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Family Sponsorship

Spousal Sponsorship

Planning to reunite with your spouse or partner in Canada? An eligible Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act may be able to sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for permanent residence.

Eligibility depends on the relationship, immigration history, place of residence, and the sponsorship class under which the application is submitted.

01 What Is Spousal Sponsorship?

Spousal sponsorship allows an eligible Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act to sponsor their spouse or partner for permanent residence in Canada.

The application has two connected parts:

  • the sponsor applies to become an approved sponsor; and
  • the spouse or partner applies for permanent residence.
The relationship must be genuine and must not have been entered into primarily for immigration purposes. The person being sponsored and their family members must also meet the applicable medical, criminal, security, and other immigration requirements.

02 Who Can Sponsor?

To sponsor your spouse or partner, you generally must:

  • be at least 18 years old;
  • be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act;
  • live in Canada;
  • sign an undertaking agreeing to provide financial support; and
  • meet all other applicable sponsorship requirements.

A Canadian citizen living outside Canada may be able to sponsor a spouse or partner by showing that they intend to live in Canada when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.

A permanent resident living outside Canada cannot submit a sponsorship application.

When Might You Be Unable to Sponsor?

You may not be eligible to sponsor if you:

  • were sponsored as a spouse or partner and became a permanent resident less than five years ago;
  • previously sponsored a spouse or partner and the three-year undertaking is still in effect;
  • are receiving social assistance for a reason other than disability;
  • are an undischarged bankrupt;
  • are in default of certain immigration, sponsorship, or court-ordered support obligations;
  • are in jail, prison, or a penitentiary;
  • are subject to a removal order; or
  • have certain criminal convictions.

Other restrictions may apply depending on your immigration history and personal circumstances.

Sponsors living in Quebec must also meet Quebec’s requirements and complete a provincial undertaking when instructed to do so.

03 Who Can Be Sponsored?

You may be able to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner. These categories apply to couples of any gender.

The person being sponsored must generally be at least 18 years old, meet one of the relationship definitions below, be in a genuine relationship with the sponsor, not have entered the relationship primarily to obtain permanent residence, and not be inadmissible to Canada.

Spouse

A spouse is someone to whom you are legally married. A marriage performed outside Canada must generally be legally recognized both in the country where it took place and in Canada.

IRCC generally does not recognize marriages performed outside Canada by proxy, telephone, fax, internet, or another method where one or both spouses were not physically present at the ceremony.

Common-Law Partner

A common-law partner is someone with whom you have lived continuously in a marriage-like relationship for at least 12 consecutive months.

Short and temporary absences may be acceptable, provided that you continued to maintain your common-law relationship. You must provide evidence of your shared life together.

Conjugal Partner

A conjugal partner is someone who lives outside Canada and is neither legally married to nor in a common-law relationship with the sponsor. The couple must have been in a genuine and committed relationship for at least one year, shared their lives, and supported each other as partners.

This category is not intended for couples who simply choose not to marry or live together. Evidence must show that genuine barriers prevented marriage or cohabitation. A conjugal partner must be sponsored under the Family Class.

04 Family Class or In-Canada Sponsorship

Spousal and partner sponsorship applications are generally submitted under one of two classes. Compare the circumstances and consequences that distinguish them.

Family Class

The Family Class, commonly called outland sponsorship, is generally used when:

  • the spouse or partner lives outside Canada;
  • the spouse or common-law partner lives in Canada but may not remain in Canada throughout processing;
  • the sponsor wants to preserve a possible right of appeal if the application is refused; or
  • the person being sponsored is a conjugal partner.

A spouse or common-law partner who is physically in Canada may still be sponsored under the Family Class.

Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class (SCLPC)

This class, commonly called inland sponsorship, generally applies when the spouse or common-law partner lives with the sponsor in Canada and has valid temporary resident status or qualifies under an applicable public policy.

This class is not available for conjugal partners.

Leaving Canada while an application is being processed carries a risk. There is no guarantee that the sponsored person will be permitted to return. If they cannot return to Canada, an application under the in-Canada class may be affected.

A refusal under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class cannot be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division in the same way as an eligible Family Class refusal.

05 What Are the Sponsor’s Responsibilities?

The sponsor must sign an undertaking promising to provide financial support for the sponsored spouse or partner. This includes basic needs such as food, clothing, housing, and dental, vision, and other health-related expenses not covered by public health insurance.

Outside Quebec, the undertaking lasts for three years from the date the sponsored spouse or partner becomes a permanent resident.

The undertaking normally continues even if:

  • the relationship ends;
  • the couple separates or divorces;
  • either person moves to another province or country;
  • the sponsored person becomes a Canadian citizen; or
  • the sponsor experiences financial difficulties.

If the sponsored person receives social assistance during the undertaking period, the sponsor may be required to repay it.

Once the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident, the undertaking cannot be cancelled or shortened.

06 How to Apply

The application process generally involves the following steps:

Confirm Eligibility and Choose the Correct Class

Confirm that the sponsor and the person being sponsored meet the requirements. Determine whether to apply under the Family Class or the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class.

Gather the Required Documents

Complete the forms and collect the required identity, civil-status, relationship, and supporting documents.

Submit the Application

Submit the sponsorship and permanent residence applications online and pay the applicable fees.

Respond to IRCC’s Requests

IRCC may request biometrics, a medical examination, additional documents, or an interview.

Receive the Decision

IRCC will make a final decision after reviewing the application and any requested information.

07 Frequently Asked Questions

Can a temporary resident in Canada sponsor a spouse or partner?+
No. A visitor, worker, or student cannot sponsor a spouse or partner based only on their temporary resident status. The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act.
Is there a minimum income requirement to sponsor a spouse or partner?+
In most cases, there is no fixed minimum income requirement. However, the sponsor must agree to provide financial support and sign a three-year undertaking. An income requirement may apply if the sponsored person has a dependent child who also has a dependent child.
Can dependent children be included in the application?+
Yes. Eligible dependent children may be included in the permanent residence application. A child generally qualifies as a dependent if they are under 22 years old and do not have a spouse or common-law partner. Limited exceptions may apply to children aged 22 or older.
What is the difference between inland and outland sponsorship?+
Inland sponsorship, under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class, is generally used when the spouse or common-law partner lives with the sponsor in Canada and plans to remain in Canada during processing. Outland sponsorship, under the Family Class, is generally used when the spouse or partner lives outside Canada. It may also be used when a spouse or common-law partner is living in Canada. Conjugal partners must apply under the Family Class.
Can my spouse or partner work during processing?+
A sponsorship application does not automatically provide authorization to work. However, a sponsored spouse or partner living in Canada may be eligible for an open work permit and must receive work authorization before starting work.
Can I sponsor someone if I was previously sponsored?+
You generally cannot sponsor a spouse or partner until five years have passed from the date you became a permanent resident through spousal or partner sponsorship.
Can I sponsor a new spouse or partner if I previously sponsored someone else?+
You generally cannot sponsor a new spouse or partner while the three-year undertaking for a previously sponsored spouse or partner remains in effect. The three-year period begins on the date the previously sponsored person becomes a permanent resident. Other eligibility restrictions may also apply.
Will I lose my permanent resident status if I separate from my sponsor?+
No. Once you become a permanent resident, separation or divorce does not automatically affect your status, and you are not required to continue living with your sponsor. However, cases involving fraud, misrepresentation, or a relationship that was not genuine may be investigated and could affect permanent resident status.
Does Canada recognize a marriage that was not performed in person?+
IRCC generally does not recognize a marriage performed outside Canada by proxy, telephone, fax, internet, or another method where one or both spouses were not physically present at the ceremony.
Can I withdraw my spousal sponsorship?+
You may request to withdraw the sponsorship before the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident. Any refund depends on how far IRCC has progressed in processing the application. If the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident before IRCC processes the withdrawal request, the undertaking remains in effect.
Can I appeal a refusal?+
It depends on the application class. A sponsor may generally appeal a Family Class refusal to the Immigration Appeal Division. A refusal under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class does not have the same right of appeal. Depending on the circumstances and reasons for refusal, reapplying or seeking judicial review may be possible. Strict deadlines apply.

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