Family immigration · Chris Brown, RCIC
Spousal Sponsorship in Canada
Sponsor your spouse or partner for Canadian permanent residence with a clear plan for your circumstances. Whether your partner is outside Canada or already here, the right application depends on your relationship, where you plan to live, immigration status, and the documents available to support your case.
I’m Chris Brown, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. I help couples understand their options, prepare a complete application and address issues before they become avoidable delays.
Who can sponsor a spouse or partner?
In general, a sponsor must be at least 18 and be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a person registered under the Indian Act. A permanent resident must live in Canada to sponsor. A Canadian citizen living abroad may qualify if they show they intend to live in Canada when their spouse or partner becomes a permanent resident.
Sponsors also undertake to support the person they sponsor. Outside Quebec, the undertaking for a spouse or partner lasts three years from the day they become a permanent resident. Most spouse and partner sponsorships have no minimum income requirement, although exceptions and other eligibility restrictions apply. Quebec has additional requirements.
Not sure whether you qualify? We can review sponsor eligibility and any previous sponsorship, undertaking, social assistance or status concerns before you apply.
Who can be sponsored?
You may be able to sponsor a legally married spouse, a common-law partner with at least 12 consecutive months of cohabitation, or a conjugal partner who meets the specific requirements for that category. Conjugal sponsorship is a narrower route for a partner living outside Canada when serious barriers prevent marriage or living together. The relationship must be genuine. Your spouse or partner must also meet the applicable admissibility requirements, and all family members must be declared, including those who are not accompanying them.
Marriage alone does not guarantee approval. IRCC assesses the relationship and the application as a whole. We help couples organize evidence in a clear, accurate way that reflects their actual history.
Applying from inside or outside Canada
The suitable class depends on your circumstances. A couple living together in Canada may consider the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class. The Family Class may be relevant when the sponsored person lives abroad; it can also be an option in some cases where the applicant is in Canada. Where you live, travel plans, temporary status and the ability to remain together during processing all matter.
We review those details with you rather than assuming that one route fits every couple.
Can your spouse work while the application is processed?
Some spouses or partners living in Canada and being sponsored for permanent residence may qualify for an open work permit. Eligibility depends on the current IRCC policy, the status of the permanent residence application, and the applicant’s temporary resident status. In many cases, an acknowledgement of receipt is required; a limited exception may apply where status is about to expire.
Submitting a sponsorship application does not, by itself, authorize someone to work or extend their temporary resident status. We can review the timing of any status or work permit applications alongside the sponsorship file.
How the application works
- Assess eligibility and choose the appropriate class. We review the sponsor, applicant, relationship and dependent family members.
- Build the evidence and forms. Documents may include identity records, relationship evidence, police certificates, medical information and country-specific items. The exact checklist depends on your circumstances.
- Submit the sponsorship and permanent residence applications together online. IRCC requires complete forms, supporting documents and the applicable fee receipt.
- Respond during processing. IRCC may request biometrics, a medical exam, more documents or an interview. Processing times vary; check IRCC’s current estimate for your situation instead of relying on a fixed promise.
How Tudor House works with you
You work directly with Chris on the assessment and strategy. Our team can assist with application preparation, with Chris remaining accountable for the file and its advice. We explain the proposed scope, professional fees and next steps before you decide to retain us.
Our first conversation is a chance to identify the main issues and see whether we can help. It is not an approval guarantee or a substitute for a full assessment.
Common questions
Do we have to be married?
No. A qualifying common-law or conjugal relationship may be eligible. The categories have different requirements, so the right one depends on your facts.
Can I sponsor my partner while living outside Canada?
A Canadian citizen living abroad may be eligible if they demonstrate an intention to live in Canada when their sponsored spouse or partner becomes a permanent resident. A permanent resident generally must live in Canada to sponsor.
Is there a minimum income requirement?
Usually not for a spouse or partner, but exceptions exist, particularly where a dependent child has a dependent child of their own. The sponsor must still meet their undertaking and other eligibility requirements.
How long will it take?
IRCC processing times change and depend on the application. We check the current official estimate and explain the stages without promising a decision date.
Can my spouse visit Canada while waiting?
They may apply for temporary entry if they need a visa or travel authorization and must meet the applicable entry requirements. A pending sponsorship application does not guarantee admission or confer temporary status.