Sponsor your Spouse or Partner for Canadian Immigration

Spousal Sponsorship: Sponsor your Spouse or Partner for Canadian Immigration

A permanent resident or Canadian citizen may sponsor their partner to come to Canada and settle permanently through spousal sponsorship. Uniting families is of utmost importance, and for this reason, spousal sponsorship applications are, in Canada, considered a priority.

Below is everything you need to know with respect to sponsoring your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner to Canada.

Eligibility criteria applicable to a sponsor or sponsored person;
Overview of spousal sponsorship;
What is the spousal sponsorship program?
An overview of how the process works: spousal sponsorship under Canadian law;
What conditions must be met for you to sponsor your spouse?;
Reasons why a sponsorship application could be denied;
Questions and Answers: FAQs.
What is the spousal sponsorship program?
Within Canadian immigration responder, individuals sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, or person in a conjugal relationship could be together under spousal sponsorship under the Permanent Residency Act. The objective of family reunification is achievable through this program, allowing the Canadian citizen or permanent resident to invite his or her partner to Canada.

Before getting into the specifics of the process, it is important to understand the distinctions between these relationship categories: spousal, common-law, and conjugal partnerships.

Spouse: the sponsored person is legally married to the sponsor;
Common-law partner: the sponsored person and the sponsor have completed at least one year of cohabitation in a conjugal relationship;
Conjugal partner: the parties have been involved in a real and continuing relationship with one another for at least one year but have faced exceptional difficulties since the parties have been unable to live together as partners or marry. 

Each one has different eligibility requirements, and documentation that must be presented for immigration. To find out more about the nuances of these relationship types and to have full information about the application according to your relationship type, read the entire blog article: Difference Between Spouse, Common-Law and Conjugal Partner.

Family Class (Outland) Vs. In Canada Sponsorship Class  Spousal Sponsorship consists of two main classes:

1. Family Class (Outland) Sponsorship Class
You should apply to the Family Class (Outland) sponsorship option if:

Your spouse/common-law partner ("the principal applicant") is outside of Canada
While living with the sponsor in Canada, you do not plan to stay in Canada during the application process.
The downside to using this stream is that you might find it hard to live with your spouse until the time when your application is approved. However, your spouse can apply for a temporary visa to come to Canada while their outland sponsorship application is being processed.

2. In Canada Sponsorship Class
You should apply under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class (Inland) if:

You are living with the sponsor in Canada
You are in Canada with valid immigration status
You wish to apply for an open work permit in order to work in Canada while the application is pending.
Your spouse/common-law partner may also submit under such stream if he is out of status while protected under a public policy that permits him to stay in Canada until he fully processes his application. Nevertheless, the downside to this stream is practically that he is to refrain from traveling out of Canada while the application is in process.

In Canada, it takes how long to complete spousal sponsorship processing?
Applications for sponsorship take about 12 months to process from beginning to end. In most cases, they are not processed much ahead of the 12-month mark; they may also take longer; it varies according to what your case entails.

If you wish to sponsor your spouse for permanent residency, it could take as long as 25 months to process if you are in Quebec. In addition, your case will take longer if it is complicated or if the visa office requests more proof of your relationship.

The only way to ensure that your sponsorship application is processed as quickly as possible is to get it right the first time. The lawyers and legal professionals at Canadian Title Immigration and Visa Consulting(CTIV) have helped thousands of spousal sponsorship applications. Find out how Canadian Title Immigration and Visa Consulting(CTIV)  can help you reunite with your loved ones by taking our free online evaluation.

How do I submit a spousal, conjugal, or common-law sponsorship application?
You can submit a spousal sponsorship application by mail or by using IRCC's new permanent residency application portal.

Can my spouse, conjugal partner, or common-law partner include their family members in our spousal sponsorship application?
Your spouse, conjugal partner, or common-law partner may include any dependent children accompanying them with the application for permanent residence.

What are the sums charged to sponsor your spouse, conjugal partner, or common-law partner to Canada?
The government processing fees to sponsor your spouse, conjugal partner, or common-law partner in Canada are listed below. If you are sponsoring your spouse, conjugal partner, or common-law partner along with their dependent children, you will have to pay an additional $150 for each child included in the application. 

Sponsorship fee: $85

Principal applicant processing fee: $545

Right of Permanent Residence fee: $575

Biometrics: $85

Total: $1205

When seeking sponsorship for settlement in the province of Quebec, potential candidates should be informed about the coming into play of supplementary documents and other fees that make the full assessment of applications possible. Quebec has specialized requirements correlating to the process of sponsorship and this makes it very important to gather knowledge about additional documentation and corresponding fees. For more information on spousal sponsorship fees, we suggest that you read the article entitled “Spousal Sponsorship in Quebec.” This piece provides verification and assurance to applicants so that they are aware of and able to fulfill Quebec's specific obligations and monetary requirements in the sponsorship process.

Will an interview be required for spousal sponsorship?
Immigration interviews are rare in spousal sponsorship cases and are the exception rather than the norm. However, the interviews usually occur when there is a lack of documentation supporting the relationships, discrepancies between the information provided in the forms versus what is found in the documents, such as large age or religious differences, a very short time elapsed between meeting your spouse and then getting married, or the couple having either very little or no cohabitation.

The decision to interview a couple lies solely with the visa officer; however, the use of a qualified immigration attorney can give your application a big power boost and minimize any questions they may have about the validity of the relationship.

I want to sponsor my spouse, conjugal partner, or common-law partner, but there is a serious medical condition; can I still sponsor them?
As long as the health condition of your spouse does not pose a health risk to the public at large, one would expect that their sponsorship application will be without issues. 

Disclaimer for Sanjay Prasher Regarding Spousal Sponsorship Applications

The content provided by Sanjay Prasher and his team regarding spousal sponsorship applications for Canada is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Immigration processes, including spousal sponsorship applications, are governed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) policies, which may change at any time.

We aim to provide accurate and up-to-date information on topics such as:

• Application forms and checklists.
• Application fees and payment processes.
• Linking applications to GCKey or other online portals.
• Tracking application status or updates using IRCC tools.
• Addressing returned or rejected applications.

However, we do not guarantee the completeness, reliability, or timeliness of this information. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the  Sanjay Prasher in person or IRCC website or official documentation for the most accurate and current details.

Engaging Sanjay Prasher or his team does not guarantee the approval of your spousal sponsorship application, as final decisions are solely at the discretion of IRCC. Any outcomes, including delays, rejections, or additional document requests, are beyond our control.

For tailored advice or professional assistance, please consult directly with Canadian Title Immigration and Visa Consulting(CTIV) Sanjay Prasher  at  or a licensed immigration professional. By using our immigration services North York  Toronto, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer.