Spousal Sponsorship Canada - Sponsor Your Spouse or Partner

Qualifying for Spousal Sponsorship in Canada

IRCC approves a spousal sponsorship application only if the sponsored person is either a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner.

1. What is the difference between a Spouse, a Common-Law Partner and a Conjugal Partner?

A spouse is someone whom you are legally married to under Canadian law, or under the law of the country where your marriage took place.

A common-law partner is someone to whom you are not legally married but have lived together continuously for at least 12 consecutive months. Brief separations during the year for family or business reasons are acceptable.
A conjugal partner is someone with whom you have a mutually dependent relationship for at least one year, and the person resides outside Canada.

Canada recognizes same-sex marriage. For this reason, same-sex partners may apply for the Spousal Sponsorship program under the three categories listed above, provided that they meet the spouse or common-law partner eligibility requirements.

Qualification Requirements to Sponsor Spouse in Canada

2. Who can be a sponsor?

Before you apply, you need to ensure you meet the requirements for a Sponsor:

• You’re at least 18 years old.
• You’re a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
• You live in Canada (those who don’t must show proof of their return plan once their family member obtains permanent residency).
• Able to provide for the basic needs of any person you want to sponsor for a period of time.
• You’re not in default of previous undertakings, immigration loans, or court-ordered payments.
• You’re not under a removal order or an undischarged bankruptcy.

Basic needs are defined as:

• Food, clothing, shelter, and other needs for everyday living
• Dental care, eye care, and other health needs that are not covered by Canada’s public health services

3. Who can you sponsor?

Canada’s immigration law has a very narrow definition of the members of the Family Class. In most cases, you can sponsor only the following family members:

• Spouse – only if your marriage is recognized by Canadian law.
• Common-law partner – you have lived together continuously for at least 12 months in a conjugal relationship.
• Conjugal partner – outside Canada and unable to cohabit due to legal or social barriers.
• Dependent children – under 22 years old and single, or dependent on parents financially due to a physical/mental condition.
• Parents and grandparents – biological or adoptive.

There are rare cases where you may sponsor a sibling if they are younger than 18 and are orphaned, or a blood-related relative of any age if you are a lone Canadian. You should check with our consultant to check the detailed requirements in these cases of family sponsorship in Canada.

4. What is the obligation of a Sponsor?

Acting as a sponsor requires that you promise to take financial responsibility for the person you are sponsoring and provide for their basic needs, through an agreement known as an undertaking, for a period that varies depending on who you are sponsoring.

The undertaking period for a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner is 3 years, for dependent children under the age of 22, this period is 10 years (or until they reach the age of 25, whichever comes first), and 3 years for dependent children 22 years of age and older. The length of the undertaking starts on the day the person you sponsor becomes a permanent resident.

Note that the length of the undertaking is different in Quebec than in other Canadian provinces and territories.

5. What is a Sponsor’s Undertaking Agreement?

It is mandatory for a sponsor to enter into a sponsorship agreement with the Canadian government that if the spouse or the person being sponsored applies for social assistance within the undertaking period, the sponsor has to reimburse the government for the amount.

6. Are there any Eligibility Requirements for the Applicant?

Yes. To show that your spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children are eligible to immigrate to Canada, they must fill out all the required forms and provide solid supporting documents, as well as answer any additional questions from IRCC. You may also need to take medical exams and provide biometrics.

Questions about spousal sponsorship or common-law partner sponsorship

7. How Long Does it Take to Sponsor a Spouse in Canada?

According to IRCC’s guidance(as of Dec 2025), a typical in-Canada spousal sponsorship takes 20 months to complete, whereas an outland spousal sponsorship takes about 14 months to process. You can refer to this article for an overview of the different stages in the process and the time required.

It is worth noting that the application process varies depending on a few factors, including the workload of the visa office where you apply and how complete your application is when you submit it. Any mistakes or missing information can cause delays. You should check the processing times on the Government of Canada’s website to get a more complete picture.

8. Can My Spouse Come to Canada When Waiting For a Spouse Visa?

Yes. However, they must enter the country legally and maintain legal status as a visitor, student, or worker in Canada. They must also wait for their work permit application to be approved before starting a job.

The work permit they should apply for is called an open work permit, and you can submit your application after you receive the Acknowledgement Of Receipt (AOR) from IRCC, which usually takes 2-4 months to arrive.

9. Should I choose outland or inland sponsorship?

You should choose Outland Sponsorship, which is also known as Family Class sponsorship, if your spouse or common-law partner lives outside of Canada, or they live in Canada with the sponsor but plan to travel frequently outside Canada during the application process. For the latter case, the applicant still needs to apply for a temporary status to remain in Canada while their outland sponsorship application is being processed.

On the other hand, you should apply under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class if the principal applicant lives with the sponsor in Canada and they currently hold or previously held a valid immigration status in Canada.

Even if your spouse or common-law partner is out of status in Canada, they may still be eligible to apply for spousal sponsorship under certain circumstances. There is a public policy that allows individuals who are out of status to remain in Canada while their application is being processed. However, they must meet other eligibility requirements and ensure they comply with Canadian immigration laws during the application process.

10. How much does it cost to sponsor my spouse or common-law partner?

Government Fees charged by IRCC in 2025 include:

• Sponsorship fee – $85
• Principal applicant processing fee – $545
• Right of Permanent Residence Fee – $575
• Biometrics – $85 per person

Pay online through IRCC’s portal and upload the receipt to your submission. Applications without proof of payment may be returned.

11. Can my spouse or common-law partner include their family members on our spousal sponsorship application?

Your spouse or common-law partner may include their dependent children who are accompanying them on their permanent residence application.

The dependent must be under 22 years old, unmarried and not in a common-law relationship when the application is submitted. In certain circumstances, dependents over 22 years may still be eligible.

12. Is an interview required for spousal and common-law sponsorship?

Nowadays, it is uncommon for spousal sponsorship applicants to be invited for Immigration interviews; generally, this occurs only in specific situations. Usually, these interviews are required only when there is a lack of supporting documents for the relationship, discrepancies between the information provided in forms and documents, or other red flags exist in the relationship.

Although the final decision to interview a couple is at the discretion of the visa officer, using the services of an experienced licensed immigration consultant can help to present your application in the best possible way and address any concerns or doubts about the genuineness of your relationship.

13. What are the reasons a Spousal Sponsorship Application is refused?

Many genuine couples experience delays or even refusals when immigration officers are not convinced that their relationship is genuine. Here are the top five red flags (warning signs) that IRCC often looks for in relationship applications.

• Weak or inconsistent evidence of a relationship
• Substantial age difference or cultural difference without information
• A brief time span from meeting to marriage to sponsorship application.
• No history of cohabitation or personal visits
• Incomplete or contradictory forms of information about the relationship

14. How much income do you need to sponsor your spouse in Canada?

In most cases of spousal sponsorship in Canada, there is no minimum income requirement in order to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner. But as a sponsor, you have to sign an undertaking agreeing to provide for the basic financial needs of the person you sponsor, usually for a period of three years.

If the person you are sponsoring receives social assistance from the Canadian government during the period of your undertaking, you will be financially liable for this assistance.

15. What is the process for sponsoring my spouse to Canada?

16. Spousal Sponsorship processing times

17. What are the requirements of a Spousal Sponsorship Application?

18. What are the required documents for a Spousal Sponsorship Application?