Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be able to sponsor an eligible spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner for permanent residence.
IRCC assesses whether the relationship is genuine and whether both the sponsor and person being sponsored meet the program requirements.
Last updated: October 2026
Spousal and partner sponsorship is part of Canada’s family reunification program. An eligible Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person registered in Canada under the Indian Act may sponsor an eligible spouse or partner to become a permanent resident.
The sponsor and person being sponsored submit related applications together: the sponsorship application and the permanent residence application. The principal applicant submits the package online through the Permanent Residence Portal.
Sponsors living in Quebec must also meet Quebec’s requirements and complete the provincial undertaking process when instructed.
The appropriate class depends on where the sponsored person is living, your circumstances, and the type of relationship.
Inside Canada
A spouse or common-law partner living with the sponsor in Canada may be able to apply under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class.
Outside Canada
A spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner outside Canada is generally sponsored under the Family Class.
Examples can include certain previous sponsorship obligations, receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability, unresolved support-payment obligations, an undischarged bankruptcy, some criminal convictions, or being subject to a removal order.
Your exact checklist depends on your relationship, country of residence, immigration history and family composition. Documents should be consistent and support both eligibility and the genuineness of the relationship.
The exact timeline varies by case. A complete, consistent application helps reduce avoidable delays.
Review sponsor eligibility, relationship category, applicant admissibility and the most suitable application class.
Prepare civil documents, sponsor documents and relationship evidence using the applicable IRCC checklist.
The principal applicant submits the sponsorship and permanent residence applications together through the PR Portal.
If the application is complete, IRCC issues an acknowledgement of receipt and may request biometrics, medicals or additional evidence.
IRCC assesses sponsor eligibility, relationship genuineness, permanent residence eligibility and admissibility.
If approved, IRCC provides instructions to finalize permanent resident status.
Eligible spouses and partners living in Canada who are being sponsored for permanent residence may be able to apply for an open work permit. In many cases, an acknowledgement of receipt is required, along with valid or maintained temporary resident status.
A refusal can arise from more than one issue. These are common areas that deserve careful review before filing.
The application does not clearly establish that the relationship is genuine and not entered into primarily for immigration purposes.
Dates, addresses, travel history, previous relationships or other answers conflict across forms and supporting documents.
Family members, children or previous relationships are not properly declared or documented.
The sponsor is subject to a restriction, previous undertaking, support-payment issue or another eligibility problem.
Criminality, medical, security, misrepresentation or other admissibility concerns can affect the application.
Missing forms, signatures, required documents or fees can lead to an application being returned or delayed.
Sponsorship cases are personal, document-heavy and highly dependent on consistency. Averou can help you understand the right application route, identify evidence gaps and organize a stronger submission.
In most spouse or partner sponsorship cases, there is no minimum necessary income requirement. An income requirement can apply in specific cases involving dependent children who themselves have dependent children.
For provinces outside Quebec, the sponsorship undertaking for a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner is generally three years beginning when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.
IRCC generally considers partners common-law when they have lived together continuously in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months, apart from short temporary absences.
Eligible sponsored spouses or partners living in Canada may be able to apply for an open work permit. The exact requirements depend on the applicant’s status and stage of processing.
A Canadian citizen living outside Canada may sponsor if they can show that they plan to live in Canada when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident. A permanent resident living outside Canada cannot sponsor.
Processing times change based on application type, inventory, completeness and case complexity. Current processing times should be checked directly with IRCC before relying on an estimate.
Start with a review of your relationship category, sponsor eligibility, immigration history and supporting documents.