Canada Spouse and Partner Sponsorship
Build Your Life Together in Canada
Canada’s family sponsorship program allows eligible Canadian citizens, permanent residents and persons registered under the Canadian Indian Act to sponsor a qualifying spouse or partner for permanent residence.
The program is available to couples of any gender. Both the sponsor and the sponsored person must meet the applicable eligibility and admissibility requirements, and the relationship must be genuine—not entered into primarily for immigration purposes.
Sponsorship Categories
Who Can Be Sponsored?
An eligible person may be sponsored as a:
Spouse
A person who is legally married to the sponsor and is at least 18 years old.
Common-Law Partner
A person who is not legally married to the sponsor but has lived with them continuously in a marriage-like relationship for at least 12 consecutive months.
Conjugal Partner
A person living outside Canada who has been in a genuine, committed relationship with the sponsor for at least one year but could not marry or live together because of serious legal, immigration, religious, cultural or other barriers.
Application Options
Sponsorship Application Routes
Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class
This route may be suitable when the spouse or common-law partner:
- Lives with the sponsor in Canada
- Has appropriate temporary resident status, or qualifies under an applicable public policy
- Intends to remain in Canada while the application is processed
There is generally no right of appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division if an application under this class is refused.
Family Class
This route is commonly used when the spouse or partner:
- Lives outside Canada
- Does not plan to remain continuously in Canada during processing
- Is being sponsored as a spouse, common-law partner or eligible conjugal partner
A person being sponsored through the Family Class may still visit Canada during processing if they obtain the required visitor visa or electronic travel authorization and satisfy the normal entry requirements.
Sponsor Eligibility
The sponsor must generally:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person registered under the Canadian Indian Act
- Live in Canada, subject to limited exceptions for Canadian citizens abroad
- Show the ability to provide basic financial support
- Sign a sponsorship undertaking
- Not receive social assistance for reasons other than disability
- Not be subject to certain sponsorship bars, defaults, removal orders, imprisonment or specified criminal convictions
A Canadian citizen living outside Canada may sponsor an eligible spouse or partner if they demonstrate an intention to return to Canada when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident. A permanent resident living outside Canada cannot sponsor from abroad.
There is generally no fixed minimum income requirement for sponsoring a spouse or partner unless dependent children who have dependent children of their own are included.
Can a Sponsored Spouse Work in Canada?
A permanent residence application does not automatically authorize employment.
An eligible spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner living in Canada may apply for an open work permit if they:
- Live in Canada with their sponsor
- Are included in a spouse or partner permanent residence application
- Have received confirmation that the permanent residence application is being processed, subject to limited exceptions
- Meet the applicable temporary-status and work-permit requirements
The applicant must wait until the work permit is approved before beginning employment unless they already have valid work authorization or maintained worker status.
Our Services
How Open Path Immigration Can Help
Our team can assist with:
Sponsor and applicant eligibility assessment
Spouse, common-law and conjugal-category review
Application-route selection
Relationship-evidence planning
Forms and document preparation
Sponsorship and permanent residence submission
Open work permit guidance
Additional-document and procedural support
Begin Your Family Sponsorship Journey
Bring your spouse or partner closer and build your future together in Canada.
Important Information
Eligibility, document requirements, government fees and processing times may change. Submission of an application does not guarantee approval. Final decisions are made exclusively by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
