How to Sponsor Your Spouse to Canada (Spousal Sponsorship)
Canadian citizens and permanent residents 18+ can sponsor a spouse for permanent residence. They can also sponsor a common-law or conjugal partner. There is no minimum income requirement. This is unlike parent sponsorship. Choose inland if your partner is already in Canada. Your partner can get an open work permit while you wait. Choose outland for easier travel in and out. Budget about $1,260 in IRCCImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — The Canadian government department that runs Express Entry, work and study permits, PR cards, and citizenship.Click for official info ↗ fees. These fees have been in force since Apr 30, 2026. Add $85 for biometrics. Plan around IRCC's 12-month service standard. But actual processing is running longer: ~15–18 months outland, and ~21–26 months inland, as of late 2026.
At a glance
- Cost:
- $1,260 government fees (as of Apr 30, 2026; biometrics $85 extra)
- Total time:
- ~12 months (service standard; actuals often longer)
- Steps:
- 7 steps
- Where to apply:
- canada.ca
Last reviewed October 2026 against official sources. Re-checked every 6 months · next review due April 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official CAN sources(October 2026).
0 of 7 steps
- Before You Go 15 min
Confirm sponsor eligibility
You must be 18+. You must be a Canadian citizen or a PR who lives in Canada. A citizen may sponsor from abroad, if they will return when the partner lands. You must not be bankrupt. You must not be in prison. You must not be under a removal order. There is no income threshold for spousal sponsorship. But you sign a 3-year undertaking. You promise to support your partner financially.
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- Before You Go 30 min
Choose inland or outland
Inland: your partner lives with you in Canada, on valid status. Your partner can apply for an open work permit while you wait. But your partner should not leave Canada during processing. Outland: you apply through the visa office abroad. Travel in and out is easier. Interviews, if needed, happen there.
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- Fill / Prepare several days
Complete the IRCC document checklist
Download the current checklist (IMM 5533). Forms change, so never reuse an old set. Fill in every form digitally. Validate the barcodes. Gather your relationship proof: wedding photos, chat logs, joint leases and bills, and statements from family. Weak proof is the top cause of refusals and interviews.
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- Submit & Pay 1 day
Pay $1,260 and submit
Fees: $90 sponsorship fee + $570 processing + $600 right of permanent residence fee = $1,260 per adult. This fee schedule has been in force since Apr 30, 2026. Biometrics cost $85 extra. Pay online. Submit the full package by the current IRCC intake method. Keep copies of everything. A lost file is your problem, not theirs.
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- Go 2–6 weeks
Do medicals and biometrics when requested
IRCC asks for a medical exam by a panel physician. The exam is valid for 12 months, so time it with care. IRCC also asks for biometrics, at a collection centre. Police certificates must cover every country where the applicant lived for 6+ months since turning 18.
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- Wait 15–25 months typical
Wait through processing (longer than the standard)
IRCC's official service standard is 12 months. But that applies to overseas (outland) applications. Actual waits are running longer: roughly 15–18 months outland, and 21–26 months inland, as of late 2026. Check IRCC's live processing-times tool for the current estimate. Link your application to your online account. Then you can watch for messages. Reply to any document request by the deadline given. If not, your file can be refused.
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- Receive —
Land as a permanent resident
Outland applicants get a Confirmation of Permanent Residence and a visa to travel. Inland applicants get their landing finalized in Canada. The sponsor's 3-year undertaking starts at landing. It survives divorce, separation, and unemployment.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there really no income requirement?
Correct, for spouses. Parent and grandparent sponsorship has a minimum necessary income. Spousal sponsorship does not. You must still show that you can support yourselves. And the 3-year undertaking is legally binding, even if the relationship ends.
Can my partner work while we wait (inland)?
Yes. Inland applicants with valid temporary status can apply for an open work permit, alongside the sponsorship. It is usually issued within a few months. This is the main practical advantage of the inland route.
What gets applications refused?
The biggest cause is thin relationship proof. Other causes: misrepresentation on any form, medical inadmissibility, criminal inadmissibility, or a sponsor who is not eligible. Get your police certificates right. Missing countries of residence is a common self-inflicted refusal.
What if I live in Quebec?
Quebec runs a capped undertaking intake. The Government of Quebec accepts at most 13,300 undertaking applications for spouses and partners. This cap covers the July 2, 2026–June 30, 2028 window. You file in phased, mail-only windows. Your window is tied to your IRCC eligibility-letter date. File only when your calendar window opens.
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