Spouse or Common-Law Partner - Themillenniumimmigration

Spousal Sponsorship: Sponsor your Spouse or Partner for Canadian Immigration

Spousal sponsorship is a key component of Canada’s immigration system. If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for Canadian permanent resident status.

The Canadian government strives to process spousal sponsorship applications within 12 months. This comprehensive page offers all the information you need about Canada’s spousal sponsorship program.

What is Spousal Sponsorship?
Am I Eligible to Sponsor?
Who Can I Sponsor?
How Can I Apply?
Frequently Asked Questions
About CanadaVisa and Cohen Immigration Law

What is Spousal Sponsorship?

The Canadian government allows citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their foreign national partners for permanent residency in Canada, including spouses, common-law partners, and conjugal partners. There are two main sponsorship options: Outland and Inland.

Each year, Canada aims to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants, with approximately 60% being economic class skilled workers. Among family class immigrants, the country targets around 80,000 under the Spouses, Partners, and Children category.

Am I Eligible to sponsor?

To be a sponsor, you must meet the following criteria:

Be 18 years of age or older.
Be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident living in Canada, or registered under the Canadian Indian Act.
Reside in Canada or be a Canadian citizen planning to return.
Not be receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability.
Be able to support yourself, your partner, and any dependent children financially.

As a sponsor, you are responsible for ensuring your partner will not require government social assistance.

To sponsor a spouse or partner in Canada, you must fulfill specific requirements and commitments. Here’s a breakdown:

Requirements for Sponsorship
1. Financial Support Commitment: You must sign an undertaking to provide for the basic needs of the sponsored person, including any dependent children. This includes:
Housing costs, including utilities
Food and personal hygiene products
Clothing and daily living items
Medical expenses not covered by public health insurance, like dental and eye care

2. Duration of Obligation: Your obligations begin as soon as the undertaking is in effect and last for **three years** from when your spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner becomes a permanent resident. This commitment cannot be canceled or withdrawn, even if your personal or financial circumstances change after the application is approved.

Income Requirements
There is no specific income threshold to sponsor your spouse or partner. However:
You must demonstrate sufficient income or assets to support them upon arrival in Canada.
You must not be receiving income support benefits from any province or be undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.
If you are receiving Employment Insurance or disability benefits, you can still proceed with the sponsorship.

Costs Involved
The cost to sponsor your spouse or partner includes:
Application fees: There is a processing fee for the sponsorship application and for the permanent residence application of the sponsored person.
Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF): This is an additional fee that may apply.

Make sure to check the latest fees on the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website for the most accurate information.

Fees	In Canadian dollars
Sponsorship Fee	$ 85
Principal applicant processing fee	$ 545
Right of Permanent Residence Fee	$ 575
Biometrics (fingerprints and photo)	$ 85
Total	$ 1,290

Who Can I Sponsor?

To receive a visa through the spousal sponsorship program, you and your foreign spouse or partner must demonstrate that your relationship qualifies under one of three categories:

Relationship Categories
1. Spouse: You are legally married.
2. Common-law Partner: You have lived together for at least 12 consecutive months in a marriage-like relationship.
3. Conjugal Partner: You have been in a continuous and committed relationship for at least 12 months, but significant barriers (like cultural, religious, or immigration issues) prevent you from living together.

Requirements for the Sponsored Person
Must be at least 18 years old**.
Must pass background, security, and medical checks.

Approval Process
Both the Canadian citizen or permanent resident and the foreign national must be approved by IRCC before the sponsored person can receive a visa.

Same-Sex Partnerships
Canada recognizes same-sex marriages and relationships. Your same-sex spouse or partner can apply under any of the three categories, provided all eligibility criteria are met. If married outside Canada, the marriage must be legally recognized in the country where it took place.

Proving a Common-Law Relationship
To establish the authenticity of your common-law relationship, you may need to provide:

Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation Questionnaire
Birth or adoption certificates for any children together
Photos demonstrating your relationship
Documents proving recognition as common-law partners (e.g., benefits)
Proof of shared expenses (e.g., bills, leases)
Evidence of communication (e.g., letters, emails, social media interactions)

If there are indications that the relationship is not genuine, the sponsorship application may be denied.

How Can I Apply?

Before starting the application process for spousal sponsorship, ensure that you and your partner meet all eligibility criteria.

Application Process Overview
You’ll need to submit two applications at the same time:
1. Your application to sponsor your spouse or partner.
2. Your spouse or partner’s permanent residence application.

Four-Step Application Process

Step 1:
Obtain the application package from the government website. This package includes a guide with instructions and necessary forms to help you complete the process correctly.

Step 2:
Pay the online application fee, which typically includes:
Processing fees for all applicants included in the application.
Right of Permanent Residence Fee.
Biometrics fees.
Any applicable third-party fees.

Step 3:
Submit your application by following the submission instructions provided in the downloaded guide.

Step 4:
Submit the required supporting documents when prompted.

Outland and Inland Applications in Canada

Couples have two options for submitting their sponsorship application:

Outland Sponsorship
Eligibility: This option is for couples where the foreign spouse or partner lives abroad while the Canadian sponsor resides in Canada.
Application Process: The foreign partner may enter and exit Canada during the application process if they come from a visa-free country or have the appropriate visa. The Canadian sponsor must remain in Canada during this time.
Processing: Applications are processed by the visa office that serves the applicant’s country of origin or where they’ve resided for at least one year.

Inland Sponsorship
Eligibility: Both spouses must live together in Canada, and the foreign spouse or partner must have temporary status as a worker, student, or visitor.
Application Process: The couple needs to reside together in Canada while the application is processed. The foreign spouse can apply for an Open Work Permit (OWP) during this time, allowing them to work for any employer in Canada.
Benefits: This option helps alleviate financial hardship that might arise from lengthy processing times.

Submission Details
Where to Submit: Applications can be submitted either outside Canada at a visa office or inside Canada at a local immigration office. Note that sponsorship applications for conjugal partners can only be submitted from outside Canada.

Processing Time
The standard processing time for spousal applications is approximately 12 months.

Interviews
Interviews are generally only required if the information provided is deemed not credible. This decision is at the discretion of the visa officers.

Reasons for Refusal
Your application could be refused for several reasons, including:
Insufficient proof of a legitimate relationship.
Errors in the sponsorship forms.
Misrepresentation of facts.
Failure to meet basic sponsorship requirements.
Inadmissibility due to a conviction or other risks to Canadian society.

About THE MILLENNIUM IMMIGRATION

THE MILLENNIUM IMMIGRATION was founded in 2013 as a trusted resource for immigration to Canada. Since then, it has grown into one of the world’s most reliable platforms for helping individuals move to Canada and settle here.

THE MILLENNIUM IMMIGRATION is among Canada’s leading immigration law firms, employing over 60 immigration lawyers, paralegals, and professionals. With over 11 years of experience, the firm has successfully assisted clients in preparing and submitting spousal sponsorship applications to the Canadian government.