Spousal sponsorship is the process by which a Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsors their husband, wife or partner to become a permanent resident of Canada. It is one of the most common family immigration pathways, and also one where small errors, an unclear relationship record, or the wrong choice of stream can cause long delays. Understanding the rules before you apply saves time.
This guide explains, in plain English, who can be sponsored and who can sponsor, the difference between a spouse, a common-law partner and a conjugal partner, the two ways to apply, the fees including the right of permanent residence fee, the undertaking a sponsor signs, the spousal open work permit, and how refusals and appeals work. It is general information for 2026, not case-specific advice, and IRCC makes all final decisions.
Table of Contents
- Quick Answer
- Who can be sponsored: spouse, common-law or conjugal partner
- Who can be a sponsor
- Two ways to apply: Family Class vs in-Canada Class
- Who is the principal applicant in spousal sponsorship
- The spousal open work permit
- The undertaking, the 5-year bar and default
- Documents you need
- Proving a genuine relationship
- Government fees and the RPRF
- Processing time and status
- Applying from inside vs outside Canada
- If the relationship changes during processing
- Refusals and appeals: IAD vs Federal Court
- Common spousal sponsorship mistakes
- What to Do Next — and How MAK Can Help
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Official Sources Reviewed
Quick Answer
To sponsor a spouse or partner, the sponsor must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian, at least 18, and able to meet the sponsorship requirements; for a spouse or partner there is generally no minimum income requirement. The person sponsored can be a legally married spouse, a common-law partner (at least 12 continuous months living together), or a conjugal partner in specific circumstances. You apply either through the Family Class or the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class, and the choice affects work-permit options and appeal rights. As of July 2026, the fee to sponsor a spouse or partner is CAD 1,260, which includes the right of permanent residence fee. Processing times change, so check the official tool. IRCC makes all final decisions, and this page is general information, not advice.
Planning a spousal sponsorship application? Book a consultation with MAK Canadian Immigration Services. You will deal directly with a licensed RCIC regulated by the CICC. You can also start with a free assessment form. IRCC makes all final decisions.
Who can be sponsored: spouse, common-law or conjugal partner
The relationship must fit one of three defined categories, and the evidence you provide depends on which one applies to you.
| Category | What it means | Typical evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | Legally married; the marriage must be valid both where it took place and under Canadian law. Both partners must be at least 18. | Marriage certificate plus proof of a genuine relationship |
| Common-law partner | You have lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 continuous months. | Proof of cohabitation such as shared housing, finances and correspondence |
| Conjugal partner | A committed conjugal relationship of at least one year where you could not live together or marry because of exceptional circumstances, such as a legal or immigration barrier. | Evidence of the relationship and of the barrier that prevented marriage or cohabitation |
Who can be a sponsor
A sponsor is generally a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a person registered under the Canadian Indian Act, who is at least 18 years old. The sponsor must not be in default of a previous undertaking or certain debts, must not be receiving social assistance for a reason other than disability, and must meet the other eligibility conditions. For a spouse, partner or dependent child, there is generally no minimum necessary income requirement, which is different from sponsoring parents or grandparents. A permanent-resident sponsor generally must be living in Canada, while a citizen sponsor living abroad may sponsor if they will return to Canada when the person becomes a permanent resident.
Two ways to apply: Family Class vs in-Canada Class
There are two streams, and they are not interchangeable. The right choice depends on where the sponsored person lives, whether they have valid status in Canada, and what matters most to you regarding work permits and appeal rights.
| Feature | Family Class | Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class |
|---|---|---|
| Where the sponsored person is | Commonly outside Canada, though it can also be used when the person is in Canada | Living in Canada with the sponsor and holding valid status |
| Open work permit | Not the basis of this stream | An open work permit may be available while the application is processed, subject to current eligibility rules |
| Appeal right if refused | The sponsor may appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division | Generally no appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division; judicial review at the Federal Court instead |
Who is the principal applicant in spousal sponsorship
This is a common point of confusion. In a spousal sponsorship, the person being sponsored — the spouse or partner seeking permanent residence — is the principal applicant on the permanent-residence application. The Canadian citizen or permanent resident is the sponsor, not the applicant. If the couple has dependent children being included, they are added as dependants on the same application. Getting these roles right matters because the forms, and the responsibilities that follow, are different for the sponsor and the applicant.
The spousal open work permit
A spouse or partner being sponsored, particularly under the in-Canada class, may be eligible for an open work permit that lets them work for most employers while the permanent-residence application is processed. The eligibility rules for these open work permits have changed over time and can depend on the sponsored person’s status and the stream, so confirm current eligibility on the official IRCC pages rather than assuming. An open work permit is a temporary document tied to the sponsorship situation; it is not the permanent residence itself.
The undertaking, the 5-year bar and default
Sponsorship is a serious financial commitment. The table summarises the main obligations and restrictions.
| Item | What it is | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Undertaking | A binding promise by the sponsor to financially support the sponsored person and repay certain social assistance they receive | Lasts three years for a spouse or partner, generally starting when they become a permanent resident |
| 5-year sponsorship bar | A person who was themselves sponsored as a spouse or partner cannot sponsor a new spouse or partner | For five years after becoming a permanent resident |
| Being in default | Owing on a previous undertaking or certain government debts | Can make a sponsor ineligible until it is resolved |
Documents you need
Every application includes sponsor and applicant forms, identity and civil-status documents, and relationship evidence. Depending on your situation you may also need police certificates, a medical exam, proof of status in Canada for an in-Canada application, and translations for any document not in English or French. Where a translation is not done by a certified translator, IRCC generally requires an affidavit from the translator and a certified copy of the original. Prepare a complete, well-organised package: an incomplete application can be returned, and a returned application does not hold your place.
Proving a genuine relationship
The central question in most spousal files is whether the relationship is genuine and was not entered into primarily for immigration. You show this with a consistent, documented history rather than a single proof: photographs over time, communication records, evidence of living together or of visits, joint finances or responsibilities, and statements from people who know you as a couple. Quality and consistency matter more than volume. If parts of your history are unusual, explain them clearly and support the explanation, rather than leaving gaps for an officer to interpret.
Government fees and the RPRF
As of July 2026, sponsoring a spouse or partner costs CAD 1,260, which includes the sponsorship fee, the processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee (RPRF). If you apply without the RPRF up front, the amount is CAD 660, and the RPRF of CAD 600 must be paid before the person becomes a permanent resident. Including a dependent child is CAD 180 per child. The RPRF is refundable if you withdraw the application or it is refused. These are Government of Canada fees and can change, so confirm the current amounts on IRCC’s fee list before you pay. Biometrics may also apply to the sponsored person.
Processing time and status
Spousal sponsorship processing times change and depend on the stream and where the application is processed, so check the current estimate in IRCC’s official tool for your exact category rather than relying on an old number. Our guide to IRCC processing times explains how those estimates are built and how to read them. The sponsor and the applicant may see different information, and some status tools require an application number or an Acknowledgement of Receipt before they display the file. An estimate for the category does not tell you what stage your individual file has reached.
Applying from inside vs outside Canada
Where the sponsored person lives shapes the choice of stream. The in-Canada class suits couples living together in Canada where the sponsored person holds valid status and wants to remain during processing, potentially with an open work permit. The Family Class is commonly used when the sponsored person is abroad, and it preserves the sponsor’s right to appeal a refusal to the Immigration Appeal Division. Leaving and re-entering Canada during an in-Canada application can carry practical risks, so plan travel carefully and get advice if your status is complex.
If the relationship changes during processing
Permanent residence through spousal sponsorship is based on a genuine, continuing relationship. If the relationship ends before a decision, the basis of the application may no longer exist, and you should get advice about your specific situation. Note that the earlier conditional permanent residence measure, which once required some couples to live together for a period after landing, was removed in 2017, so most sponsored spouses today do not receive a conditional status of that kind. Circumstances vary, so confirm how any change affects your file.
Refusals and appeals: IAD vs Federal Court
If a Family Class sponsorship is refused, the sponsor generally has the right to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD), an independent tribunal that can re-examine the decision. If an application under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class is refused, there is generally no IAD appeal; the route is an application for judicial review at the Federal Court, which reviews whether the decision was reasonable and lawful rather than re-deciding the facts. This difference is one reason the choice of stream matters. Deadlines for appeals and reviews are strict, so act quickly and get advice if you receive a refusal.
Common spousal sponsorship mistakes
- Choosing the wrong stream for your situation and appeal-right needs.
- Treating a marriage certificate as enough on its own, without relationship evidence.
- Submitting an inconsistent relationship history with unexplained gaps.
- Assuming a minimum income is required for a spouse or partner.
- Misunderstanding who is the sponsor and who is the principal applicant.
- Missing documents or skipping translations, causing the package to be returned.
- Assuming an open work permit is automatic in every case.
- Travelling in or out of Canada during an in-Canada application without checking the risks.
- Relying on an old processing-time figure instead of the live tool.
- Missing a strict appeal or judicial-review deadline after a refusal.
What to Do Next — and How MAK Can Help
MAK Canadian Immigration Services can help you confirm eligibility, choose the correct stream for your circumstances and appeal-right needs, organise relationship evidence that tells a clear and truthful story, and understand the undertaking and fees before you commit. As a licensed RCIC firm regulated by the CICC, we set realistic expectations based on your actual situation rather than promises. IRCC makes the final decision on every application. For the service itself, see our family class spousal sponsorship page, or our inland spousal sponsorship page for in-Canada applications.
Ready to start a spousal sponsorship the right way? Book a consultation with MAK Canadian Immigration Services, in person at our Mississauga office or online. You can also start with a free assessment form, or review our professional fees. IRCC makes all final decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the principal applicant in spousal sponsorship?
Is there an income requirement to sponsor a spouse?
What is the difference between a common-law and a conjugal partner?
How much does spousal sponsorship cost?
Can my spouse work while the sponsorship is processed?
How long does spousal sponsorship take?
What is the undertaking in spousal sponsorship?
Can I sponsor a new spouse if I was sponsored before?
Should I apply from inside or outside Canada?
Can I appeal a refused spousal sponsorship?
Official Sources Reviewed
This article was reviewed against current official Government of Canada and IRCC sources. Official sources last checked: July 11, 2026.
- IRCC — Sponsor your spouse, partner or dependent child
- IRCC — Family sponsorship
- IRCC — Fee list
- IRCC — Check current processing times
- IRCC — Biometrics
- Immigration and Refugee Board — Immigration Appeal Division
- Justice Laws — Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and is not case-specific immigration advice. Rules, fees and procedures can change. Confirm current requirements on the official Government of Canada website or obtain advice from a licensed immigration professional for your circumstances. IRCC makes all final decisions.
