In short: Canada's spousal sponsorship program lets an eligible Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Canadian Indian Act sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for permanent residence (PR). The government fees come to $1,260 in the combined IRCC payment plus $85 for biometrics, roughly $1,345 before the medical exam, and IRCC's published processing times are about 27 months inland and about 17 months outland outside Quebec. There is generally no minimum income requirement to sponsor a spouse or partner, unlike sponsoring parents or grandparents. This guide covers the fees, the two processing routes, sponsor eligibility, the income rules, the document checklist, the open work permit, and the most common reasons applications are refused. Every fee and timeline here can change, so confirm the current figures on the official IRCC website before you rely on them. A visa officer decides each case; this page is educational and is not legal advice.
Spousal Sponsorship Fees (2026)
Sponsoring a spouse or partner costs $1,260 in IRCC fees: a $90 sponsorship fee, a $570 processing fee, and the $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee. Add $85 for biometrics and the government total is about $1,345, before the medical exam. Each sponsored dependent child adds $180.
For a single spouse or partner applying outside Quebec, IRCC bundles the sponsorship fee, the principal applicant processing fee, and the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) into one combined amount of $1,260. Add the $85 biometrics fee and you are looking at roughly $1,345 in government fees, before the cost of a medical exam and supporting documents. The breakdown below reflects IRCC fees after the permanent-residence fee increase that took effect April 30, 2026. Fees change periodically, so confirm the current amounts on IRCC before paying:
| Fee Item | Amount (CAD) | Who Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Combined IRCC fee (sponsorship + processing + RPRF) | $1,260 | Sponsor and sponsored partner (often paid together) |
| Of which: sponsorship fee | $90 | Sponsor |
| Of which: principal applicant processing fee | $570 | Sponsored partner |
| Of which: Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) | $600 | Refundable if you withdraw before landing |
| Each sponsored dependent child | $180 | Added per child included in the application |
| Biometrics | $85/person ($170 family max) | Sponsored partner |
| Medical examination | Varies by clinic/country | Sponsored partner (set by the panel physician, not IRCC) |
| Approximate government-fee total | ~$1,345 + medical | Both, before documents/medical |
Amounts read from our IRCC fee dataset, which reflects the schedule in force since April 30, 2026. The live table is on our fee calculator.
What this means for you: the medical exam, police certificates, document translation, notarization, and any lawyer or consultant fees are extra and are not set by IRCC. The RPRF portion is generally refundable if you withdraw before the partner becomes a PR. For a tailored estimate, use our fee calculator.
Processing Time 2026: Inland vs Outland
IRCC's published spousal sponsorship processing times are about 27 months inland and about 17 months outland outside Quebec, verified August 19, 2026. Outland is roughly 10 months faster; inland usually comes with an open work permit while you wait. Quebec files take longer because of the extra provincial review.
How long a spousal sponsorship takes depends largely on whether you apply inland (the sponsored partner is already in Canada with temporary status) or outland (the file is processed through a visa office, whether the partner is abroad or in Canada). IRCC updates its published processing times roughly monthly, and they reflect how long it took to finish 80% of recently completed cases, not a guarantee for your file. Our dataset, verified August 19, 2026, shows about 27 months for inland and about 17 months for outland outside Quebec; Quebec cases generally take longer because of the additional provincial review. Because these numbers move, treat the comparison below as a snapshot and check the current estimate before you plan around a date.
| Factor | Inland | Outland |
|---|---|---|
| Published processing time (outside Quebec) | About 27 months | About 17 months |
| Spouse location | Must be in Canada at time of application | Anywhere, can be in Canada or abroad |
| Open work permit while waiting | Usually available (spouse/common-law partner in Canada class) | No automatic open work permit during processing |
| Travel outside Canada | Risky, may need travel document; if spouse leaves, application may switch to outland | Sponsor can travel freely; spouse applies from abroad |
| Appeal rights (if refused) | Yes: Immigration Appeal Division | Yes: Immigration Appeal Division |
| Best for | Couples who want to live together now and need work authorization | Couples who prioritize speed; spouse can wait abroad |
Processing times are IRCC's published figures for the rest of Canada, verified August 19, 2026. Live table on our processing times page, or check IRCC's own tool.
What this means for you: processing times are affected by visa office workload, biometrics and medical-exam completion, document completeness, and security and background screening. Complex files (for example, prior immigration history or a criminal record) generally take longer. These are estimates, not deadlines.
See our detailed comparison in the Inland vs Outland guide.
Eligibility Requirements
To sponsor a spouse or partner you must be at least 18 and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Canadian Indian Act, and you must sign a three-year undertaking. A permanent resident sponsor generally must live in Canada; a citizen abroad may sponsor if the couple will live in Canada.
Sponsor eligibility is checked before the relationship is assessed, so it is worth confirming every line below before you pay anything. A visa officer applies these rules, and they change; confirm your situation on IRCC.
- ✓ At least 18 years old, and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Canadian Indian Act
- ✓ A permanent resident sponsor generally must be living in Canada; a Canadian citizen living abroad may sponsor if the couple will live in Canada once the partner becomes a PR
- ✓ Signs the sponsorship agreement and undertaking: 3 years for a spouse or partner outside Quebec, and Quebec sets its own lengths
- ✓ Not in default of a previous sponsorship undertaking, not subject to a removal order, and not incarcerated
- ✓ Not within the 5-year sponsorship bar: a person sponsored as a spouse or partner generally cannot sponsor a new partner until 5 years after becoming a permanent resident (IRPR s.130(3))
- ✓ The relationship fits one of three categories: spouse (legally married), common-law partner (at least 12 continuous months of cohabitation in a conjugal relationship), or conjugal partner (at least one year, where an exceptional barrier prevented living together or marrying)
- ✓ The relationship is genuine and was not entered into primarily to acquire an immigration status or privilege (IRPR s.4)
- ✓ The sponsored partner must be admissible to Canada; criminal or medical inadmissibility is decided separately from the sponsorship
Income Requirements
There is generally no minimum income requirement to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner. Unlike parents and grandparents, spousal sponsorship has no Minimum Necessary Income test. The main exception: if the partner you sponsor has a dependent child who has their own child, the income rules apply.
What replaces the income test is the undertaking. You sign a legally binding promise to provide for the sponsored partner's basic needs for 3 years from the day they become a permanent resident (Quebec sets its own length), and if the sponsored person receives social assistance during that period, you may be required to repay those amounts. That obligation stands even if the relationship later ends. So the practical question is not "do I earn enough" but "can I carry this undertaking".
The income test (Minimum Necessary Income, based on the low-income cut-off) mainly applies when you sponsor parents or grandparents, where you must meet the threshold for the three tax years before you apply. For the full category-by-category breakdown, see our complete family sponsorship guide.
Document Checklist
A spousal sponsorship package needs identity and status documents, proof the relationship is genuine, communication history, and photos. IRCC looks for a consistent story across several categories rather than photos alone. Our document checklist tool builds a detailed list for your circumstances.
IRCC requires substantial evidence that the relationship is genuine and was not entered into primarily to acquire an immigration status or privilege (this bad-faith-relationship rule is in IRPR s.4). The strongest applications show a consistent story across several categories rather than relying on photos alone. The standard document checklist generally includes:
Identity & Status
- ✓ Marriage certificate (translated if needed)
- ✓ Proof of sponsor's citizenship or PR status
- ✓ Birth certificates
- ✓ Divorce decrees if previously married
Proof of Relationship
- ✓ Joint bank account statements
- ✓ Joint lease or mortgage
- ✓ Joint utility bills
- ✓ Travel records showing visits together
Communication
- ✓ Chat/messaging history (screenshots)
- ✓ Email history
- ✓ Video call logs
- ✓ Phone records
Photos & Social
- ✓ Photos together over time
- ✓ Social media showing relationship
- ✓ Family/friend reference letters
- ✓ Evidence of cohabitation
Generate a list for your own circumstances with our Document Checklist tool.
Open Work Permit During Inland Processing
A key advantage of applying inland is that the sponsored partner can usually apply for an open work permit (OWP) at the same time as (or shortly after) the sponsorship application. This stream is for partners in the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class, under IRPR s.207(b), which lets a work permit be issued to a member of that class; it is separate from the open work permits for family members of temporary workers and students that IRCC narrowed effective January 21, 2025, so do not confuse the two. An open work permit lets the holder work for almost any employer. Eligibility rules and fees change, so confirm the current requirements on IRCC before applying. Key points generally include:
- ✓ The open work permit can usually be applied for together with the inland sponsorship application
- ✓ It generally allows the sponsored partner to work for almost any employer in Canada while the PR application is processed
- ✓ It is typically valid until a decision is made on the PR application
- ✓ Optional government fee: about $255 CAD ($155 work permit fee plus $100 open work permit holder fee); confirm the current amount on IRCC
- ✓ The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Canadian Indian Act
- ✓ A visa officer decides eligibility; this is educational, not advice
Common Refusal Reasons: And How to Avoid Them
⚠ Relationship not considered genuine
Submit extensive, varied evidence across multiple categories, not just photos. IRCC looks for proof of cohabitation, shared finances, and long-term communication history.
⚠ Sponsor ineligibility (prior undertaking in default, prior sponsorship in progress, criminal inadmissibility)
Verify sponsor eligibility before applying. Sponsors who are subject to a removal order, in prison, or have defaulted on a prior sponsorship undertaking are ineligible.
⚠ Sponsored spouse's criminal or medical inadmissibility
The sponsored spouse must be admissible to Canada. A criminal record abroad can make the spouse inadmissible; address this with TRP or CR before or alongside the sponsorship.
⚠ Incomplete application or missing documents
Use the official IRCC document checklist and the ClearToEnter Document Checklist tool. Missing documents result in processing delays or refusals.
⚠ Misrepresentation, incorrect information on forms
Under IRPA s.40, misrepresentation can lead to a finding of inadmissibility, commonly a 5-year bar on returning. Answer every question accurately, including previous immigration history, refusals, and any criminal record; if you are unsure how to disclose something, get advice from a licensed professional rather than guessing.
⚠ Sponsor is within the 5-year sponsorship bar
A person who was themselves sponsored as a spouse or partner generally cannot sponsor a new spouse or partner until 5 years after they became a permanent resident (IRPR s.130(3)). If this could apply to you, confirm the timing before applying.
Build your document checklist
Our free tool generates a detailed document checklist for your spousal sponsorship application based on your circumstances.
Generate Document ChecklistFrequently Asked Questions
How much are the spousal sponsorship fees in 2026?+
IRCC's combined spousal sponsorship fee is $1,260: $90 sponsorship, $570 processing, and the $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF). Biometrics add $85 per person, to a $170 family maximum, and each sponsored dependent child adds $180. That puts the government total near $1,345 for a couple, before the medical exam, police certificates, and translations, which are not set by IRCC. These amounts reflect the IRCC fee schedule in force since April 30, 2026. The RPRF portion is generally refundable if you withdraw before the partner becomes a permanent resident. Confirm the current amounts on IRCC before paying.
How long does inland spousal sponsorship take in 2026?+
IRCC's published time for a spouse or partner applying inland (the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class) is about 27 months outside Quebec, verified August 19, 2026. Published times describe how long it took to finish 80% of recently completed cases; they are not a promise for your file. Inland applicants can usually hold an open work permit while they wait, which is the main reason couples accept the longer wait. Quebec files generally take longer because of the additional provincial review. IRCC updates the figure roughly monthly, so check the current estimate before you plan around a date.
How long does outland spousal sponsorship take in 2026?+
IRCC's published time for outland spousal sponsorship is about 17 months outside Quebec, verified August 19, 2026, roughly 10 months faster than the inland route. Outland means the file is processed through a visa office; the partner can be abroad or in Canada and can generally travel while it is in progress. There is no automatic open work permit with an outland application. As with inland, the figure reflects 80% of recently completed cases and moves month to month, so confirm the current estimate on IRCC.
Are there income requirements for spousal sponsorship in Canada?+
Generally no. Unlike sponsoring parents or grandparents, sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or a dependent child usually has no minimum necessary income (LICO) test. The main exception is if the dependent child you sponsor has their own dependent child, or the partner you sponsor has a dependent child who has their own child. In a straightforward spousal or partner sponsorship, the sponsor must meet the sponsorship eligibility requirements and sign the undertaking rather than prove a set income. The undertaking runs 3 years outside Quebec, and if the sponsored person receives social assistance during that period the sponsor may have to repay those amounts.
What documents does IRCC require for a spousal sponsorship application?+
The package spans four kinds of evidence: identity and status (marriage certificate, proof of the sponsor's citizenship or PR status, birth certificates, divorce decrees if previously married); proof of the relationship (joint bank statements, joint lease or mortgage, joint utility bills, travel records); communication (messaging and email history, video call logs, phone records); and photos and social evidence (photos over time, reference letters from family and friends, evidence of cohabitation). IRCC assesses whether the relationship is genuine under IRPR s.4, so consistency across categories matters more than volume in any one of them. Our free document checklist tool builds the list for your circumstances.
What are the requirements to sponsor a spouse in Canada?+
You must be at least 18 and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Canadian Indian Act, and you must sign the sponsorship agreement and undertaking, which lasts 3 years for a spouse or partner outside Quebec. A permanent resident sponsor generally must be living in Canada; a Canadian citizen living abroad may sponsor if the couple will live in Canada once the partner becomes a permanent resident. Sponsors who are in default of a previous undertaking, subject to a removal order, or incarcerated are ineligible, and a person who was themselves sponsored as a partner generally waits 5 years from becoming a permanent resident before sponsoring someone new (IRPR s.130(3)).
Should I apply inland or outland for spousal sponsorship?+
The terms describe where the application is processed, not the type of relationship. Outland is currently faster, about 17 months against roughly 27 months inland (verified August 19, 2026), and the partner can travel while it is in progress. Inland requires the partner to be in Canada with temporary status but usually allows an open work permit during processing, and leaving Canada can put the application at risk. Both routes carry a right of appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division. Many couples choose outland for speed and inland when they need to live and work together in Canada now.
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This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.