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Canadian citizens and permanent residents may sponsor their spouse or common-law partner for immigration to Canada. If successful, the sponsored person obtains permanent resident status, allowing the couple (or family, if applicable) to build their lives in Canada.
The common-law / spousal sponsorship Canada immigration program is a part of the Family Class category, through which Canada welcomes a substantial number of new permanent residents annually.
If you are interested in this pathway to permanent residence, either as the sponsor or sponsored person, there is much to consider. Important considerations include:
Both the sponsor and sponsored person must be approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in order for the sponsored person to receive Canadian permanent residence.
Please note that if you reside in the province of Quebec, you must also satisfy Quebec’s additional requirements for sponsorship.
You can sponsor your spouse or common-law partner for Canadian immigration if you are:
If you are a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must show that you plan to live in Canada when your spouse or partner becomes a permanent resident. You can’t sponsor someone if you are a permanent resident living outside Canada.
Some other things to note:
For spousal sponsorship in Canada, a spouse is a partner with whom you are legally married. This includes both opposite- and same-sex relationships.
For common-law sponsorship in Canada, a common-law partner isn’t legally married to you, but has been living with you for at least 12 consecutive months, meaning:
The definition of common-law partner includes both opposite- and same-sex relationships.
For spousal sponsorship in Canada, a conjugal partner is a person outside Canada who has had a binding relationship with you for at least one year, but could not, for some reason(s), live with you. Individuals living in Canada are not eligible to be sponsored as conjugal partners.
The definition of conjugal partner includes both opposite- and same-sex relationships.
Two terms are commonly used to describe the types of application that may be submitted: Outland sponsorship, and Inland sponsorship. Though these terms are rarely, if ever, used by IRCC, they are nonetheless terms that applicants, representatives, and other stakeholders often use.
If the sponsored person resides outside Canada, the application for permanent residence must be submitted to IRCC’s Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia. This is referred to as Outland sponsorship.
Inland sponsorship may be pursued when the couple is together in Canada and the foreign spouse/common-law partner has temporary status in Canada, either as a worker, student, or visitor. Inland applications must be submitted to IRCC’s Case Processing Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.
Sponsored spouses who have temporary residence status in Canada may be eligible for an open work permit, allowing them to work in Canada while the application is being processed. This open work permit initiative first began as a pilot program in 2014, and has then been extended every year since after it became clear that it helped families across Canada. In May 2023, Canada announced that Outland candidates would also be eligible for an open work permit.
Applicants residing in Canada may choose to pursue Outland sponsorship, even though they reside in Canada (therefore also making Inland sponsorship an option). A potential advantage to the Outland pathway is that in some cases the processing time may be shorter. However, IRCC has taken steps to reduce processing times in the spousal/common-law sponsorship program, particularly Inland sponsorship applications, thereby making Inland sponsorship more attractive than before, particularly as this pathway includes the possibility of the sponsored person being allowed to work in Canada before processing of the sponsorship application has been completed.
Spousal sponsorship processing times have been a contentious issue for some time, particularly when the Covid-19 pandemic affected IRCC work capacity in 2020. However, in response to this IRCC has increased by 66 per cent the number of staff that will review spousal sponsorship applications in order to reduce wait times and process applications more quickly. Learn more here.
Prior to 2020, processing time for spousal sponsorship applications in Canada were approximately 12 months (common-law partners and conjugal partners, as well). Of course, the exact processing time may vary from application to application.
No, you do not need a job offer to sponsor your spouse in Canada (or common-law partner, or conjugal partner).
It costs CAD$1,050 to sponsor your spouse for Canadian immigration (the same for common-law partners and conjugal partners). This amount only includes mandatory immigration fees:
You should expect other costs related to the immigration process, including costs related to obtaining documents, postage, and the services of an immigration representative (if you choose to work with one).
In most cases of spousal sponsorship in Canada, you do not have to meet a minimum level of income in order to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner. You do, however, 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.
During this period, you must ensure the person you sponsor has access to the following basic needs:
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.
Please note: If you are sponsoring a spouse who has dependent children, and one of those dependent children has dependent children of their own, in this case you must meet a minimum level of income.
In order to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for Canadian immigration, you have to follow a multistep process.
If you would like help with your spousal sponsorship application, we recommend a handful of experienced Canadian immigration consultants.
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In order to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for Canadian immigration, you will have to submit a complex application with documents specific to your situation. Once you have determined you are interested in sponsoring your spouse, you can use this IRCC tool to enter your personal details and receive an application kit and document checklist personalized to fit your details.
Your exact document requirements will depend on your situation. Ensure that you follow the requirements you receive from IRCC. Any deviation from IRCC’s requirements could cause your application to be refused.
Documents you should anticipate submitting as a part of your Canadian spousal sponsorship application include (but are not limited to):
Even if you are married, there is no guarantee that IRCC will accept your common-law partner / spousal sponsorship Canada immigration application. The application includes various forms and extensive documentation, including material that shows the ongoing strength of the relationship.
If you would like to book a consultation with a qualified, experienced immigration consultant before proceeding with the application, Moving2Canada can facilitate a booking with ease. Visit our Book an Immigration Consultant page for our list of recommended experts.
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