By Spousal Sponsorship in Canada (2026): How to Sponsor Your Spouse or Partner
If you're a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with a spouse or partner abroad — or living with you in Canada on a temporary status — spousal sponsorship is the route that turns that relationship into permanent residence. It's one of the most-used immigration streams in the country, and unlike most economic pathways, it has no points test and, in nearly all cases, no income requirement.
This guide walks through who can sponsor, the difference between inland and outland applications, what relationships qualify, the financial undertaking you sign, the fees, processing times, and the most common reason applications get refused. Every figure below is verified against current Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) pages — see the References section.
Quick Answer: What spousal sponsorship requires
To sponsor your spouse or partner to Canada, you must be a Canadian citizen, a registered Indian under the Indian Act, or a permanent resident, at least 18 years old, and willing to sign a 3-year financial undertaking. In most cases there is no income requirement for a spouse or partner. The combined government fee is CAD $1,260 (plus $85 biometrics per person), and IRCC's service standard for processing a complete application is 12 months. You can apply from inside Canada (inland) or from outside Canada (outland), and inland applicants can apply for an open work permit while they wait.
Summary: Citizen or PR, 18+, signs a 3-year undertaking, pays ~$1,260, no income test for a spouse/partner. Inside or outside Canada both work — the choice affects work permits and travel, not whether you qualify.
Who can be a sponsor
To sponsor a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, IRCC requires that you:
- Are a Canadian citizen, a person registered under the Indian Act, or a permanent resident of Canada
- Are at least 18 years old
- Will live in Canada when your partner becomes a permanent resident (citizens living abroad may sponsor only if they intend to return to Canada once the partner lands; permanent residents must be physically living in Canada)
- Can show you'll meet the financial needs of the person you're sponsoring
- Are not in a situation that bars you from sponsoring (see below)
The income requirement — and the exception
This is the part people get wrong. For sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, there is no minimum income requirement. You do not need to meet the "Low Income Cut-Off" (LICO) that applies to parent and grandparent sponsorship.
The one exception: you must show you meet an income threshold only if the person you're sponsoring has a dependent child who themselves has one or more dependent children. In other words, the income test reappears only in a fairly specific multi-generation scenario. For the typical couple, income is not assessed.
Who cannot sponsor
You may be ineligible if you:
- Were yourself sponsored as a spouse or partner and became a permanent resident less than 5 years ago
- Signed an undertaking for a previous spouse or partner, and it has been less than 3 years since that person became a permanent resident
- Are in default on a previous sponsorship undertaking or immigration loan
- Receive social assistance for a reason other than disability
- Have an undischarged bankruptcy, or certain criminal convictions
Summary: Almost any citizen or PR aged 18+ can sponsor a partner with no income test. The two traps that catch newer immigrants are the 5-year bar (if you were recently sponsored as a spouse) and the 3-year bar (if you've sponsored someone before).
Eligible relationships: spouse, common-law, or conjugal
IRCC recognizes three relationship categories, and they are not interchangeable — you apply under the one that matches your situation.
| Category | Definition | Key proof |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | Legally married, and the marriage is legally valid in the country where it took place and under Canadian law | Marriage certificate |
| Common-law partner | You have lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months without long separations | Shared lease, joint bills, joint accounts |
| Conjugal partner | A committed, marriage-like relationship for at least 12 months where you could not live together or marry due to a significant barrier (e.g., immigration restriction, marital status, or persecution) | Evidence of the barrier plus relationship proof |
The conjugal category is narrow and meant for couples genuinely prevented from cohabiting or marrying — it is not a shortcut for couples who simply chose to live apart. Same-sex relationships qualify in all three categories.
Inland vs outland: which application to file
There are two ways to apply, and the better choice depends on where your partner is living and how much travel flexibility matters to you.
Inland (Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class): Your partner is already in Canada with valid temporary status (visitor, worker, or student). The big advantage is the open work permit — your partner can apply to work while the application is processed. The trade-off: historically, leaving and re-entering Canada during inland processing carried risk, so this route suits couples settled together in Canada.
Outland (Family Class): Your partner is outside Canada (or inside Canada but plans to keep travelling). Processing happens through a visa office, and your partner can travel in and out of Canada more freely during processing. Despite the name, you can file an outland application even if your partner is physically in Canada — many couples do this precisely for the travel flexibility.
A practical note: both routes target the same 12-month service standard, so "inland is faster" or "outland is faster" claims are unreliable — check the live processing-times tool for your specific situation.
Summary: Choose inland if your partner is in Canada and wants to work while waiting. Choose outland if travel flexibility matters or your partner is abroad. The eligibility rules are identical; only the logistics differ.
The open work permit for inland applicants
If you apply inland and your partner is in Canada, they can apply for an open work permit — meaning they can work for almost any employer without a job offer or labour market assessment.
The timing rule matters. For applications processed under the spousal public policy, your partner must wait until IRCC issues the approval-in-principle (AIP) letter — the point at which IRCC has confirmed the relationship and eligibility — before they're eligible for the open work permit. In practice, many couples submit the open work permit application together with the sponsorship package so it's ready to be assessed.
This is a meaningful financial bridge: it lets the sponsored partner earn income, build Canadian work history, and qualify for benefits during the year-or-more wait. If your partner is weighing other ways to work in Canada in the meantime, our guide to Canadian work permit types explains the alternatives.
The undertaking: what you're financially committing to
When you sponsor, you sign an undertaking — a legally binding promise to financially support your partner so they don't need to rely on social assistance.
- Length: 3 years from the day your partner becomes a permanent resident (everywhere except Quebec; Quebec sets its own undertaking terms).
- What it covers: basic needs — food, shelter, clothing — and any provincial social assistance your partner receives during the undertaking period becomes a debt you must repay.
- It survives changes: the undertaking stays valid even if you divorce, separate, move provinces, or your financial situation worsens. This is why genuineness matters on both sides.
The undertaking is the reason sponsorship is treated as a serious financial commitment even without an income test — you are, in effect, guaranteeing your partner's basic support for three years.
Documents and how to apply
Spousal sponsorship is now an online application. You and your partner complete one combined package that includes both the sponsorship and the permanent residence application. Core forms include:
- Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
- Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669), for the applicant and any family members 18+
- Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
- Relationship evidence (marriage certificate or proof of 12 months' cohabitation)
- Identity, civil status, and police certificates as required by your country
- Relationship proof — photos together over time, communication history, joint finances, travel records, statements from people who know you as a couple
Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) are required for applicants aged 14–79, completed within 30 days of the request letter.
Fees (2026)
| Item | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Sponsor your spouse/partner (sponsorship fee + processing fee + Right of Permanent Residence Fee, bundled) | $1,260 |
| Biometrics | $85 per person (max $170 per family) |
| Typical total for one partner | ~$1,345 |
Permanent residence fees increased on April 30, 2026, so the Right of Permanent Residence Fee component is now higher than in prior years — always confirm the live fee list before paying. The RPRF portion is refundable if you withdraw before it's used or if the application is refused.
Summary: Apply online with one combined package, build a strong relationship-evidence file, and budget about $1,345 in government fees for one partner. The relationship proof — not the forms — is what makes or breaks the application.
Common reasons applications are refused
The single biggest refusal reason is genuineness of the relationship. IRCC officers assess whether the relationship is real and not entered into primarily to gain immigration status. Refusals commonly stem from:
- Thin relationship evidence — few photos, little communication history, no shared finances or cohabitation proof
- Inconsistencies between the two partners' answers, or between forms and interview responses
- Short courtship or marriage of convenience signals that an officer flags for closer scrutiny
- Misrepresentation — leaving out a prior marriage, a previous refusal, or a criminal record (this can trigger a 5-year ban, far worse than a simple refusal)
- Incomplete applications returned before processing even begins
The fix is the same in every case: document the relationship thoroughly, answer consistently, and disclose everything. A well-evidenced genuine relationship is rarely refused.
Sponsorship is also worth seeing in context. Once your partner lands, they'll move through the same newcomer setup steps as any new permanent resident — our first-week-in-Canada checklist covers the SIN, banking and health-card basics. And if sponsorship doesn't fit your timeline, the Express Entry guide covers the main economic alternative.
A note for Quebec
Quebec runs its own immigration intake. As of 2026, Quebec's immigration ministry (MIFI) reached its cap on new spouse/partner undertaking applications and paused intake until June 25, 2026. If your partner intends to settle in Quebec, confirm current MIFI rules before filing — the federal process alone is not enough there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a certain income to sponsor my spouse?
No. In almost all cases there is no income requirement to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner. The only exception is the narrow case where the person you're sponsoring has a dependent child who themselves has dependent children.
How long does spousal sponsorship take?
IRCC's published service standard is 12 months for a complete application, but real timelines vary with application volume, completeness, and how quickly you respond to requests. Always check IRCC's live processing-times tool for a current estimate for your situation.
Can my spouse work in Canada while we wait?
If you apply inland and your partner is in Canada, they can apply for an open work permit. Under the spousal public policy they generally become eligible once IRCC issues the approval-in-principle letter.
What's the difference between inland and outland?
Inland is for partners already in Canada and unlocks the open work permit; outland is processed through a visa office and gives more travel flexibility during processing. Eligibility rules are the same — the difference is logistics, not who qualifies.
What is the undertaking and how long does it last?
The undertaking is your legal promise to financially support your partner. Outside Quebec it lasts 3 years from the day they become a permanent resident, and it stays binding even if you separate or divorce.
How much does it cost?
The combined government fee is CAD $1,260 for sponsoring one spouse or partner, plus $85 biometrics per person — roughly $1,345 total, before any optional legal help.
References
- Sponsor your spouse, partner or child: Check if you're eligible — Canada.ca
- Sponsor your spouse, partner or child: Optional open work permit in Canada — Canada.ca
- Sponsoring your spouse, partner or dependent child (application package) — IRCC
- Citizenship and immigration application fees: Fee list — IRCC
- Check current IRCC processing times — Canada.ca
- What is a common-law partner for spousal sponsorship? — IRCC Help Centre
- Sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child — Complete Guide (IMM 5289) — Canada.ca
This article is general information, not immigration or legal advice. Immigration rules and fees change — verify every figure against the official IRCC pages above, or consult a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer, before you apply. Last verified June 2026.