Spousal Sponsorship

There comes many challenges, both emotional and financial, that come from being separated from your spouse or partner. The Spousal Sponsorship Program is Canada’s way of providing a lifeline for couples who want to build their future together here.

Canada offers two main pathways for spousal sponsorship depending on where your spouse or common-law partner is currently living: the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class and the Family Class for spouses living outside Canada.

Who Can Sponsor a Spouse?

What You Need to Prove

What You Need to Know

Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Route

If your spouse is already in Canada, you can apply for inland sponsorship. This option allows your partner to stay with you during the process, and they may even qualify to apply for an open work permit in order to be eligible to work while the spousal sponsorship application is being processed. It’s a practical choice if you’re already living together and want to avoid further separation.

Family Class Route

If your spouse is abroad, the family class stream is the pathway to take. This process allows your partner to remain in their home country while their application is reviewed. Outland applications are handled by visa offices outside Canada, which means processing times will vary depending on the office’s workload.

Who Can Sponsor a Spouse?

To sponsor your spouse or partner, you need to be:

At least 18 years old.
A Canadian citizen or permanent resident

There is a critical distinction: only Canadian citizens can sponsor their spouse or common-law partner if they are living outside Canada. Permanent residents must be physically present and residing in Canada to initiate the sponsorship process. This is an important consideration for PRs who may be temporarily living abroad — if you’re not in Canada, your application cannot proceed.

Understanding Quebec’s Unique Process

If you live in Quebec, sponsoring your spouse involves an additional layer of steps. After federal approval of your eligibility as a sponsor, Quebec requires you to submit a separate undertaking application to the provincial government. Quebec also operates under a quota system, which can lead to longer processing delays compared to other provinces.

What You Need to Prove

The success of your sponsorship application depends on proving that you and your spouse or common-law partner are in a bona fide relationship, meaning it is genuine and entered into with the intention of building a life together, not primarily for the purpose of obtaining immigration status.

Relationship Authenticity

You must prove that your relationship is genuine and not entered into for immigration purposes.

This includes providing evidence such as:

Proof of marriage or common-law status: Marriage certificate, joint bank accounts, shared lease agreements, or proof of living together for at least 12 months if applying as common-law partners.
Photos and communication records: Wedding photos, travel records, chat logs, emails, or call histories showing your ongoing relationship.
Proof of shared responsibilities: Joint finances, utility bills, or shared property ownership.
Statements from friends and family: Letters affirming the legitimacy of your relationship.

Financial Ability to Support

While there is no minimum income requirement for spousal sponsorship, you must:

Show you can provide basic needs like food, housing, and healthcare (if not covered by provincial health care).
Commit to a sponsorship undertaking for three years, during which you are financially responsible for your spouse.

What You Need to Know

In 2024, Canadian immigration policies have tightened in many areas, but spousal sponsorship remains a key priority. The government recognizes the importance of keeping families together, which is why they’ve maintained relatively stable processing times for sponsorship applications.

If you’re navigating this process, remember that the most important part of your application is proving the legitimacy of your relationship. The government will look for evidence that your marriage or partnership is genuine. Photos, communication records, shared finances, and anything else that shows your commitment should be documented in detail. It’s not about creating a picture-perfect narrative, but rather about being honest and thorough.