Canada · family · Leads to settlement
Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Permanent residence sponsorship of spouses, common-law partners, or conjugal partners by Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
- Processing time
- Typically 12 months.
- Government fees
- CAD 1,205 (principal) including RPRF.
- Typical duration
- Permanent residence.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
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).
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Indian applicants
Indian spouses are the largest single sponsorship cohort. Indian marriage certificates from civil registrars (not religi…
Chinese applicants
Chinese spousal applications process through the Beijing visa office for outland cases. Mainland Chinese marriage certif…
Filipino applicants
Filipino spousal sponsorship is one of the largest single-nationality cohorts. NSO/PSA marriage and birth certificates a…
Nigerian applicants
Nigerian spousal applicants face heightened scrutiny on bona-fide-marriage evidence and on age-mismatch and brief-courts…
Brazilian applicants
Brazilian spousal applicants typically file outland via the consulate in São Paulo. Brazilian marriage certificates from…
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
Choose inland vs outland
Inland lets applicant apply for open work permit; outland typically faster.
Submit sponsorship + PR application together
Combined package.
Biometrics and interview if required
Decision typically within 12 months.
Land as PR
Inland applicants may already be in Canada.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceSponsorSponsor spouse or partner ↗
Canadian sponsors use this IRCC page to choose inland or outland instructions and submit the sponsorship package.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · verified
Fees and processing time
Indicative government fees: CAD 1,205 (principal) including RPRF.. A decision then typically takes 15 months – 1.7 years. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
Can I work in Canada while my spousal sponsorship is being processed?+
If you apply through the inland stream, the applicant can apply for an open work permit while the sponsorship is processed. The outland stream does not offer this but is typically faster, with decisions usually made within about 12 months.
What is the difference between inland and outland spousal sponsorship in Canada?+
Inland is for an applicant already in Canada and lets them apply for an open work permit, while outland is processed by a consulate and is typically faster. Both lead to permanent residence, with decisions typically within about 12 months.
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We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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