Spousal sponsorship allows eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor a spouse or partner for Canadian permanent residence. The federal program is currently listed as open.
The program covers legally married spouses, common-law partners and, in limited circumstances, conjugal partners. This spousal sponsorship process is for permanent residence, not a temporary visa application.
Quebec warning: Quebec has a separate undertaking process and its own intake limits. As of October 25, 2026, Quebec’s official rules page states that the maximum number of undertaking applications for spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners and certain dependent children has been reached. Applicants intending to settle in Quebec should check the province’s current intake rules before filing a spousal sponsorship application.
Table of Contents
Who Can Sponsor A Spouse Or Partner
A sponsor must generally be at least 18 years old and be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or a person registered in Canada under the Indian Act. These are the basic eligibility requirements for spousal sponsorship.
The sponsor must generally live in Canada. A Canadian citizen living outside Canada may sponsor if they demonstrate that they plan to live in Canada when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident. A permanent resident living outside Canada cannot sponsor a spouse or partner.
The sponsor must be able to provide basic needs for the sponsored family member and must not be receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability.
In most cases, a sponsor of a spouse, common-law partner or dependent child does not have to meet a minimum necessary income requirement. Additional financial rules can apply in Quebec and when a dependent child being sponsored has dependent children.
Who Can Be Sponsored
A spouse must be legally married to the sponsor. The marriage must be legally recognized in the country where it took place and in Canada. This relationship category is central to a spousal sponsorship application.
IRCC generally does not recognize marriages performed by proxy, telephone, fax, internet or another method where one or both people were not physically present at the ceremony. Limited exceptions exist, including certain Canadian Armed Forces circumstances.
A common-law partner must have lived continuously with the sponsor in a marriage-like relationship for at least 12 consecutive months. Short and temporary periods apart may be accepted, but the couple must still demonstrate continuous cohabitation and a genuine relationship.
A conjugal partner must live outside Canada and have been in an exclusive and mutually interdependent relationship with the sponsor for at least one year. This category is intended for couples who cannot marry or live together because of significant legal, immigration, social, cultural, religious or similar barriers.
The relationship must be genuine and must not have been created primarily to obtain permanent resident status. The sponsored person and accompanying family members must also pass applicable medical, criminality and security checks.
Inland And Outland Spousal Sponsorship
Spouse and partner applications can generally be submitted under the Family Class or the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class. The appropriate spousal sponsorship class depends on the couple’s circumstances.
The Family Class route is generally used when the spouse or partner lives outside Canada. It can also be used when the person is in Canada but does not plan to remain in Canada during processing. Applicants who want to preserve a potential appeal right must use the Family Class route.
The Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class is generally used when the spouse or common-law partner lives with the sponsor in Canada and has valid temporary resident status, or qualifies under IRCC’s public policy for certain people without status.
A conjugal partner must be sponsored through the Family Class because the partner must live outside Canada. The choice of class can affect travel, appeal rights and access to an open work permit.
Current Spousal Sponsorship Fees
Effective April 30, 2026, the federal fees for sponsoring a spouse or partner total $1,260 when the right of permanent residence fee is paid at the same time. This consists of the $90 sponsorship fee, the $570 principal applicant processing fee and the $600 right of permanent residence fee. Applicants should verify the current spousal sponsorship fee schedule before filing.
The total is $660 when the right of permanent residence fee is not paid at the same time. Each accompanying dependent child adds a listed fee of $180.
Biometrics, medical examinations, police certificates, translations and other document-related costs may create additional expenses. Quebec applicants may also have to pay provincial undertaking-processing fees. Applicants should confirm the fee list immediately before submitting.
How To Apply For Spousal Sponsorship
Spousal sponsorship applications must generally be submitted online through IRCC’s permanent residence application system. Alternate formats may be requested when an applicant requires an accommodation, including for a disability.
The first step is to identify the correct relationship category and application class. The sponsor and principal applicant then complete the required forms and upload the supporting evidence listed in the personalized document checklist.
Evidence commonly includes identity documents, civil status documents, marriage or common-law proof, photographs, communication records and information about visits or shared finances. Common-law applicants should provide evidence of at least 12 months of continuous cohabitation. Conjugal applicants should provide detailed evidence of the relationship and the barriers that prevented marriage or living together.
All family members must be declared, including family members who are not accompanying the principal applicant and family members whose whereabouts are unknown or who are presumed dead. Failure to declare and have required family members examined can prevent a later sponsorship application.
Applicants must pay the applicable fees, complete the required electronic signatures and submit the application with the required documents. An incomplete application may be returned, causing the applicants to correct the problem and submit it again.
What Happens After Submission
IRCC reviews the application for completeness. If the application passes that review, IRCC issues an acknowledgement of receipt confirming that the permanent residence application is being processed.
IRCC then assesses the sponsor’s eligibility, the relationship and the applicant’s admissibility. The department may request biometrics, medical examinations, police certificates, additional documents or an interview.
Applicants should keep their contact information current and report important changes, such as a change of address, marriage, separation, birth or death. After receiving an application number, the sponsored person may be able to link the application to an IRCC secure account.
Current Spousal Sponsorship Processing Times
IRCC’s latest published program data says applications for spouses, partners and children submitted inside or outside Canada and destined for provinces and territories outside Quebec were processed in about 15 months from September 2025 through August 2026. This provides historical context for applicants pursuing spousal sponsorship.
This is a program-level historical result, not a guarantee for an individual application. Processing can take longer when an application is incomplete, complex or requires additional background, security, medical or relationship review.
Federal information published in March 2026 reported approximately 12.6 months for overseas applications and 14 months for in-Canada applications outside Quebec as of January 31, 2026. The same information reported approximately 33 months for Quebec-bound overseas applications and 25 months for Quebec-bound in-Canada applications at that time. Applicants should use IRCC’s processing-time tool for the latest estimate.
Open Work Permit For A Sponsored Spouse In Canada
A spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner living in Canada may be able to apply for an open work permit while the permanent residence application is being processed. Approval is not automatic for a spousal sponsorship applicant.
The applicant generally must be living with the sponsor in Canada, be included in a permanent residence application and have an acknowledgement of receipt confirming that the application is being processed.
The applicant must generally have valid temporary resident status, maintained status or eligibility for restoration. Applicants without temporary status may need to wait for an approval-in-principle letter before applying under the applicable public policy.
The open work permit must be approved before the applicant begins working unless another valid work authorization applies.
The Sponsor’s Three-Year Undertaking
Signing a sponsorship undertaking creates a binding financial commitment. Outside Quebec, the undertaking for a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner lasts three years from the date the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.
The sponsor must provide support for basic needs and help ensure that the sponsored person does not need social assistance. If the sponsored person receives social assistance during the undertaking period, the sponsor may have to repay the amount.
The undertaking continues even if the relationship ends, the sponsor or sponsored person moves, or the sponsored person becomes a Canadian citizen. Quebec has separate undertaking rules and a provincial process.
Common Reasons Applications Face Problems
Relationship evidence that is inconsistent, incomplete or poorly organized can lead to additional questions or an interview. Applicants should explain periods of separation, previous marriages, different addresses, limited communication or unusual travel patterns before IRCC asks for clarification.
Documents not in English or French generally require an acceptable translation and the supporting translator documentation required by IRCC. Applicants should not submit altered documents, misleading information or evidence created only for the application.
Maintaining valid temporary status is also important for people in Canada who want to work while waiting for a decision. A permanent residence application by itself does not authorize work unless the applicant has another valid work authorization or receives an open work permit.
Bottom Line For Applicants
Spousal sponsorship remains a major Canadian family reunification pathway for eligible spouses and partners, and the federal program is currently open.
The strongest applications clearly establish sponsor eligibility, a genuine qualifying relationship, complete family declarations and admissibility. Applicants should use the current IRCC checklist, pay the correct fees and monitor the application after submission.
Because processing times, fees and instructions can change—and Quebec has separate intake rules—applicants should check the official IRCC and Quebec pages again immediately before filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is spousal sponsorship currently open in Canada?
Yes. IRCC lists the spouse, partner and dependent child sponsorship program as open.
How much does spousal sponsorship cost in Canada?
IRCC currently lists $1,260 to sponsor a spouse or partner when the right of permanent residence fee is included, or $660 without that fee.
How long does spousal sponsorship take?
IRCC’s latest published program data reported about 15 months for spouse, partner and child applications destined outside Quebec during the September 2025 to August 2026 period.
Can a sponsored spouse work in Canada while waiting?
A spouse or common-law partner living in Canada may qualify for an open work permit after the permanent residence application receives an acknowledgement of receipt and other eligibility requirements are met.
How long is the sponsorship undertaking for a spouse?
Outside Quebec, the undertaking for a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner lasts three years from the date they become a permanent resident.
Fact-Checked: Checked against current IRCC program, eligibility, fee, undertaking, open work permit and processing information available on October 25, 2026. ([canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/spouse-partner-children.html?utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: This is general information and is not legal advice. Applicants should verify the current IRCC instructions before submitting an application.
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