Canada · Processing time
Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada): how long does it take?
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
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).
How long does the Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) take to process in Canada?
The typical published decision window is 15 months – 1.7 years from a complete application. 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 against IRCC — Sponsor your spouse on 1 June 2026.
Typical wait
15 months – 1.7 years
from complete application
Government fees
CAD 1,205 (principal) including RPRF.
Last checked
1 June 2026
Reality vs official timing
- Official clock
- Official window only
- Delay trigger
- After 1.7 years
- Source checked
- 1 June 2026
Use 15 months – 1.7 years as the published decision window; delays usually start after the upper end if the source has not issued a newer figure.
What is the Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada)?
Permanent residence sponsorship of spouses, common-law partners, or conjugal partners by Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
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).
- Sponsorship: No job offer or employer sponsor is required.
- Settlement: This route can lead to permanent residence.
- Typical permit length: Permanent residence.
- Indicative government fees: CAD 1,205 (principal) including RPRF.
How to read this estimate
The 15 months – 1.7 years window is the time IRCC — Sponsor your spouse typically associates with the Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) — measured from a complete, correctly-lodged application through to a decision, not from when you start gathering documents.
- Collecting documents, getting qualifications recognised, and booking consular appointments all happen before the clock starts.
- If the authority requests more information, the clock pauses until you reply — so a fast, complete response keeps your place in the queue.
- Processing times shift with application volumes and policy changes. The IRCC — Sponsor your spouse page linked below is the only figure that is current on the day you apply.
Official source
IRCC — Sponsor your spouse
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/sponsor-spouse-partner-children.html
Cite or reuse this dataset
This figure is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite the Visa Atlas page for the compiled, dated dataset, and cite the official source for the underlying government rule.
Suggested citation
Visa Atlas, "Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) processing time dataset", https://visaatlas.org/processing-times/canada/spousal-sponsorship. Last verified 1 June 2026.
- JSON endpoint
- https://visaatlas.org/api/public/processing-times
Primary source (1)
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) take to process?+
The typical wait is 15 months – 1.7 years from submitting a complete application. 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). These figures come from IRCC — Sponsor your spouse and were last verified on 2026-06-01. Always confirm on the primary source before you apply.
When does the 15 months – 1.7 years clock start?+
The clock starts when IRCC — Sponsor your spouse receives a complete, valid application — not when you begin collecting documents. Gathering evidence, getting qualifications recognised, and booking consular appointments all happen before the window starts.
Is there a way to speed up the decision?+
Some Canada routes offer a priority or premium service for an additional fee. Check the linked primary source for current options — availability changes and varies by consular post.
What makes an application take longer than expected?+
The most common reasons for delays beyond the published window are: missing or incorrect documents, a request for more information (which pauses the clock until you reply), background or medical checks, and consular appointment backlogs in your country. Submitting a complete, well-organised application on day one is the single biggest thing you can do to stay inside the published window.
When should I treat my Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) application as delayed?+
Wait until you have passed the upper end of the published window (15 months – 1.7 years) before treating it as delayed. At that point, a single polite status enquiry through the official channel is reasonable. Do not chase repeatedly, as this tends to slow a case rather than speed it up.
Next steps
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.