Processing times for spouse sponsorship visas typically range from 8 to 12 months. All sponsorship applications, whether Inland or Outland, must be submitted online. Once an application is deemed complete and includes all necessary forms and documents, and the sponsor is confirmed as eligible, the application is forwarded to the appropriate visa office for further processing. Incomplete applications are returned approximately 3 months after submission.

There are two types of applications for Spouse and Common-Law Sponsorship:

Outland Sponsorship: In this category, your application will be processed through the visa office in the sponsored spouse’s country of citizenship or their legal residence (if they are outside Canada). Even if you and your Spouse/Common-law partner live together in Canada, you can still apply under this category. Applying under Outland Sponsorship gives you the right to appeal a refusal at the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD).

Inland Sponsorship (Spouse or Common-Law in-Canada category): With this type of application, the processing takes place within Canada, and both you and your sponsor must be living together at the time of application and throughout the process. The sponsored partner may also be eligible for an Open Work Permit if they have valid status in Canada. If the sponsored partner does not have valid status, they can still be sponsored for Permanent Residency through a special public policy or by using Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) grounds within the application, especially if a removal order has been issued by CBSA. Please note that Inland sponsorship does not grant the right to appeal if the application is refused.

You can sponsor the following persons and their dependent children (21 or younger) for Canadian Permanent Residence

​Spouse:  husband, wife, partner via marriage (proxy marriages are not permitted)

Common-law Partner:  person you are living with for at least 12 months continuously

Conjugal Partner:  if your partner does not qualify under the Spouse or Common-Law category but you are in a committed relationship equal to that of a marriage for at least one year. There must be extenuating circumstances why you cannot live together- job location, studying abroad, inability to obtain visa to Canada are NOT good enough reasons.

Canada recognizes same-sex marriages and partnerships, and these individuals are eligible to apply under the three categories mentioned.

Eligibility for a Sponsor:​

• The sponsor must be a Canadian Citizen, or Permanent Resident (living in Canada)
• The sponsor must be 18 years of age or older
• The sponsor cannot be in prison, bankrupt, under a removal order (if a permanent resident) or charged with a serious offence
• The sponsor, himself, cannot have been sponsored to Canada as a spouse within the last 5 years.