRF.
Typical duration
Permanent residence.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed 1 June 2026IRCC ↗

Bilateral context

No nationality-specific treaty frameworks apply to this combination.

Consular processing: a Canada consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence

Tourist entry vs. this route

Tourist-entry rules for Brazilian nationals are set by IRCC and change periodically — check the official entry-requirements page. The Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) is a separate application from any tourist entry.

Key figures for Brazilian applicants

Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.

How long it takes

15 months – 1.7 years

IRCC’s 12-month service standard no longer reflects posted times: in early 2026 outland spousal sponsorship was quoted at about 15 months (≈450 days) and inland at about 21 months (≈630 days).

Verified 1 June 2026 · IRCC — Sponsor your spouse →

Time to permanent residence

Arrival as PR → citizenship eligibility at 3 years. Temp-to-PR transition (Express Entry or PNP from inside Canada) typically adds another 1-3 years.

Leads to Permanent Residence (PR), then Canadian citizenship.

IRCC — Canadian citizenship →

Visa overview

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for permanent residence. Two streams: inland (applicant already in Canada) and outland (consular processing).

Eligibility

Typical criteria

  • ✓Sponsor is Canadian citizen or PR.
  • ✓Genuine relationship evidence.
  • ✓No minimum income for spousal sponsorship (unlike parent sponsorship).

Common blockers

  • !Sponsor undertaking bankruptcy or previous sponsorship default.
  • !Insufficient relationship evidence.

Typical evidence

  • ·Marriage certificate or cohabitation history.
  • ·Photos, communications, joint finances.

Application pathway

  1. 01

    Choose inland vs outland

    Inland lets applicant apply for open work permit; outland typically faster.

  2. 02

    Submit sponsorship + PR application together

    Combined package.

  3. 03

    Biometrics and interview if required

    Decision typically within 12 months.

  4. 04

    Land as PR

    Inland applicants may already be in Canada.

Other Canada routes covered for Brazilian applicants

  • Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)

    Federal points-based permanent residence for skilled workers without prior Canadian experience.

  • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

    Province-led permanent residence streams giving a 600 CRS boost when aligned with Express Entry.

  • Start-Up Visa (Canada)

    Permanent residence for entrepreneurs with endorsement from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator.

Not sure Canada is right for you? Compare similar routes

Other countries offer family routes that Brazilian nationals also apply to. See how they compare.

  • 🇬🇧 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

    Brazilian applicants — family routes

  • 🇮🇪 Republic of Ireland

    Brazilian applicants — family routes

  • 🇩🇪 Federal Republic of Germany

    Brazilian applicants — family routes

  • 🇵🇹 Portuguese Republic

    Brazilian applicants — family routes

Frequently asked questions

Are Brazilian citizens eligible for the Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada)?+−

Eligibility for the Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) is set by IRCC and is not nationality-restricted. See the criteria below for the published requirements.

Where do Brazilian applicants typically file the Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada)?+−

a Canada consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by IRCC — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.

Do Brazilian applicants need a tourist visa for Canada as well?+−

Tourist-entry rules for Brazilian nationals are set by IRCC and change periodically — check the official entry-requirements page. The Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) is a separate application from any tourist entry.

How long does the Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) take to process from Brazil?+−

The typical published decision window is 15 months – 1.7 years. Brazilian applicants usually file via a Canada consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence, and consular-post backlogs can add to the wait. Source: IRCC — Sponsor your spouse, verified 1 June 2026.

How long until permanent residence in Canada?+−

Arrival as PR → citizenship eligibility at 3 years. Temp-to-PR transition (Express Entry or PNP from inside Canada) typically adds another 1-3 years. The route leads to Permanent Residence (PR), then Canadian citizenship. See IRCC — Canadian citizenship for the qualifying-residence rules.

Is there a minimum income for spousal sponsorship?+−

No. Spousal and common-law partner sponsorship does not have a minimum income requirement. Parent and grandparent sponsorship does.

This is not legal advice

We publish neutral, sourced information about immigration routes. Rules and thresholds change often — always verify details on the official government source linked on this page and consult a regulated immigration advisor before applying.