Reuniting with your spouse in Canada represents one of the most meaningful immigration pathways available. Yet the process involves detailed documentation, strict eligibility requirements, and potential pitfalls that can delay or derail your application.
This guide explains who can apply, the differences between inland and outland sponsorship, and the critical steps you’ll need to take to bring your partner to Canada successfully.
If you’re ready to begin the sponsorship process or have concerns about your eligibility, contact us to discuss your situation.
What Is Spousal Sponsorship in Canada?
Spousal sponsorship allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their partners to Canada as permanent residents.
This immigration pathway recognizes three relationship types: legally married spouses, common-law partners (couples who have lived together continuously for at least 12 consecutive months), and conjugal partners (couples in a committed relationship who cannot live together due to circumstances beyond their control). Same-sex relationships receive full recognition under all three categories.
IRCC scrutinizes applications carefully to confirm relationships are genuine and not entered into primarily for immigration purposes.
Who Can Sponsor a Spouse to Canada?
Sponsor Eligibility
To sponsor your spouse, you must meet several fundamental requirements:
- Canadian citizen or permanent resident: Only those with legal status in Canada can sponsor family members.
- 18 years or older: Sponsors must be adults under Canadian law.
- Not receiving social assistance: You cannot be on welfare (except for disability support).
- Free from bankruptcy, criminal inadmissibility, or active removal orders: These conditions disqualify you from sponsoring.
- No previous sponsorship defaults: If you’ve failed to provide support as promised in a previous sponsorship, you cannot sponsor again until that obligation ends.
Ineligible Scenarios
Specific situations will prevent you from sponsoring your spouse. If you were sponsored to Canada as a spouse yourself and became a permanent resident less than five years ago, you cannot yet sponsor someone else. If you’re currently in prison or have been convicted of a serious crime such as a sexual offence against a family member, spousal sponsorship remains unavailable.
Immigration violations also affect eligibility. If you’ve been found inadmissible for misrepresentation within the last five years, you’ll need to wait before sponsoring.
Inland vs. Outland Spousal Sponsorship
Canadian spousal sponsorship offers two pathways depending on where your spouse currently resides.
Inland Sponsorship
Inland sponsorship applies when your spouse already lives in Canada, typically on a visitor visa, work permit, or study permit. This pathway offers the opportunity to apply for an open work permit alongside the sponsorship application. Once approved, this work permit allows your spouse to work for any Canadian employer while waiting for permanent residence.
However, inland applications come with important restrictions. If IRCC refuses your application, you cannot appeal the decision—your only option is to reapply or pursue judicial review in Federal Court. Your spouse should remain in Canada throughout the process, as leaving the country can complicate the application.
Outland Sponsorship
Outland sponsorship suits couples where the spouse lives outside Canada. This pathway often processes faster than inland applications, particularly for applicants from countries with lower processing volumes. Outland sponsorship provides full appeal rights if IRCC refuses the application, offering an important safety net that inland applicants lack.
Your spouse can remain in their home country during processing. However, outland applicants cannot apply for an open work permit as part of the sponsorship process, meaning they’ll need to wait until permanent residence is approved before working in Canada (unless they secure a separate work permit through another program).
Spousal Sponsorship Requirements in Canada
Relationship Proof
Demonstrating your relationship is genuine represents the most critical aspect of any spousal sponsorship application. IRCC requires compelling evidence that proves your relationship is real and ongoing.
Strong relationship evidence includes:
- Photographs: Images of you together at different times and locations, including with family and friends.
- Communication records: Text messages, emails, and call logs demonstrating ongoing contact.
- Financial connections: Joint bank accounts, shared credit cards, or evidence of financial support between partners.
- Shared living arrangements: Lease agreements, utility bills, or mortgage documents showing you live together.
- Travel history: Flight bookings, hotel reservations, and passport stamps showing visits between countries.
- Statutory declarations: Written statements from family members and friends who know your relationship.
The more comprehensive and varied your evidence, the stronger your application.
Financial Responsibility
When you sponsor your spouse, you sign an undertaking promising to provide financial support for three years from the date they become permanent residents. This commitment remains binding even if your relationship ends or circumstances change. Spousal sponsorship has no minimum income requirement—you don’t need to show a specific salary or earnings threshold.
The key restriction involves social assistance. Sponsors cannot receive welfare payments (except for disability support) at the time of application. You’ll need to demonstrate that you can meet basic living expenses for yourself and your spouse.
Step-by-Step Spousal Sponsorship Process
Step 1: Determine Eligibility & Gather Documents
Confirm both you and your spouse meet all eligibility requirements. Once confirmed, start gathering the extensive documentation required.
Key forms for spousal sponsorship include:
- IMM 1344: Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement, and Undertaking
- IMM 5532: Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation
- IMM 0008: Generic Application Form for Canada (completed by your spouse)
- IMM 5669: Schedule A – Background/Declaration (completed by your spouse)
- IMM 5406: Additional Family Information
You’ll also need identification documents (passports, birth certificates), marriage certificates or proof of common-law relationship, police certificates from every country where your spouse lived for six months or more since age 18, and medical examination results from an IRCC-approved panel physician.
Compile your relationship evidence systematically, organizing documents chronologically or by category.
Step 2: Submit Your Application
IRCC accepts both online and paper applications for spousal sponsorship, though online submission represents the preferred method. Online applications allow you to track progress and receive updates electronically.
Include all required fees with your application. As of 2025, the total cost for spousal sponsorship is $1,290 CAD for a spouse with no dependent children, which covers the sponsorship fee ($85), principal applicant processing fee ($515), right of permanent residence fee ($575), and biometrics fee ($85). Additional fees of $170 apply for each dependent child included in the application.
Double-check that you’ve included all forms, supporting documents, and signatures before submitting.
Step 3: Wait for Acknowledgement & Biometrics Request
After submission, IRCC will send an Acknowledgement of Receipt confirming they’ve received your application and providing an application number. This typically arrives within a few weeks for online applications or several weeks for paper applications.
Your spouse will receive a biometrics instruction letter requiring them to provide fingerprints and a photograph at a designated location within 30 days. IRCC may also request additional documents if they need clarification on any aspect of your application.
Step 4: Receive Decision
Processing times for spousal sponsorship vary by application type and province. As of early 2025, outland applications typically process in 10 to 12 months, while inland applications process in approximately 12 months (28 months for Quebec inland applications). Individual processing times vary based on application complexity, document completeness, and the volume of applications at the relevant visa office.
If approved, your spouse receives Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and, for outland applicants, a permanent resident visa in their passport. They must land in Canada before the COPR expires to activate their permanent residence. Inland applicants already in Canada complete a virtual landing process through their online account.
Common Reasons for Spousal Sponsorship Refusal
IRCC refuses spousal sponsorships for several recurring reasons:
- Insufficient proof of relationship: Weak or inconsistent evidence raises doubts about whether your relationship is genuine. Officers look for patterns suggesting a marriage of convenience.
- Errors or omissions in forms: Incomplete applications or forms with mistakes create processing delays and may lead to refusal.
- Misrepresentation: Providing false information or withholding relevant facts represents serious grounds for refusal and can result in a five-year ban on sponsorship. Common misrepresentations include failing to declare previous marriages, omitting children from family composition, or providing fraudulent documents.
- Criminal inadmissibility: If your spouse has a criminal record, they may be inadmissible to Canada unless they qualify for criminal rehabilitation.
- Medical inadmissibility: Health conditions that might cause excessive demand on Canadian health or social services can lead to refusal.
Double-check every document before submission and consider having your application reviewed by a legal professional.
Why Work With a Spousal Sponsorship Lawyer in Toronto
Spousal sponsorship applications involve detailed requirements and significant stakes. A spousal sponsorship lawyer in Toronto with experience in Canadian family immigration provides crucial support throughout the process.
Legal guidance helps you compile comprehensive relationship evidence that addresses IRCC’s concerns proactively. Lawyers understand what immigration officers look for and can identify weaknesses in your documentation before submission, significantly reducing refusal risk.
If your application faces challenges—previous refusals, criminal inadmissibility, complex relationship histories, or prior immigration violations—legal representation becomes particularly valuable. Lawyers can prepare strong submissions addressing these issues head-on.
Should IRCC refuse your application, a lawyer can represent you in appeals to the Immigration Appeal Division or judicial reviews in Federal Court.
Considering Other Family Sponsorship Options?
Spousal sponsorship represents just one component of Canada’s broader family reunification programs. Canadian citizens and permanent residents can also sponsor parents, grandparents, dependent children, and in limited circumstances, other relatives.
Each category has distinct eligibility requirements, processing times, and application procedures. If you’re interested in bringing other family members to Canada, explore your options under Canada’s family sponsorship programs.
Final Thoughts: Get Help With Spousal Sponsorship in Canada
Successfully sponsoring your spouse to Canada requires careful preparation, thorough documentation, and attention to detail. Whether you choose inland or outland sponsorship depends on your specific circumstances, including where your spouse currently lives and whether they can benefit from an open work permit during processing.
Strong relationship evidence and complete, accurate applications improve your chances of approval without delays. If you’re ready to begin the sponsorship process or have concerns about your eligibility, contact our immigration lawyers today for a consultation.
Call 416.988.8853 to discuss your situation and learn how we can guide you through spousal sponsorship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spousal Sponsorship in Canada
How long does it take to sponsor a spouse to Canada?
Current processing times range from 12 to 18 months for most spousal sponsorship applications. Actual timelines vary based on whether you submit an inland or outland application, how complete your documentation is, and the processing volume at the relevant IRCC office. Applications requiring additional security screening or involving complex issues may take longer.
What is the income requirement to sponsor a spouse?
Spousal sponsorship has no specific minimum income threshold, unlike parent and grandparent sponsorship. However, sponsors cannot receive social assistance (except for disability support) and must demonstrate they can financially support their spouse. You’ll sign an undertaking promising support for three years, a commitment that remains binding regardless of relationship changes.
Can I work while my inland sponsorship is processing?
Yes, inland sponsorship applicants can apply for an open work permit alongside their permanent residence application. Once approved, this work permit allows you to work for any Canadian employer while waiting for permanent residence. Processing times for open work permits typically run several months, so plan accordingly for the period between application and work permit approval.
What documents are needed to prove a real relationship?
IRCC expects varied evidence demonstrating your relationship’s authenticity. Strong applications include photographs spanning your relationship, communication records like messages and emails, financial connections such as joint accounts, shared living arrangements documented through leases or bills, travel history showing visits, and statements from family and friends who know your relationship. The more comprehensive and consistent your evidence, the stronger your application.
What happens if my sponsorship application is denied?
Your options after refusal depend on whether you submitted an inland or outland application. Outland applicants can appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division, which reviews both the legal basis and humanitarian considerations. Inland applicants cannot appeal but may reapply with stronger evidence or seek judicial review in Federal Court if they believe IRCC made a legal error. Legal support becomes critical after a refusal to determine the best path forward and address the reasons for denial.