Update October 2026
Inland spousal sponsorship costs CAD $1,260 (sponsorship fee CAD $90, processing fee CAD $570 and Right of Permanent Residence Fee CAD $600) plus CAD $85 biometrics. Processing was about 14 months for applications inside Canada (outside Quebec, as of early 2026), and IRCC expects times to rise. Inland applicants can apply for an open work permit.
This information may be out-of-date. Please refer to our most current guidance on Canadian Spouse Visas.
The Inland Spousal Sponsorship is designed to allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouses or common-law partners to live with them permanently in Canada. To apply for this visa program, your partner must be already in Canada and holding a temporary resident status (working, studying, or visiting) in Canada.
You can apply under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class if your spouse or common-law partner cohabits (lives) with you in Canada.
Sponsor Eligibility
As a sponsor, you must be able to prove that you
- Are legally a citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
- Are at least 18 years old;
- Can provide the basic needs for you and your family, including food, clothing, and shelter;
- Can support your spouse/partner financially; and
- Can ensure that your spouse/partner does not need to ask for financial help from the Canadian government.
Although there is no minimum income requirement to sponsor your partner, unless you are sponsoring a spouse or partner that has a dependent child, and their dependent child has 1 or more children of their own, you need to sign in an undertaking to prove that you commit to:
- providing financial support for your sponsored family members, starting when they become permanent residents
- repaying any provincial social assistance your sponsored family members get during that time
Your spouse/ partner’s eligibility
Your spouse/ partner must:
- Be currently in Canada.
- Have a legal status to live temporarily in Canada. It can be a student, temporary worker, or visitor visa.
- Your spouse or common-law partner can’t become a permanent resident in Canada if they’re inadmissible for any reason other than not having legal immigration status in Canada.
- Before applying, your spouse or common-law partner in Canada must resolve any other situation that made them inadmissible.
Application Process
