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Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada)

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 5 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

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

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyPermanent residence.
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
Reviewed IRCC ↗

In short

As of 8 July 2026, the Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) for Canada is an unsponsored Canada immigration route. Sources: official Canada government pages, reviewed 10 September 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/canada/spousal-sponsorship#answer

What is the Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) in Canada?

Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) is an unsponsored Canada route. Indicative government fees are CAD 1,205 (principal) including RPRF; indicative processing time is Typically 12 months; typical duration is Permanent residence. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against IRCC on 1 June 2026.

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.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

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

Application pathway

  1. Choose inland vs outland

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

  2. Submit sponsorship + PR application together

    Combined package.

  3. Biometrics and interview if required

    Decision typically within 12 months.

  4. Land as PR

    Inland applicants may already be in Canada.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check the conditions for your own permission, including work, and keep evidence of the qualifying relationship. The principal applicant’s conditions may differ.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to CanadaFirst steps after arrivingDestination moving checklist

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Canada. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

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.

  1. Official guidanceSponsor
    Sponsor 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.. The issuing authority does not publish a central processing time for this route, so plan against comparable cases. 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.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Canada

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: IRCC

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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