A practical guide for Canadians sponsoring their partners, with updated timelines and documentation tips
Sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner is one of the most common and meaningful ways to reunite families in Canada. But in 2025, the process is more complex than ever, with growing backlogs, shifting priorities, and longer wait times.
Whether your partner is inside or outside Canada, this guide will help you understand what to expect, how to prepare your documents, and how to avoid common pitfalls along the way.
1. What Is Spouse or Common-Law Partner Sponsorship?
This immigration stream allows Canadians and permanent residents to sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for permanent residence in Canada. You can apply either:
- Outland (Overseas): If your partner is living outside Canada (or visits you from time to time for any duration)
- Inland (In Canada): If your partner is already living with you in Canada (with or without legal status in Canada)
Inland applicants may also be eligible for an open work permit while their application is in process, which can be filed at the same time as filing an Inland spousal application. For Outland application (or Family Class application), you have to file your spousal sponsorship application FIRST and wait for the official acknowledgment letter from IRCC (4 to 6 weeks from the date of filing) and file a work permit for your foreign national spouse, as long as your foreign national spouse is planning to stay in Canada, by having some evidence of their intention to remain in Canada with Sponsor.
2. Key Changes and Timelines in 2025
Canada’s IRCC continues to prioritize family reunification, but increased demand and system backlogs have slowed down processing.
| Application Type | Estimated Average Processing Time |
| Inland Sponsorship | ~20 months if you have not filed it yet and you do not reside in the province of Quebec |
| Outland Sponsorship | ~14 months if you have not filed it yet and you do not reside in the province of Quebec |
| Quebec Applicants (Family Class) | Longer due to dual processing (federal + provincial) |
Other Notable Updates:
- Inland and Overland applicants may apply for an open work permit, but the procedure and timing would be different.
- Biometrics and medical exams remain mandatory and can delay timelines.
- Relationship scrutiny is increasing—proof of genuineness is essential.
3. Eligibility: Sponsor and Sponsored Partner
✔ Sponsor Must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Live in Canada (or plan to return once partner arrives) – but, if CND citizens may sponsor while living abroad, with clear intention to return to Canada
- Not be in default of a previous sponsorship
- Provide financial support for 3 years after their partner becomes a PR
✔ Sponsored Partner Must:
- Pass medical, security, and criminal background checks
- Be legally married or in a 12+ month continuous cohabiting common-law relationship
- If previously married, show legal proof of divorce or relationship termination
4. Required Documents: Proving Your Relationship
IRCC now requires stronger, clearer documentation to prove your relationship is genuine. Here’s what you’ll want to include, but not limited to::
- For Common-Law Relationships:
- Joint lease or mortgage documents
- Shared utility bills
- Joint bank accounts or insurance
- Affidavits from friends/family
- For All Applicants:
- Photos together over time
- Travel records and itineraries
- Message or call logs (screenshots or exported records)
- Wedding photos or ceremony documentation (if married)
- Relationship timeline letter (how you met, milestones, etc.)
Organize everything chronologically and label files clearly for faster IRCC processing, but within the appropriate size for uploading to IRCC website
5. Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Mistakes in spousal sponsorship applications can lead to delays—or even refusal. Here are common errors to watch out for:
- Incomplete or missing documents
- Not updating your address or IRCC account
- Weak evidence of cohabitation or genuine relationship
- Overlapping relationships or marriage concerns
- Letting your partner’s temporary status expire
- Children from your foreign spouse’s previous relationship, especially custody of such children has not been settled; and/or
- Any criminality or medical issues flowing from Sponsor, Applicant or children oversea
6. What You Can Do to Prepare in 2026
Here are six practical steps you can take right now:
- Gather all required documents early
- Double-check your partner’s legal status in Canada
- Keep a paper trail of your relationship: photos, joint purchases, etc.
- Check your country’s police certificate processing time
- Get legal help, especially if your case involves a previous immigration issue, criminal record, or long-distance relationship
- Use IRCC’s Processing Times Tool to set realistic expectations
Final Thoughts: Should You Apply on Your Own?
You only get one chance to submit your sponsorship application right the first time. With processing times now reaching up to two years, delays caused by avoidable mistakes can feel devastating.
At Jennifer Roggemann Law Office, we’ve helped hundreds of couples navigate the immigration process with clarity and confidence. We can help you prepare a strong application, identify any red flags, and avoid unnecessary delays.