Sponsor Your Spouse in Canada

You may be able to sponsor your spouse if you are legally married, your common-law partner if you have lived together for at least 12 months in a row, or your conjugal partner if you have been in a relationship for at least a year but could not live together or marry because of circumstances outside your control. Dependent children of the person you sponsor can be included.

A sponsor must be at least 18, be a Canadian citizen, a Registered Indian under the Indian Act, or a permanent resident, and live in Canada. They must not be receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability, must be able to meet the basic needs of themselves and their partner, and must not be in default on an immigration loan or performance bond or under a removal order. Quebec residents have extra conditions.

A Canadian citizen living abroad can often sponsor, but must show they plan to live in Canada once their partner becomes a permanent resident. A permanent resident must be living in Canada to sponsor.

As of October 2026, published processing times are about 18 months for applications made from outside Canada (outland) and about 26 months for applications made from inside Canada (inland). Times change, so check the current figure before you plan around it. Applicants settling in Quebec face longer timelines because of an added provincial step.

Core forms include the Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344), the Sponsorship Evaluation and Relationship Questionnaire (IMM 5532), and the principal applicant's forms (IMM 0008, IMM 5669 and IMM 5406). You also need civil documents such as a marriage certificate, police certificates where required, translations with an affidavit where needed, photos, evidence that your relationship is genuine, and your fee receipt. The exact list depends on the countries involved.

Generally no. A minimum income applies only in limited cases, such as when the sponsored spouse or partner has a dependent child who has a dependent child of their own.

For a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, the sponsorship undertaking lasts 3 years from the day they become a permanent resident.

Inland applies when you and your partner live together in Canada. Outland applies when your partner lives outside Canada, and couples in Canada can use it too. The right choice depends on where you live, your partner's status, and your plans, so it is worth settling before you apply.

A refusal, a returned application or a procedural fairness letter does not always end the case. Depending on the situation, options can include responding to the letter, submitting a corrected application, or an appeal. A procedural fairness letter comes with a deadline, so act quickly.

No, a representative is optional. Many couples hire a licensed consultant (RCIC) to check eligibility, organize relationship evidence, catch missing or inconsistent documents and handle correspondence.