Canada
Family Sponsorship
Sponsor Your Spouse or Partner for Permanent Residence
Canada's family reunification programs let eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner to become a permanent resident. The process centres on one thing above all: showing that your relationship is genuine. This page explains who can sponsor, the difference between inland and outland applications, the documents you'll prepare, and the commitments a sponsor makes.
01 What is Spousal Sponsorship
Spousal sponsorship is a permanent-residence pathway under the family class administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It allows a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Canadian Indian Act to sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner so that person can live in Canada as a permanent resident.
A sponsorship application has two linked parts: the sponsor must be approved as eligible to sponsor, and the person being sponsored (the applicant) must be approved for permanent residence. Both must be assessed and approved before permanent residence is granted.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and no outcome is guaranteed. Rules, fees, and processing times change frequently — confirm the current requirements on the official IRCC pages or with a licensed consultant before you apply.
02 Who You Can Sponsor
The program recognizes three types of relationships. Identifying yours correctly matters, because it affects which application class you use and whether you can apply from inside Canada.
Spouse
A person you are legally married to. The marriage must be valid both where it took place and under Canadian law.
Common-law partner
A partner you have lived with continuously in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 months. You'll need to evidence the period of cohabitation.
Conjugal partner
A partner in a committed relationship of at least 12 months whom you could not marry or live with due to significant barriers (for example, immigration, marital status, or legal restrictions). Conjugal partners are sponsored from outside Canada only.
Dependent children of the person you sponsor can often be included in the same application. The sponsored person and their family members must pass background, security, and medical checks.
03 Sponsor Eligibility and the Undertaking
To sponsor a partner, you generally must:
- be at least 18 years old
- be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a person registered under the Canadian Indian Act
- live in Canada, or — if you're a citizen living abroad — show you'll return to live in Canada when your partner becomes a permanent resident (permanent residents must be living in Canada)
- be able to meet basic needs for yourself and the person you sponsor, and not be receiving social assistance for a reason other than disability
- not be barred from sponsoring (for example, due to certain criminal convictions, an unpaid immigration or performance bond, a previous sponsorship default, or bankruptcy)
As a sponsor, you sign an undertaking — a promise to financially support the person you sponsor and repay any social assistance they receive. For a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, the undertaking is 3 years in all provinces except Quebec, starting the day they become a permanent resident (verified on the IRCC "What it means to be a sponsor" page, June 2026). The undertaking stays in force even if your relationship ends or your circumstances change — confirm the current term on the IRCC page before applying.
Quebec residents: the undertaking is administered by the province (MIFI) and has its own terms, forms, and intake rules, which may differ from the federal undertaking and may be subject to intake periods. Quebec applicants should review the Quebec government's requirements directly.
04 Inland vs. Outland Applications
For a spouse or common-law partner, there are two ways to apply. Choosing between them depends on where the sponsored person is living and how they want to travel and work during processing.
Inland (Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class)
For couples living together in Canada, where the sponsored person holds valid temporary status. The applicant may be able to apply for an open work permit while the application is processed. Conjugal partners cannot use this class.
Outland (Family Class)
Processed through a visa office and generally used when the sponsored person lives outside Canada — though they can apply outland even while in Canada. It does not require the applicant to remain in Canada throughout, so it can suit couples who need to travel.
Inland and outland applications follow different rules around travel and work authorization, and processing times differ between them. A licensed consultant can help you weigh which stream fits your situation.
05 How to Apply
While details vary by case and class, a spousal sponsorship application generally follows these steps:
Confirm eligibility — both of you
Check that you qualify as a sponsor and that your relationship fits the spouse, common-law, or conjugal category, then choose the inland or outland route.
Gather forms and supporting documents
Complete the sponsorship and permanent-residence forms and assemble identity documents, the relationship evidence, and the signed undertaking and sponsorship agreement.
Pay the fees
Sponsorship applications typically involve a sponsorship fee, a principal-applicant processing fee, the right-of-permanent-residence fee, and biometrics. Confirm the current amounts on IRCC's fee page before paying.
Submit the application
Applications are generally submitted online through your IRCC secure account. After submission, IRCC issues an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) when the file is accepted as complete.
Complete biometrics, medical and checks
The sponsored person and any dependants provide biometrics, complete an immigration medical exam if required, and pass background and security screening. IRCC may request more documents or an interview.
Receive a decision
If approved, the sponsored person is granted permanent residence (and, if outside Canada, the document needed to travel and land). The undertaking period begins on that date.
06 Proof of a Genuine Relationship
The heart of every spousal application is showing the relationship is genuine and was not entered into primarily for immigration purposes. There is no single mandatory list, but applications are stronger when they tell a consistent, well-documented story. Commonly submitted evidence includes:
- your marriage certificate or proof of registered partnership, where applicable
- proof of cohabitation, such as a shared lease, mortgage, or bills in both names (essential for common-law partners)
- joint financial records — bank accounts, insurance, or beneficiary designations
- photographs together over time, with family and friends, and travel records of visits
- communication history showing an ongoing relationship
- letters of support from people who know you as a couple
- evidence of how the relationship began and developed, and of important shared events
Quality matters more than volume. Aim for documents that span the length of the relationship and corroborate each other. Required documents can also vary by the visa office responsible for your file.
07 Spousal Open Work Permit and Timelines
A sponsored spouse or partner who is in Canada may be able to apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP), which lets them work for almost any employer while their permanent-residence application is processed. Eligibility generally requires that the person:
- has an in-progress spousal/common-law sponsorship application with an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR)
- is physically present in Canada
- holds valid temporary resident status (or maintained status, with restoration eligibility in some cases)
As of June 2026, a public policy lets eligible sponsored spouses and partners who are in Canada apply for an open work permit — including outland applicants who are physically present in Canada — and IRCC has extended this policy through December 31, 2026. SOWP eligibility and exemption codes are volatile; confirm the current rules on the IRCC open-work-permit page before applying.
Processing times. Spousal applications can take many months and vary by class and by whether the file is destined for Quebec. As of IRCC's June 8, 2026 figures, processing was roughly 26 months for inland (Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada) and about 16 months for outland (Family Class) for applicants outside Quebec; Quebec-destined files were longer. These estimates change regularly — check the live IRCC processing-times tool for the current figure for your situation, and note that an incomplete application can be delayed or returned.
08 Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between inland and outland sponsorship?+
Inland (Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class) is for couples living together in Canada where the sponsored person has valid status, and it can open the door to a spousal open work permit. Outland (Family Class) is processed through a visa office and is typically used when the sponsored person is abroad, though it can be filed while they're in Canada too; it doesn't require the applicant to stay in Canada throughout. Conjugal partners can only be sponsored outland.
Can my spouse work while we wait for a decision?+
Possibly. A sponsored spouse or partner who is in Canada, holds valid status, and has received an Acknowledgement of Receipt for the sponsorship application may be eligible for a Spousal Open Work Permit. As of June 2026 this option, under a public policy that also covers outland applicants present in Canada, is extended through December 31, 2026. Because the rules and codes change, confirm current eligibility on the IRCC website before applying.
How long does spousal sponsorship take?+
It depends on the class and destination. As of IRCC's June 8, 2026 figures, processing was around 26 months for inland and about 16 months for outland applications outside Quebec, with Quebec-destined files taking longer. Processing times are updated frequently — always check the live IRCC processing-times tool for your current estimate, and submit a complete application to avoid delays.
What does the sponsorship undertaking commit me to?+
By signing the undertaking you promise to financially support the person you sponsor and to repay any social assistance they receive during the undertaking period. For a spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner this period is 3 years in provinces other than Quebec, starting when they become a permanent resident. It remains in force even if your relationship breaks down or your finances change. Quebec administers its own undertaking with different terms.
How do we prove our relationship is genuine?+
There's no single required document. Strong applications combine items that span the relationship — proof of cohabitation, joint finances, photos together over time, communication history, travel records, and letters of support — so they corroborate each other and tell a consistent story. The goal is to show the relationship is real and not entered into mainly for immigration purposes.
Can I sponsor my partner if I live outside Canada?+
Canadian citizens living abroad may be able to sponsor if they show they will return to live in Canada once their partner becomes a permanent resident. Permanent residents, however, must be living in Canada to sponsor. Eligibility depends on your specific circumstances, so it's worth confirming with IRCC or a licensed consultant.
Talk to a Licensed Expert
Ready to reunite with your spouse or partner?
Our licensed immigration consultants (RCICs regulated by the CICC) can confirm your eligibility, choose the right inland or outland route, and help you build a well-documented application.
