Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner to become a permanent resident of Canada. Spousal sponsorship is part of the family class and, unlike parent and grandparent sponsorship, in most cases has no minimum income requirement – making it one of the most accessible family immigration routes.
This guide explains who qualifies, how the inland and outland routes differ, when a sponsored partner can work while the application is processed, what it costs in 2026, and how to submit the application through IRCC’s online Permanent Residence (PR) Portal.
On This Page, You Will Find:
- Who Can Sponsor a Spouse or Partner?
- Spouse, Common-Law or Conjugal Partner?
- Inland vs Outland Sponsorship
- The Open Work Permit for Sponsored Spouses and Partners
- Fees and Processing Times
- The Sponsor’s Financial Responsibilities
- How to Apply
- Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for Canadian Spousal Sponsorship
- Frequently asked questions
Who Can Sponsor a Spouse or Partner?
To be an eligible sponsor, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a person registered in Canada under the Indian Act.
- Live in Canada. A Canadian citizen living abroad can sponsor if they show they will live in Canada when their partner becomes a permanent resident; a permanent resident living outside Canada cannot sponsor.
- Sign an undertaking and sponsorship agreement committing to support the person you sponsor.
You may not be eligible to sponsor if, for example, you:
- were yourself sponsored as a spouse or partner and became a permanent resident less than five years ago;
- are still within the three-year undertaking period for a previous spouse or partner you sponsored;
- are receiving social assistance for a reason other than a disability;
- are behind on an immigration loan, a performance bond or court-ordered family support payments, or failed to meet a previous sponsorship undertaking (some of these bars do not apply to Quebec sponsors);
- are an undischarged bankrupt, are in prison, or were convicted of a violent offence, an offence against a relative causing bodily harm, or a sexual offence; or
- are subject to a removal order.
Sponsors living in Quebec must also meet Quebec’s own eligibility requirements and sign an undertaking with the Government of Quebec – but only after IRCC tells them to do so.
Spouse, Common-Law or Conjugal Partner?
- Spouse – you are legally married, and the marriage is valid both where it took place and under Canadian law.
- Common-law partner – you have lived together in a conjugal relationship continuously for at least 12 months.
- Conjugal partner – you have been in a committed relationship for at least 12 months but could not live together or marry because of circumstances beyond your control (for example, immigration or marital-status barriers, or legal or social prohibitions). This category applies only to partners sponsored from outside Canada; it is not available under the in-Canada class.
In every category the person being sponsored must be at least 18 years old. Amendments to sections 5, 117(9)(a) and 125(1)(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, in force since June 2015, exclude a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner under 18 from the family class and from the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class. Because the sponsor must also be at least 18, both parties have to meet the age test.
Inland vs Outland Sponsorship
There are two ways to apply, and the choice affects travel, work and appeal rights:
- Inland (spouse or common-law partner in Canada class) – for a spouse or common-law partner who lives with the sponsor in Canada. Applicants are normally expected to hold temporary resident status, but IRCC applies a public policy that lets in-Canada spouses and common-law partners be processed in this class even if they are out of status (for example, because they overstayed or worked or studied without authorization). The policy waives the status requirement only – it does not overcome other inadmissibilities, and it does not stop an existing enforceable removal order. Inland applicants should generally remain in Canada while the application is processed, and a refused inland application cannot be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division.
- Outland (family class) – processed under the family class even if the partner is physically in Canada. Advantages include freer travel during processing and, if the application is refused, a right of appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division (subject to limited exceptions, such as certain inadmissibility grounds).
Both routes can give access to an open work permit if the sponsored partner is living with the sponsor in Canada – see the next section.
The Open Work Permit for Sponsored Spouses and Partners
A sponsored spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner who is living in Canada with their sponsor can apply for an open work permit while the permanent residence application is processed. This is not limited to the inland class: IRCC’s eligibility rules cover applicants processed under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class and those sponsored under the family class (outland) who are living with their sponsor in Canada. An open work permit lets the holder work for almost any employer in Canada.
To qualify, the applicant must:
- be in a genuine relationship with the sponsor;
- be included in a permanent residence application and have the acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter for it (the AOR the sponsor receives from IRCC);
- live in Canada with the sponsor; and
- apply online through their IRCC secure account.
Important limits:
- You can apply without an AOR only if your current work permit, study permit or temporary status expires in two weeks or less and you have already applied for permanent residence as a spouse or partner.
- If you do not have valid temporary status and are being processed under the out-of-status spousal public policy, you must wait for your approval-in-principle letter before applying, and you apply on paper with a letter of explanation.
- You cannot apply for this work permit at a port of entry, or if the permanent residence application has been refused, withdrawn or returned.
- An accompanying dependent child of the sponsored partner who lives with the family may also qualify.
The open work permit can be extended for up to two more years while the permanent residence application remains undecided. See our guide to the open work permit in Canada.
Fees and Processing Times
IRCC’s fee list (updated for the April 30, 2026 increase) sets the government fees for sponsoring a spouse or partner, whether inside or outside Canada, at:
- $1,260 – sponsorship fee, principal applicant processing fee and the $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF);
- $660 – if the RPRF is paid later;
- $180 per dependent child included;
- biometrics: $85 per person or $170 maximum per family.
Most couples therefore pay about $1,345 in government fees, plus third-party costs such as the medical exam and police certificates. The RPRF is refunded if the application is withdrawn or refused, and it is charged at the rate in force when you pay it. Quebec sponsors also pay Quebec’s undertaking fee. Always confirm current amounts on IRCC’s fee list, and see our Government of Canada immigration fee schedule.
Processing times change monthly and depend on whether you apply inside or outside Canada and whether the sponsored person is destined for Quebec, where the provincial undertaking step adds time. Check IRCC’s official processing-times tool before you apply, and see our page on Canada immigration processing times.
The Sponsor’s Financial Responsibilities
By signing the undertaking, you agree to provide for your sponsored partner’s basic needs for three years from the day they become a permanent resident. The undertaking continues even if the relationship breaks down, and if your partner receives social assistance during that period you may have to repay it and will be barred from sponsoring again until you do.
In most cases there is no minimum income requirement for spousal, common-law or conjugal sponsorship. The exception: if the partner you are sponsoring has a dependent child who has one or more dependent children of their own, you must meet the income requirement set out in the Financial Evaluation form (IMM 1283). Quebec applies its own financial-capacity rules where relevant.
How to Apply
A spousal sponsorship involves two applications submitted together: the sponsor’s application to sponsor and the partner’s application for permanent residence. The principal applicant (the person being sponsored) submits both online through IRCC’s Permanent Residence (PR) Portal, or an authorized representative submits them through the representative portal. Online submission is mandatory; a paper, large-print or braille package is available only on request for people who cannot apply online and need an accommodation, such as for a disability.
In broad terms: confirm you and your partner are eligible; declare all family members; gather identity, relationship and supporting documents; complete the forms; pay the fees online; submit through the PR Portal; give biometrics; and respond promptly to any IRCC request. Spousal sponsorship is one of several ways to immigrate to Canada, and it can lead to eventual Canadian citizenship. For the wider family class, see our family sponsorship overview and our page on spousal sponsorship conditions.
Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for Canadian Spousal Sponsorship
1. Confirm eligibility
Make sure both of you meet the requirements. The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian, at least 18, living in Canada (or, for a citizen abroad, planning to return), not receiving social assistance other than for disability, and not subject to any sponsorship bar. The sponsored partner must be at least 18 and must pass medical, criminal and security checks.
2. Choose inland or outland
If your partner lives with you in Canada, decide between the in-Canada class and the family class (outland). Both can allow an open work permit while you live together in Canada; outland preserves a right of appeal and allows easier travel, while inland is available to out-of-status partners under IRCC’s spousal public policy.
3. Gather required documents
- Proof of the sponsor’s citizenship, permanent residence or Indian status
- Marriage certificate, or proof of 12 months’ cohabitation (common-law) or of a 12-month committed relationship and the barriers to living together (conjugal)
- Evidence the relationship is genuine, such as photos, communications, travel records and shared finances
- Identity and civil documents for the sponsored partner and any dependent children
- Police certificates for the sponsored partner, as instructed in the checklist
4. Complete the application forms online
Create or sign in to a PR Portal account and follow the personalized checklist. The principal applicant must electronically sign by typing their full name exactly as it appears on their passport; a representative cannot sign for them. Errors or missing documents can lead to the application being rejected as incomplete.
5. Pay application fees
Pay the sponsorship fee, processing fee and (optionally now, otherwise later) the RPRF online, along with biometrics fees, and upload the receipt with your application.
6. Submit the application through the PR Portal
Review all forms and documents, then submit the sponsorship and permanent residence applications together online. Paper submission is not a standard option; it is available only as an approved alternate format for applicants who cannot apply online and need an accommodation.
7. Give biometrics
After submitting, the sponsored partner will receive a biometrics instruction letter explaining how and where to give fingerprints and a photo, unless they are exempt.
8. Track the application
Once IRCC sends an acknowledgement of receipt with an application number, you can track and update the application online. If your partner lives with you in Canada, this is the point at which they can usually apply for an open work permit. Be prepared to provide additional documents or attend an interview.
9. Medical exam and background checks
The sponsored partner must complete an immigration medical exam with an IRCC-approved panel physician and provide police certificates when requested, and will undergo security and criminality screening.
10. Decision and permanent residence
If approved, the sponsored partner receives a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (and, if required, a permanent resident visa). Once they become a permanent resident, the sponsor’s three-year undertaking begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an income requirement to sponsor a spouse?
In most cases, no. Spousal, common-law and conjugal partner sponsorship generally has no minimum income requirement. The exception is when your partner has a dependent child who has dependent children of their own; then you must meet the income requirement in the Financial Evaluation form (IMM 1283).
Can my spouse work while we wait?
Yes, if your spouse or partner is living with you in Canada. Once IRCC issues the acknowledgement of receipt for the permanent residence application, they can apply for an open work permit – whether the sponsorship is filed inland (spouse or common-law partner in Canada class) or outland (family class). Partners without valid status must wait for approval in principle, and the permit cannot be requested at a port of entry.
Can my partner be sponsored from inside Canada if they are out of status?
Often, yes. IRCC applies a public policy that allows a spouse or common-law partner living with their sponsor in Canada to be processed in the in-Canada class even without valid temporary resident status. The policy only removes the status requirement; other admissibility rules still apply, and it does not cancel an enforceable removal order.
Can I submit a paper spousal sponsorship application?
Generally no. The principal applicant must submit the sponsorship and permanent residence applications together online through the PR Portal. A paper, large-print or braille package is available only by request for people who cannot apply online and need an accommodation, such as for a disability.
How much does it cost to sponsor a spouse in 2026?
Government fees are $1,260 including the $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee, or $660 if the RPRF is paid later, plus $180 for each dependent child and $85 biometrics per person ($170 maximum per family). Medical exams, police certificates and translations are extra.
How long am I financially responsible for my partner?
You undertake to support your spouse or partner for three years from the date they become a permanent resident. The obligation continues even if the relationship ends, and any social assistance they receive in that period can become a debt you must repay before sponsoring again.