Canadian immigration for couples: A guide to spousal sponsorship

As a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you can sponsor your spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner (“partner”) for Canadian permanent residency.

Provided that you and your partner meet the requirements, your partner can apply directly to the federal government for permanent residency, making spousal sponsorship one of the more direct and sure-fire routes to PR.

You can also sponsor your partner’s dependent children.

If your partner is in Canada, they may be eligible for a spousal open work permit (SOWP) while their PR application is being processed.

Sponsor your family for Canadian immigration

This article will cover

• What you need to be eligible to sponsor your partner;
• Whom you can sponsor, and the eligibility criteria Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to validate each relationship type;
• The difference between sponsoring a partner living within Canada (inland sponsorship) and sponsoring a partner living abroad (outland sponsorship);
• Your undertaking obligation and associated commitments;
• What you can expect if you are invited for a spousal sponsorship interview; and
• The costs associated with submitting a spousal sponsorship application.

Who is eligible to be a sponsor

To qualify as a sponsor for your partner under Canada’s spousal sponsorship program, you must

• Be at least 18 years old;
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Canadian Indian Act;
• Be able to provide for the basic needs of your family; and
• Not be receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability.

If you’re a permanent resident, you must also be within Canada. If you’re a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must demonstrate that you’ll move to Canada to live with your partner once they get PR.

In addition to meeting the above criteria, you must also not be in any disqualifying situations.

Disqualifying situations

You may be barred from sponsoring your spouse, partner, and any dependents if you

• Were yourself sponsored by a partner and gained permanent resident status less than five years ago;
• Are still bound by a three-year financial undertaking to support a previous partner;
• Have already applied to sponsor your partner and are still awaiting a decision on that application;
• Have declared bankruptcy and have not yet been discharged*;
• Have defaulted on an immigration loan, performance bond, or on court-ordered family support payments;
• Failed to meet your financial obligations outlined in a previous sponsorship agreement*;
• Have been convicted of, or have threatened or attempted to commit, a violent crime or sexual offence;
• Are under a removal order; or
• Are currently in jail, prison, reformatory, or a penitentiary.

*These sponsorship requirements do not apply if you are a resident of Quebec.

Residents of Quebec

Residents of Quebec must meet the province’s specific sponsorship requirements to qualify as a sponsor.

The province of Quebec has its own set of rules and requirements for spousal sponsorship, including a distinct application process and differing sponsorship undertaking commitments.

Residents of Quebec will need to submit a spousal sponsorship application to both IRCC and the Ministère de l’immigration, de la francisation et de l’intégration (MIFI)—the Quebec government informs IRCC if you’re approved to as a sponsor.

You will also have to sign an undertaking with the province of Quebec, as well as get an income assessment completed by the MIFI.

Note: The MIFI has imposed a 13,000 cap on family sponsorship applications, which took effect on 26 June, 2024 and will remain in place until 25 June, 2026. After this cap has been hit, any applications will be returned without processing.

Application processing times for those intending to reside in Quebec differ and currently range from 34 to 36 months.

Whom you are allowed to sponsor

As a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you can apply to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner (“partner”), and their dependent children (if applicable) to join you in Canada.

Your partner must be at least 18 years of age, and must also be admissible to Canada.

To demonstrate that they satisfy the eligibility criteria, your partner (and their dependent child(ren), if applicable) must submit the following:

• All necessary forms and supporting documents required for their application; and
• Any further information requested during the processing period, such as medical exams or biometrics.

Additionally, for IRCC to validate your relationship status, you must meet certain criteria. The following table details the specific requirements that must be met for each relationship category.

Spouses

Your marriage must be legally recognized in

• The country in which it took place; and
• Canada.

Both you and your spouse must have been physically present at the ceremony; none of the following arrangements are valid:

• Marriage by proxy, where one or both parties are not physically present at the ceremony and someone else stands in for them;
• Marriage by telephone;
• Marriage by fax or email;
• Marriage by internet;
• Marriage by correspondence (mail or other non-physical means); or
• Self-uniting or self-solemnizing marriages, where couples are married without an officiant by declaring themselves married.

Common-law relationships

To successfully sponsor your common-law partner, you must be able to demonstrate a significant degree of commitment to one another. Examples include

• Sharing the same home;
• Supporting one another both emotionally and financially;
• Presenting yourselves as a couple in the public eye; and
• Having children together (if applicable).

Conjugal partners

Sponsoring a conjugal partner requires you to demonstrate

• A significant degree of attachment and mutual interdependence; and
• Obstacles or restrictions preventing you from living together or getting married.

Examples of valid reasons a couple may not be able to live together or get married include immigration issues, religious restrictions, and legal or cultural barriers tied to sexual orientation.

Typically, the foreign partner is unable to legally marry their sponsor and meet the requirements to be recognized as a spouse.

If you’re applying under the conjugal partner category, the person you are sponsoring must not currently be living in Canada.

The two forms of spousal sponsorship

Spousal sponsorships can be pursued through two distinct routes:

• The “Spouse or common-law partner in Canada class” – colloquially referred to as “inland sponsorship”; or
• The “Family class” – colloquially referred to as “outland sponsorship.”

The key distinctions between these two categories lie in the following aspects:

• Where the sponsorship application can be submitted from; and
• Whether the sponsor or sponsored individual can travel in and out of Canada during the application processing period.

The class you apply under will also affect your right to appeal if a sponsorship application is denied.

You will be required to indicate the class you are applying under when submitting your application.

Spouse or common-law partner in Canada class (“Inland sponsorship”)

If you and your spouse or common-law partner are already residing in Canada at the time the sponsorship application is made, you can apply under inland sponsorship. Conjugal partners are not eligible for this sponsorship class.

Under this class, both you and the sponsored individual must remain in the country while your application is being processed.

Note that Canadian citizens (not permanent residents) also have the option of applying through the outland sponsorship pathway even when residing together in Canada. The benefit of this approach is that it allows you to travel in and out of Canada freely while your application is being processed. You must, however, show a willingness to return to Canada once your application has been approved.

The sponsored spouse or common-law partner must typically maintain valid temporary resident status in Canada, such as visitor status, a work permit, or  study permit.

There are some exceptions to admissibility requirements for foreign nationals being sponsored as partners: spouses or common-law partners without valid temporary resident status may still be sponsored if they are inadmissible to Canada for any the following reasons only:

• Overstaying a visa, visitor record, work permit, or study permit;
• Working or studying in Canada without proper authorization;
• Entering Canada without the necessary visa or documentation; or
• Entering Canada without a valid passport or travel document.*

*Valid travel documents must be obtained by the time the sponsored party is given permanent residence status.

Additionally, sponsored individuals already living in Canada may be eligible to apply for an Open Work Permit (OWP) at the same time their permanent residence application is submitted.

You do not have the option to appeal an application refusal under the inland sponsorship pathway.

The processing time for inland sponsorship applications is 28 months, as of the time of writing.

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Family class (“outland sponsorship”)

It’s often the case that Family class sponsorship are submitted when the sponsor lives in Canada and the sponsored partner resides outside the country—though Canadian citizens can also sponsor their loved one while living abroad.

Conjugal partners must apply under outland sponsorship.

A key advantage of Family class sponsorship is that both you (if you’re a Canadian citizen) and your partner can travel in and out of Canada while the application is being processed. That said,

• The person being sponsored must either be from a country that does not require a visa, or must obtain the required Canadian visa to enter the country; and
• Both the you and your partner must show a willingness to return to and reside in Canada once the the application has been approved.

If you are sponsoring as a permanent resident, you must stay in Canada while the application is being processed.

Your partner may be eligible for an OWP if they’re in Canada while their application is being processed.

Unlike the Spouse or common law partner in Canada class, if the application is refused, you have the right to appeal the decision.

Application processing times for Family class sponsorship stand at 10 months, as of the time of writing.

Your undertaking obligations

The undertaking agreement you sign is a legally binding commitment to financially support your partner for their basic needs throughout the period of the undertaking.

Before committing to the sponsorship undertaking, you must ensure that the individuals you sponsor will not require financial assistance from the government. If they do, you will be required to repay the full amount—and you cannot sponsor anyone else until you have repaid the full amount.

You can only withdraw an undertaking prior to a final decision being made on your sponsorship application, and the withdrawal must be approved by IRCC.

After the undertaking is in affect, you cannot back out of these obligations, regardless of any changes to your situation, such as

• You face financial difficulties;
• The relationship ends due to separation, divorce, or breakdown;
• The person you are sponsoring becomes a Canadian citizen; or
• You or the person you are sponsoring relocates to a different province or country.

The length of your undertaking period is dependent on whom you’re sponsoring. Below you will find a table outlining the length of time you will be financially responsible for your spouse, partner, or dependent child over and under 22 years of age.

*To be considered a dependent child under 22 years of age, that child must not be married or in a common-law relationship.

*Individuals aged 22 or older need to satisfy the following criteria to be considered a dependent child:

• They must have relied on their parents for financial assistance prior to reaching the age of 22; and
• They must be incapable of supporting themselves due to a mental or physical impairment.

These conditions (minus the age factor) must remain valid throughout the entire duration of the application process.

The spousal sponsorship interview

You may be required to meet with an immigration officer in-person for an interview.

Not all spousal sponsorship applications will require an interview. They are generally only necessary when there are some concerns about application details and/or the validity of the relationship, or if a couple has complex relationship histories.

Both the you and your partner will undergo questioning while separated, in which you both should be able to provide similar answers.

You will be informed if an interview is necessary and be provided a date, time, and location to appear. Make sure to bring all the necessary documents to help prove your relationship is genuine, such as your

• Marriage certificate;
• Records of communication (logs, texts, call histories, etc.);
• Photographs and videos together from shared events or moments;
• Valid identification;
• Proof of cohabitation (if applicable);
• Sponsorship agreement; and
• Previous divorce certificates (if applicable).

The questions asked vary interview-to-interview, but will typically revolve around information provided in the application as well as details about your relationship.

Common interview topics and questions are listed below:

• Describe your relationship and how you met (location, length of relationship, etc.).
• Describe where your partner studied, their occupation, and work experience.
• How often do you communicate with your partner and in what manner?
• What are the names of your partner’s family members and how did you meet them?
• Tell us about your proposal and provide details about your wedding.
• What meals or dishes does your partner enjoy the most?
• Does your partner have any medical conditions?
• How will household chores be divided amongst you once you live together?
• How do you typically spend your days, and what are some hobbies or goals you and your partner share for the future?

Sponsorship application fees

There are a number of fees you must pay to submit a spousal sponsorship application, and the total cost associated with your application will depend on your unique situation. Below you will find a table outlining the various fees you can be expected to pay.

When sponsoring your spouse or partner with dependent children, an additional fee of $170 will be required for each child included in the application.

You might also need to cover costs for third-party services, such as medical exams, police certificates, or fees for hiring a paid representative, if applicable.

Quebec residents or those intending to reside in Quebec will have to pay an additional processing fee to the province.

Sponsor your family for Canadian immigration