Spousal Sponsorship

This program is part of Canada’s Family Class sponsorship, enabling Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for permanent residency. Both the sponsor and the foreign national must be approved by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the sponsored person to receive a visa.

Relationship Requirements

1. Spouse: The sponsor and the sponsored person must be legally married. For marriages in Canada, a Certificate of Marriage from the province or territory is required, and same-sex marriages are recognized for sponsorship. If married outside Canada, the marriage must be valid under the laws of both the marriage location and Canadian federal law.

2. Common-Law Partner: The sponsor and sponsored person must have cohabited continuously for at least one year, excluding brief absences for work or family reasons.

3. Conjugal Partner: Conjugal partners can be of any gender and are eligible for sponsorship if:

   • They face exceptional circumstances preventing them from qualifying as common-law partners or spouses (e.g., immigration or legal barriers).

   • They have a mutually dependent relationship of at least one year, showing commitment similar to marriage or a common-law union. Evidence of this includes emotional, financial, and physical ties.

Program Requirements

1. Sponsor Requirements:

   • Must be at least 18 years old.

   • Must be a Canadian permanent resident residing in Canada or a Canadian citizen.

   • Must not be in prison, bankrupt, under a removal order, or convicted of a serious offense.

   • Must not have been sponsored to Canada as a spouse within the last five years.

2. Sponsored Person Requirements:

   • Must be at least 18 years old.

   • The relationship must be genuine and not solely for obtaining permanent residency.

Ineligibility for Sponsorship

You cannot be a sponsor if you:

•    Have failed to pay an immigration loan, a performance bond or family support payments.

•   Have failed to provide for the basic needs of a previously sponsored relative who received social assistance.

•   Are in default of a previous undertaking.

•   Are under a removal order.

•   Are in a penitentiary, jail, reformatory or prison.

•   Receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability.

•  Are still going through the process of bankruptcy (undischarged bankruptcy).

•  Were sponsored by a spouse or partner and you became a permanent resident less than five years ago.

•  Sponsored a previous spouse or partner and three years have not passed since this person became a permanent resident.

•  Have already applied to sponsor your current spouse, partner or child and a decision on your application has not been made yet.

• Were convicted of a violent or sexual offence, or an offence that caused bodily harm to a relative or you attempted or threatened to commit any of these offences.

Sponsorship Types

1. Outland Sponsorship: For applicants living outside Canada, though applicants residing in Canada may apply through this program. Applications are processed through the visa office serving the applicant's country of origin or legal residence.

2. Inland Sponsorship: For couples living in Canada where the foreign partner has temporary status (worker, student, or visitor). The applicant may qualify for an Open Work Permit (OWP), allowing employment during application processing.

Application Processing and Fees

IRCC typically processes sponsorship applications within 12 months, starting from the date a complete application is received. Fees include:

• Sponsorship fee: $85 CAD

• Principal applicant processing fee: $545 CAD

• Right of permanent residence fee: $575 CAD

• Biometric fee: $85 CAD

• Dependent child fee: $175 CAD per child