Spousal sponsorship
Sponsor your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner for permanent residence in Canada.
How spousal sponsorship works
As a Canadian citizen or permanent resident you can sponsor your spouse, conjugal partner, or common-law partner for permanent residence. The process evaluates the genuineness of the relationship and the immigration eligibility of the sponsored person.
Variants
- Outside Canada (Family Class): spouse outside the country — typically faster.
- Inside Canada (Spouse or Common-law in Canada Class): spouse already in Canada with valid status — allows open work permit during processing.
- Common-law: ≥ 12 continuous months of cohabitation in a marital relationship.
- Conjugal partner: applies when marriage or common-law is not possible for legal reasons in the country of origin.
Current processing times
What’s included
- Sponsor + sponsored person eligibility review
- Inside vs. outside Canada strategy
- Relationship file prep (photos, documents, declarations)
- Detailed relationship letter and narrative
- IMM1344, IMM5532, IMM5669 preparation
- Open work permit for the sponsored person (Inside Canada cases)
- Biometrics + medical exam coordination
- Tracking until decision
FAQ
Inside Canada or Outside Canada — which one?
Inside Canada (spouse already in Canada with valid status): allows the spouse to apply for an open work permit while PR is processed. Outside Canada: typically a faster process. The choice depends on immigration status, life plans, and expected timelines — we evaluate together.
What counts as common-law in Canada?
Continuous cohabitation of at least 12 months in a marital relationship. IRCC asks for proof: joint utility bills, shared lease, joint bank accounts, photos at family events, sworn declarations. Documentation prep is the most critical part to avoid refusal.
Are there income requirements to sponsor a spouse?
NO — unlike parents and grandparents sponsorship (which requires MNI), spousal sponsorship has no income requirement. You do sign a 3-year financial undertaking.
How long does it take?
Outside Canada: typically 12-15 months. Inside Canada: 12-18 months. Times shift — the card above shows the latest IRCC figure. We can flag case-specific signals that may speed up or slow down processing.