Who can be a sponsor

• a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person registered under the Indian Act, aged 18 or older;
• the sponsor must live in Canada. A citizen living abroad can sponsor if they show they will return to Canada when their spouse becomes a PR. A PR living outside Canada can't sponsor;
• there is no income requirement for sponsoring a spouse (unless the spouse's child has children of their own).

You can't sponsor if you:

• were sponsored as a spouse yourself and became a PR less than 5 years ago;
• sponsored a previous spouse or partner and 3 years haven't passed since they became a PR;
• receive social assistance for a reason other than disability, are an undischarged bankrupt, or defaulted on a previous sponsorship;
• are behind on court-ordered support payments, an immigration loan or a performance bond;
• were convicted of a violent or sexual offence or an offence against a relative, are in prison, or are subject to a removal order.

The sponsor signs an undertaking for 3 years from the date the spouse becomes a PR, promising to provide for their basic needs. The undertaking stays in effect even if the marriage ends.

Who you can sponsor

• A spouse — your husband or wife in a legally registered marriage.
• A common-law partner — if you have lived together for at least 12 consecutive months without long periods apart.
• A conjugal partner — if they live outside Canada, you have been together for at least a year, but serious legal or social barriers prevent you from marrying or living together.

Your spouse or partner must be at least 18, and the relationship must be genuine, not entered into mainly for immigration. You can include dependent children under 22 who don't have a spouse or partner of their own.

Applying from inside or outside Canada

There are two streams, and your choice affects processing times, the right to work and the ability to travel:

• Inside Canada (Spouse or Common-law Partner in Canada class) — for a spouse or common-law partner who lives with the sponsor in Canada and has temporary resident status. Conjugal partners can't apply in this stream. If your spouse leaves Canada during processing, they may not be allowed back and would have to reapply through the outside stream. A refusal in this stream can't be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division.
• Outside Canada (Family class) — if your spouse lives abroad, or lives in Canada but wants to be able to travel. If the application is refused, the sponsor usually has the right to appeal.

IRCC currently estimates the wait for new applications at about 2 years inside Canada and about a year and a half from outside Canada; Quebec takes longer. Current times are published on the IRCC website.

How much it costs

Since April 30, 2026, the fees for sponsoring a spouse are $1,260: a $90 sponsorship fee, a $570 processing fee and the $600 right of permanent residence fee. Each dependent child costs $180. Biometrics cost $85 per person ($170 per family). Quebec charges an additional provincial fee.

Status and work while you wait

A PR application doesn't extend temporary status on its own. If your spouse is in Canada as a visitor, student or worker, their status must be extended on time — for example, with a visitor record. If the extension is submitted before the status expires, your spouse can stay in Canada legally until a decision is made.

A spouse or partner who lives with the sponsor in Canada can get an open work permit:

• they can apply after receiving the acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) for the PR application, or earlier if their temporary status expires within 2 weeks;
• it is available in both the inside-Canada stream and the Family class, as long as the spouse actually lives in Canada;
• it can be extended while the PR application is in process. The fee is $255;
• the 2025 restrictions on work permits for spouses of temporary workers and students don't apply to it.

If your spouse's temporary status has already expired, sponsorship from inside Canada is still possible under a special public policy — unless there is a removal order or other inadmissibility. In that case, the work permit is issued only after approval in principle.

Common mistakes

• the sponsor is a PR living outside Canada;
• applying as common-law partners after living together for less than 12 months;
• leaving a child or other family member out of the application;
• not extending the spouse's temporary status during processing;
• the spouse leaving Canada while applying from inside Canada;
• weak evidence of the relationship or inconsistencies in the forms.

Sponsorship of parents and grandparents is currently closed to new applications. To invite your parents for a long stay, see the super visa.

How can ViBK IMMIGRATION CONSULTING help you?

• We check whether the sponsor is eligible and choose the right stream — inside or outside Canada.
• We show you what relationship evidence to collect and put it together into a convincing package.
• We fill out the forms and submit the application through the PR portal.
• We apply for your spouse's open work permit.
• We extend or restore your spouse's temporary status while the application is processed.
• We respond to IRCC requests and help you prepare for an interview.

Book a consultation — we will review your situation in detail and find the right solution for you.