How to Sponsor Your Spouse or Common-Law Partner for Permanent Residence in Canada

Who can sponsor a spouse or partner for permanent residence?

You may sponsor a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner if you meet IRCC's federal sponsorship requirements.

You must generally:

• be at least 18 years old;
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or a person registered in Canada under the Indian Act;
• meet the applicable residence requirements;
• sign a sponsorship agreement and financial undertaking;
• meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

Can a Canadian citizen sponsor from outside Canada?

Yes. A Canadian citizen living outside Canada may sponsor an eligible spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner if the citizen can show that they plan to live in Canada when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.

Can a Canadian permanent resident sponsor from outside Canada?

No. A Canadian permanent resident who lives outside Canada cannot sponsor a spouse or partner from abroad. The permanent resident sponsor must live in Canada.

Who can you sponsor?

Spouse

Your spouse must be legally married to you, be at least 18 years old, be in a genuine relationship with you and not be inadmissible to Canada.

Common-law partner

Your common-law partner must be at least 18, not legally married to you and must have lived with you continuously in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months. IRCC allows short and temporary periods apart, such as for family obligations or business travel, without automatically breaking the 12-month period.

Conjugal partner

A conjugal partner must be at least 18, live outside Canada, not be legally married to you or in a common-law relationship with you, and have been in an exclusive and mutually interdependent relationship with you for at least one year.

Does the relationship have to be genuine?

Yes. IRCC must be satisfied that the relationship is genuine and was not entered into mainly for the purpose of obtaining permanent resident status.

The required evidence depends on the type of relationship and your circumstances. Follow Form IMM 5533 and the country-specific document checklist generated for your application.

Which sponsorship class should you choose?

Choosing the correct class is important because the rules and practical consequences are different.

Family Class

Use the Family Class if:

• the person you are sponsoring lives outside Canada;
• your spouse or common-law partner lives with you in Canada but does not plan to remain in Canada while the application is processed;
• you want to preserve the possibility of an appeal if the application is refused; or
• you are sponsoring a conjugal partner.

Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class

This class can be used when an eligible spouse or common-law partner lives with the sponsor in Canada and has valid temporary resident status or is covered by an applicable public policy exemption.

A conjugal partner cannot be sponsored through the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class.

How much does spousal sponsorship cost in Canada in 2026?

Permanent residence fees increased on April 30, 2026.

As of August 25, 2026, the standard federal fees for sponsoring a spouse or partner are:

• $90 sponsorship fee;
• $570 sponsored principal applicant processing fee;
• $600 right of permanent residence fee.

The standard total is therefore $1,260.

An accompanying dependent child has a current processing fee of $180 per child.

If biometrics are required, the biometrics fee is $85 for one person or a maximum of $170 for an eligible family applying together.

Medical examinations, police certificates, document translations and other third-party services can create additional costs.

Do you need a minimum income to sponsor your spouse?

In most spouse and partner sponsorship cases, there is no minimum necessary income requirement.

An income requirement applies if:

• the spouse or partner you are sponsoring has a dependent child who has one or more dependent children of their own; or
• you are sponsoring a dependent child who has one or more dependent children of their own.

If the income requirement applies, IRCC directs the sponsor to complete the Financial Evaluation form IMM 1283.

Even when there is no formal minimum income threshold, the sponsor must still sign the undertaking and accept responsibility for supporting the sponsored person.

How long are you financially responsible for your sponsored spouse?

Outside Quebec, the undertaking for a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner lasts for 3 years from the day the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.

During the undertaking period, the sponsor agrees to provide basic needs, including food, clothing, shelter and health-related needs that are not covered by public health services.

If the sponsored person receives social assistance during the undertaking period, the sponsor may have to repay that amount.

The undertaking cannot be cancelled or shortened after the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident, even if the relationship ends, the sponsored person becomes a Canadian citizen, either person moves or the sponsor experiences financial problems.

Who cannot sponsor a spouse or partner?

IRCC identifies several circumstances that can make a person ineligible to sponsor.

You may not be eligible if you:

• were sponsored as a spouse or partner and became a permanent resident less than 5 years ago;
• are still within the 3-year undertaking period for a previous spouse or partner you sponsored;
• already have an unresolved application to sponsor the same person;
• are in jail, prison or a penitentiary;
• are in default of certain immigration loans, performance bonds or court-ordered family support payments;
• failed to provide financial support required by a previous sponsorship undertaking;
• are an undischarged bankrupt;
• receive social assistance for a reason other than disability;
• were convicted of certain violent, sexual or family-related offences; or
• are subject to a removal order and cannot legally remain in Canada.

Additional ineligibility rules can apply depending on your circumstances.

What forms are required for spouse sponsorship?

The exact application package depends on the relationship, sponsorship class, country of residence and family composition. IRCC's application package tool generates the authoritative checklist.

Core documents for spouse and partner sponsorship include:

• IMM 1344, Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking;
• IMM 5532, Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation;
• IMM 5533, Document Checklist: Spouse, Including Dependent Children;
• the permanent residence forms generated for the principal applicant and family members;
• country-specific forms and instructions where applicable.

Who signs Form IMM 1344?

For spouse, common-law partner and conjugal partner sponsorship, Form IMM 1344 must be completed and digitally signed by the sponsor and the principal applicant.

A co-signer is not permitted when you are sponsoring your own spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner.

Missing required signatures can cause the application to be returned.

What documents do you need for spousal sponsorship?

Your personalized checklist determines the final document requirements. Common categories include:

• passports and identity documents;
• birth and civil-status records;
• marriage certificate for a married couple;
• evidence of at least 12 months of qualifying cohabitation for common-law partners;
• relationship evidence required by IMM 5532 and IMM 5533;
• divorce certificates or other records for previous relationships where applicable;
• documents for dependent children;
• police certificates where required;
• translations for documents not in English or French;
• proof of payment;
• one photo for the principal applicant and each accompanying family member, following IRCC's photo specifications.

Do you need police certificates?

The principal applicant and family members aged 18 or older may need police certificates for permanent residence.

IRCC's program-specific checklist and police certificate instructions determine which certificates are required and when they must be obtained.

For a country where a certificate is required, IRCC generally requires a scanned colour copy of the original certificate. Some countries issue police certificates only after IRCC provides a request letter.

You normally do not need a Canadian police certificate unless IRCC specifically asks for one.

When do you complete the immigration medical exam?

Do not complete an upfront immigration medical exam for a standard spouse or partner sponsorship unless IRCC specifically instructs you to do so.

After the permanent residence application is submitted, IRCC sends medical examination instructions. Sponsored spouses, partners and children must complete the immigration medical examination within 30 days of receiving the instructions.

The exam must be performed by an IRCC-approved panel physician.

Do you need biometrics?

Many permanent residence applicants must provide fingerprints and a photograph.

After the application and biometrics fee are submitted, IRCC sends a biometric instruction letter if biometrics are required.

The applicant must normally complete biometrics within 30 days from the date of the letter.

How to apply online for spousal sponsorship

Spouse and partner sponsorship applications are submitted online through the Permanent Residence Portal.

There are two applications:

1. the sponsor's application to become an approved sponsor; and
2. the sponsored person's application for permanent residence.

The principal applicant submits both applications together through the portal.

Application steps

1. Use IRCC's application package tool to get the correct checklist and forms.
2. Complete the sponsorship forms.
3. Complete the permanent residence forms.
4. Gather the supporting documents required by the checklist.
5. Pay the federal fees online.
6. Upload the fee receipt.
7. Upload the completed forms, supporting evidence and photos.
8. Review every answer and required signature.
9. The principal applicant electronically signs and submits the complete application.

What happens if the application is incomplete?

IRCC checks the application for completeness after receiving it.

If required forms, documents, signatures or fees are missing, IRCC can return or reject the application as incomplete. The errors must then be corrected before the application is submitted again.

What happens after IRCC accepts the application for processing?

If the package is complete, IRCC begins processing and sends an application number and acknowledgement of receipt.

IRCC then assesses:

• whether the sponsor is eligible;
• whether the sponsored person qualifies under the applicable family sponsorship class;
• whether the relationship meets the program requirements;
• whether the sponsored person and relevant family members are admissible to Canada.

IRCC may request biometrics, medical examinations, additional police certificates, relationship evidence or other documents during processing.

How long does spouse sponsorship take?

There is no single processing time that applies to every spouse or partner sponsorship application.

IRCC's current processing-time estimates depend on factors including:

• the type and class of sponsorship application;
• whether the application is complete;
• how quickly IRCC can verify the information;
• how quickly the applicant responds to requests;
• application volumes and annual immigration levels;
• case complexity.

Use IRCC's official processing-time tool for the current estimate that matches your application.

Can a sponsored spouse work in Canada while waiting?

Submitting a permanent residence sponsorship application does not by itself authorize the sponsored person to work.

However, an eligible spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner living in Canada who is being sponsored for permanent residence may be able to apply separately for an open work permit after meeting IRCC's applicable requirements.

What if you live in Quebec?

If the sponsor lives in Quebec, federal sponsorship processing is combined with additional Quebec requirements.

You must meet Quebec's eligibility rules and sign a separate undertaking with the Government of Quebec.

Do not send the Quebec undertaking application before IRCC tells you to do so. Quebec will not process it if you submit it before receiving the federal instruction.

Quebec also has separate undertaking periods, fees and provincial sponsorship procedures.

Can you withdraw a sponsorship application?

You may request withdrawal before the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.

Once the sponsored spouse or partner becomes a permanent resident, the undertaking cannot be cancelled or shortened.

What happens if the relationship ends after permanent residence?

For sponsors outside Quebec, the 3-year financial undertaking continues even if the marriage or relationship ends after the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.

Divorce, separation, financial hardship or the sponsored person's move to another province or country does not automatically end the undertaking.

Spousal sponsorship application checklist

• Confirm that the sponsor meets the federal eligibility requirements.
• Confirm that the sponsored person qualifies as a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner.
• Choose the correct Family Class or Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class.
• Generate the current IRCC application package and country-specific checklist.
• Complete IMM 1344, IMM 5532 and all required permanent residence forms.
• Gather civil-status, identity and relationship evidence.
• Declare all required family members.
• Obtain police certificates according to IRCC instructions.
• Pay the current federal fees and biometrics fee if applicable.
• Upload the receipt and all required supporting documents.
• Check every required digital signature before submission.
• Submit both sponsorship and permanent residence applications together through the Permanent Residence Portal.
• Complete biometrics within 30 days if instructed.
• Complete the immigration medical exam within 30 days after receiving medical instructions.
• Monitor the application and respond promptly to IRCC requests.