- Spouse & Partner Sponsorship
Canada Partner Visa – Spouse and Partner Sponsorship for Onshore and Offshore Applicants
If your spouse or partner is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may be able to apply for Canadian permanent residence through Canada’s Spouse or Partner Sponsorship Program.
Many applicants search for this pathway as a Canada Partner Visa, Canada Spouse Visa, Spousal Sponsorship Canada, Canada Marriage Visa, or Partner PR Canada. Officially, however, Canada does not have a visa simply called a “Partner Visa”. The process is a family sponsorship application that can allow an eligible spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner to become a permanent resident of Canada.
At GIEC Global, we assist Canadian citizens and permanent residents and their partners with assessing eligibility, choosing the appropriate sponsorship pathway, preparing relationship evidence and lodging complete family sponsorship applications.
Two ways an application can be processed
Onshore / inland
Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class
For couples already living together in Canada.
Offshore / outland
Family Class
For applicants applying from outside Canada.
- The correct pathway depends on where the applicant is living, whether the couple is living together in Canada, the applicant’s immigration status and other circumstances.
CAD 1,260
Standard spouse/partner fee
12 months
Common-law cohabitation
3 years
Sponsor undertaking period
18
Minimum age, sponsor & applicant
CAD 85
Biometrics per individual
On this page
Canada Spouse or Partner Sponsorship at a Glance
Requirement
General Position
Sponsor
Canadian citizen, permanent resident or eligible person registered under the Indian Act
Minimum sponsor age
18 years
Applicant
Spouse, common-law partner or eligible conjugal partner
Minimum applicant age
18 years
Marriage required
No – common-law and qualifying conjugal relationships may also be eligible
Common-law requirement
Generally 12 consecutive months of cohabitation
Onshore pathway
Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class
Offshore pathway
Family Class
Permanent residence
Yes, if approved
Minimum sponsor income
Usually no fixed minimum for ordinary spouse/partner sponsorship
Sponsor undertaking
Normally 3 years after the partner becomes a permanent resident
Current government fee
CAD 1,260 for sponsoring a spouse/partner, including the right of permanent residence fee
Biometrics
CAD 85 per individual where required
Dependent child fee
CAD 180 per accompanying child
Open work permit
May be available to eligible sponsored partners living in Canada
Current IRCC fees from 30 April 2026 are CAD 90 sponsorship fee + CAD 570 principal applicant processing fee + CAD 600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee, giving a standard total of CAD 1,260 for a spouse or partner. Additional fees can apply for dependent children, biometrics, medical examinations, police certificates and Quebec applications.
Who can sponsor a partner for Canada?
To sponsor your spouse or partner, you generally need to:
- be at least 18 years old;
- be a Canadian citizen, Canadian permanent resident or an eligible person registered in Canada under the Indian Act;
- meet Canada’s sponsorship requirements;
- sign a sponsorship undertaking;
- demonstrate your ability to provide your sponsored partner’s basic needs; and
- not be subject to a sponsorship bar or another disqualifying circumstance.
A Canadian citizen living outside Canada may still sponsor a spouse or partner, but they must demonstrate an intention to return to and live in Canada when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.
A Canadian permanent resident living outside Canada cannot normally sponsor a spouse or partner from overseas. The permanent resident generally needs to be residing in Canada.
Is there a minimum income requirement for Canada spouse sponsorship?
In most ordinary spouse and partner sponsorship cases, there is no fixed Minimum Necessary Income requirement.
This differs from some other Canadian family sponsorship programs.
However, the sponsor must still demonstrate that they can meet their sponsorship obligations and cannot generally be receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability.
A specific income requirement can arise in less common situations—for example, where the spouse being sponsored has a dependent child who themselves has a dependent child.
Therefore, being unemployed or earning a relatively modest salary does not automatically prevent someone from sponsoring their spouse.
The complete financial and personal circumstances should still be properly disclosed.
Who can be sponsored?
Canada recognises three main partner categories:
01
Spouse
Legally married couples
- A spouse is someone who is legally married to the sponsor.
- The marriage must be legally recognised and the relationship must be genuine rather than entered into primarily to obtain Canadian immigration status.
- The spouse must normally be at least 18 years old.
- A marriage certificate alone does not automatically prove that the relationship is genuine.
- IRCC may consider the couple’s relationship history, communication, financial arrangements, family involvement, visits, cohabitation and future intentions.
02
Common-law partner
12 consecutive months of cohabitation
- You do not have to be married to qualify for Canadian partner sponsorship.
- A common-law partner is generally someone who has lived with the sponsor in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months.
- IRCC states that the couple should have lived together continuously for one year. Short and temporary absences, such as business travel or family commitments, may not necessarily break the period of cohabitation.
- Evidence of common-law status may include:
- joint lease or mortgage documents;
- joint utility accounts;
- travel records;
- financial support
- documents showing the same residential address;
- insurance policies;
- photographs;
- declarations or other evidence confirming the relationship.
- joint bank accounts;
- government correspondence;
- correspondence;
The quality and consistency of evidence are important.
03
Conjugal partner
Serious barriers to marriage or cohabitation
- A conjugal partner category exists for certain couples who are not married and have not been able to live together continuously for 12 months because of serious barriers outside their control.
- IRCC currently requires a conjugal relationship to have existed for at least one year and the partner generally needs to live outside Canada.
- The couple must demonstrate an exclusive, mutually dependent relationship involving significant emotional, social, physical and financial commitment.
- Examples of barriers may include legal, immigration, cultural, religious or social restrictions that prevent the couple from marrying or living together.
- The conjugal partner category is not normally intended simply for couples who have chosen not to marry or have not yet accumulated 12 months of cohabitation.
Onshore Canada partner sponsorship
An onshore application is generally made through the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class.
This pathway may be appropriate where the sponsored spouse or common-law partner:
- is physically living in Canada;
- is living together with the sponsor in Canada; and
- has valid temporary resident status or qualifies under an applicable public policy.
The applicant may be in Canada as a:
- visitor;
- worker; or
- student,
provided the relevant immigration requirements are satisfied.
IRCC requires applicants under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class to live together with their sponsor in Canada.
Advantages of an onshore partner application
One of the major benefits of applying while living together in Canada is that an eligible applicant may be able to remain with their sponsor while their permanent residence application is being processed.
Eligible sponsored spouses and partners living in Canada may also be able to apply for an open work permit.
An open work permit can allow the applicant to work for most Canadian employers without requiring an employer-specific work permit.
Under the current IRCC policy, a sponsored spouse or partner living in Canada may generally apply for an open work permit after receiving an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) confirming that their permanent residence application has been accepted for processing.
The applicant must also satisfy the applicable temporary status requirements.
Can I apply for an open work permit before receiving AOR?
In limited circumstances.
IRCC currently allows certain sponsored spouses and partners to apply for an open work permit without first receiving an AOR where:
DAMA settings may modify some standard requirements depending on the occupation and agreement.
- their current work permit, study permit or temporary resident status will expire within two weeks; and
- they have already submitted an eligible spouse or partner permanent residence application.
Otherwise, applicants would normally wait until their permanent residence application has received its AOR before applying for the open work permit.
Importantly, submitting a permanent residence sponsorship application by itself does not automatically give permission to work in Canada.
An applicant must have existing work authorisation or receive an appropriate work permit before starting employment.
Maintaining legal status in Canada
Onshore applicants should pay particular attention to their temporary immigration status.
Being married to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident does not automatically provide legal temporary status in Canada.
If an applicant is in Canada as a visitor, worker or student, they should consider whether their temporary status needs to be extended while the permanent residence application is being processed.
Certain applicants without valid status may be covered by a public policy, but the eligibility rules are different and should be carefully assessed.
An applicant should not assume that submitting a spouse sponsorship application automatically resolves an expired visa or immigration status problem.
Travelling outside Canada during an onshore application
Applicants sometimes ask whether they can leave Canada while an inland spouse sponsorship application is being processed.
Travel is possible in some circumstances, but there can be risk.
A person who leaves Canada is not guaranteed re-entry merely because a permanent residence application is pending.
If an applicant under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class leaves Canada and is unable to return, they may no longer satisfy the requirement to be cohabiting with their sponsor in Canada. This can affect the application.
Applicants who expect frequent or lengthy international travel may therefore need to consider whether the Family Class pathway is more appropriate.
Offshore Canada partner sponsorship
An offshore spouse or partner application is generally processed under the Family Class.
This pathway is normally used where the person being sponsored lives outside Canada.
It may also be selected in some circumstances where the spouse or common-law partner is temporarily in Canada but does not intend to remain continuously in Canada throughout processing.
IRCC specifically states that the Family Class should generally be used where:
- the sponsored person lives outside Canada;
- the sponsored person is in Canada but does not plan to stay in Canada during processing;
- the sponsor wants access to an appeal if the application is refused; or
- the person being sponsored is a conjugal partner.
Can an offshore applicant visit Canada during processing?
A spouse or partner with an offshore sponsorship application may separately seek temporary entry to Canada where eligible.
For example, they may apply for a visitor visa if one is required for their nationality.
However, permanent residence sponsorship does not automatically guarantee approval of a temporary resident visa or admission at the Canadian border.
The applicant must still satisfy the requirements applicable to temporary entry.
If the sponsored person comes to Canada while the Family Class application is being processed and lives with their sponsor, they may in some circumstances become eligible for a sponsored-spouse open work permit under current IRCC policy.
Onshore vs offshore Canada partner sponsorship
Issue
Onshore – In Canada Class
Offshore – Family Class
Applicant location
Generally living in Canada
Generally outside Canada
Must live with sponsor
Yes
Not necessarily
Married applicants
Eligible
Eligible
Common-law applicants
Eligible
Eligible
Conjugal partners
No standard inland route
Family Class
Open work permit
May be available
May become available if applicant is living in Canada and meets the OWP policy
International travel
Can present greater practical risk
Generally more suitable where applicant remains overseas or travels
Refusal appeal
No sponsorship appeal to IAD under this class
Appeal rights may be available, subject to law
Permanent residence outcome
PR if approved
PR if approved
One important difference is appeal rights.
IRCC confirms that where an application under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class is refused, the sponsor cannot appeal that decision through the family sponsorship appeal process.
Family Class refusals may have appeal rights, subject to the circumstances and applicable Canadian immigration law.
Sponsor’s financial undertaking
Sponsoring a spouse or partner involves a legally binding financial commitment.
For most provinces and territories outside Quebec, the sponsor’s undertaking for a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner continues for three years from the date the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.
If the sponsored person receives certain social assistance during the undertaking period, the sponsor may become responsible for repaying that amount.
Applicants and sponsors should therefore understand the seriousness of the sponsorship undertaking before signing it.
The undertaking does not automatically end because:
- the couple separates;
- the couple divorces;
- the sponsor loses employment;
- the sponsored person obtains employment;
- the sponsored person moves somewhere else; or
- the sponsored person becomes a Canadian citizen during the undertaking period.
Relationship evidence for a Canada Partner Visa
A successful spouse or partner application is not simply about submitting a marriage certificate.
IRCC must be satisfied that the relationship is genuine and was not entered into primarily to obtain immigration status.
The evidence required varies depending on the couple’s circumstances.
Useful evidence may include:
Relationship history
- explanation of when and how you met;
- important relationship milestones;
- engagement details;
- wedding information;
- family involvement;
- holidays and visits together; and
- plans for your future in Canada.
Communication evidence
For couples who have lived apart:
- messaging records;
- telephone records;
- video call records;
- emails;
- letters; and
- evidence showing regular communication.
It is generally more useful to provide a representative history covering the relationship than an excessive volume of repetitive screenshots.
Financial evidence
Examples can include:
- joint bank accounts;
- money transfers;
- shared expenses;
- joint property;
- insurance;
- beneficiary nominations;
- shared financial commitments; and
- financial support during periods of separation.
Cohabitation evidence
This is particularly important for common-law applicants and inland applications.
Evidence may include:
- joint lease;
- property documents;
- utility bills;
- bank statements;
- driver’s licences;
- government correspondence; and
- other records showing the same residential address.
Social evidence
Evidence may include:
- photographs with family and friends;
- wedding photographs;
- invitations;
- family events;
- travel together;
- social recognition of the relationship; and
- declarations from relatives or friends where appropriate.
Quality over volume
The purpose is not simply to produce a large number of documents. The evidence should tell a clear, consistent and credible story of the relationship.
Previous marriage or relationship
Applicants and sponsors who were previously married or in another common-law relationship should provide appropriate evidence confirming how that relationship ended.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include:
- divorce certificate;
- death certificate;
- separation evidence; or
- other relevant legal documentation.
Information should be consistent with previous Canadian immigration applications.
Failure to disclose a previous marriage, partner, child or important relationship information can create serious immigration problems.
Dependent children
A spouse or partner may be able to include eligible dependent children in the permanent residence application.
Under current Canadian rules, a child is generally considered dependent where the child:
- is under 22 years old; and
- does not have a spouse or common-law partner.
A child aged 22 or older may still qualify in limited circumstances if they have depended on their parents financially since before age 22 and cannot financially support themselves because of a physical or mental condition.
IRCC currently charges CAD 180 for each accompanying dependent child included in a spouse or partner sponsorship application.
Declare all family members
All required family members should be properly declared even where they are not accompanying the applicant to Canada.
This issue is especially important in spouse and partner sponsorship applications.
IRCC states that children in the sole custody of another parent must generally still be declared even where they are not travelling to Canada. Applicable medical, security or background requirements may also need to be completed.
This has become particularly important because the temporary public policy allowing some previously undeclared family members to later be sponsored ended on 10 September 2026 for new applications.
Applicants should therefore be careful to fully disclose their family composition.
Medical examination, police checks and biometrics
The sponsored applicant and relevant family members must satisfy Canada’s admissibility requirements.
This can involve:
- immigration medical examinations;
- biometrics;
- security checks; and
- police certificates;
- background checks;
- immigration history assessment.
Where biometrics are required, the current individual biometrics fee is CAD 85, with a maximum eligible family biometrics fee of CAD 170 for qualifying family applications submitted together.
An applicant may need to provide biometrics even if fingerprints were previously provided for a visitor visa, study permit or work permit, depending on the applicable permanent residence requirements.
Applying for Canada partner sponsorship – step by step
Ten stages, from checking sponsor eligibility to the permanent residence decision.
STEP 01
Assess sponsor eligibility
Confirm that the sponsor satisfies the Canadian citizenship or permanent residence requirements and is not subject to a sponsorship restriction.
STEP 02
Confirm the relationship category
Determine whether the applicant qualifies as a:
- spouse;
- conjugal partner.
- common-law partner; or
STEP 03
Choose onshore or offshore processing
Consider:
- where the applicant currently lives;
- temporary immigration status;
- travel plans;
- long-term plans in Canada.
- whether the couple lives together;
- work permit requirements;
- appeal rights; and
STEP 04
Prepare relationship evidence
Prepare documents demonstrating that the relationship is genuine and meets the definition of the selected category.
STEP 05
Prepare sponsorship and PR application
The application involves both:
- the Canadian sponsor’s sponsorship application; and
- the spouse or partner’s permanent residence application.
Applications are generally submitted online. IRCC has required these applications to be lodged electronically since September 2022, subject to accessibility exceptions.
STEP 06
Pay government fees
The standard current spouse/partner sponsorship fee is CAD 1,260, excluding biometrics and other costs.
STEP 07
Receive Acknowledgment of Receipt
If IRCC accepts the application as complete, an Acknowledgment of Receipt and application number are issued.
Eligible applicants living in Canada may then be able to proceed with an open work permit application.
STEP 08
Biometrics, medical and background assessment
IRCC may issue instructions and request further documentation.
STEP 09
Relationship assessment
IRCC reviews whether the relationship meets the requirements and is genuine.
An interview may be requested where the immigration officer considers additional assessment necessary.
STEP 10
Permanent residence decision
If approved, applicants outside Canada normally receive the documentation required to complete their permanent residence process.
Applicants already inside Canada will generally receive instructions to confirm their permanent residence status electronically through Canada’s Permanent Residence Portal.
Common reasons Canada spouse applications become difficult
Partner sponsorship cases may become complicated where there are:
significant inconsistencies in relationship evidence;
very limited evidence of contact;
conflicting residential addresses;
previous undisclosed marriages or relationships;
unexplained long periods without communication;
concerns regarding the legality of a marriage;
insufficient evidence of 12 months’ common-law cohabitation;
significant discrepancies between immigration applications;
undeclared children;
criminal history;
previous immigration violations;
misrepresentation concerns;
sponsor eligibility problems; or
doubts about whether the relationship is genuine.
None of these factors should automatically be viewed in isolation.
Every relationship has its own circumstances.
The important issue is ensuring that the application provides an accurate and properly documented explanation.
- FAQ
Frequently asked questions about DAMA
Is Canada Partner Visa a permanent visa?
A successful spouse or partner sponsorship application normally results in Canadian permanent residence for the sponsored applicant.
It is not simply a temporary spouse visa.
Do we have to be married?
No.
Eligible common-law partners can qualify without marriage after generally living together continuously for at least 12 months.
Certain couples facing genuine barriers to marriage or cohabitation may potentially qualify under the conjugal partner category.
Can I sponsor my spouse if I am unemployed?
Potentially, yes.
There is normally no fixed minimum income requirement for an ordinary spouse sponsorship case, although the sponsor must meet the remaining eligibility requirements and accept the financial undertaking.
Can a Canadian citizen sponsor while living overseas?
Yes, potentially.
A Canadian citizen living overseas must demonstrate that they plan to live in Canada when their sponsored spouse or partner becomes a permanent resident.
Yes, potentially.
Yes, potentially.
A permanent resident living outside Canada generally cannot sponsor until they are residing in Canada.
Can my spouse work while waiting for permanent residence?
If the sponsored spouse or partner is living in Canada and meets the current IRCC requirements, they may be eligible for an open work permit.
Submitting a sponsorship application does not itself give work rights.
Can we apply if we recently married?
Yes.
Canada does not impose a minimum period of marriage before a spouse sponsorship application can be lodged.
However, IRCC must still be satisfied that the marriage and relationship are genuine.
How long does Canada spouse sponsorship take?
Processing times change and can differ depending on whether the application is inside or outside Canada, where it is processed, application completeness, background checks, medical requirements and whether IRCC requests additional evidence.
Applicants should check the current IRCC processing-time calculator rather than re
- Free consultation
Planning a Canada spouse or partner sponsorship?
Talk to our team about sponsor eligibility, the right category for your relationship, onshore versus offshore processing, open work permits, dependent children and your relationship evidence.
If you are a regional employer struggling to find suitably skilled workers locally, a DAMA may provide access to skilled or semi-skilled overseas workers where standard sponsorship does not meet your business requirements.
Speak with the GIEC Global migration team
Registered migration and immigration professionals assisting Australian and Canadian family sponsorship applicants.