Spousal sponsorship is the route for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for permanent residence. Applications are decided primarily on whether the relationship is genuine and ongoing — documentation quality matters as much as the underlying facts.
The right service is more than a checklist. It is a sequence that turns your facts into a coherent, review-ready pathway.
Diagnose
Start with the facts, goals, history and deadlines that shape the route.
Build
Organize evidence, explanations and forms around the decision-maker’s concern.
Protect
Keep ownership, communication and the next deadline visible from start to finish.
A visual route guide
See the pathway in context
Every file has a human story behind it. These moments reflect the preparation, decisions and new beginnings that shape this service.
01Together
A strong pathway keeps the people you love moving toward the same future.
02Family
The right plan creates more room for the moments that matter most.
03A shared plan
Clear advice turns a shared goal into a practical next step.
04Evidence
Every detail helps tell a complete, credible story to the decision-maker.
05A new home
Picture the life your pathway is helping you build.
06Canada-wide
Your future can take shape in the community that fits you best.
07Belonging
A new beginning feels different when it starts to feel like home.
08Your next chapter
One thoughtful step today can change where tomorrow begins.
What this service covers
Read the detail, then choose the next step
Use the guide below to understand the route before you book. Your existing page content remains the source of truth; this surface gives it the same visual hierarchy as the reference homepage.
Open this section for the practical detail, evidence and requirements that shape the pathway.
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Relationship Evidence Categories
Open this section for the practical detail, evidence and requirements that shape the pathway.
03
Frequently Asked Questions
Open this section for the practical detail, evidence and requirements that shape the pathway.
04
Related Pages
Open this section for the practical detail, evidence and requirements that shape the pathway.
Your service guide
The details that move the file forward
Review the complete guide below, then use the consultation path when your situation needs a tailored strategy.
Spousal sponsorship is the route for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for permanent residence. Applications are decided primarily on whether the relationship is genuine and ongoing — documentation quality matters as much as the underlying facts.
Key figures at a glance
Source sequence preserved
2Application routes: inland/outland
Openpermit Available for inland applicants
IADAppeal body for refused sponsorships
3yrs Typical sponsor undertaking length
Inland vs Outland Sponsorship
Technical reference
Technical reference
Eligibility and pathway detail
Official data
Feature
Inland
Outland
Partner's location
Already in Canada
Applying from abroad
Work permit while processing
Open work permit available
Not applicable
Processing location
Processed within Canada
Processed through the visa office responsible for the applicant's region
Ability to travel during processing
Restricted — leaving Canada can complicate the application
Not restricted in the same way
Presented in the supplied source sequenceReviewed 2026
Swipe horizontally to explore all columns
Keep the family closeA family application should make the relationship, history and intended next step easy to understand.
Relationship Evidence Categories
CRS category overview
CRS category overview
Draw focus and score windows
Official data
Category
Examples
Communication history
Messages, calls, video chat logs spanning the relationship
Shared finances
Joint accounts, shared bills, financial support records
Cohabitation (if applicable)
Lease agreements, mail addressed to both partners, utility bills
Social recognition
Photos, event invitations, statements from family and friends
Presented in the supplied source sequenceReviewed 2026
Swipe horizontally to explore all columns
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work in Canada while my inland application is processing?+
Yes — inland applicants can generally apply for an open work permit that allows them to work for almost any employer while the sponsorship is being processed.
What happens if my sponsorship is refused?+
Refusals on genuineness grounds can generally be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD), which independently reviews the evidence and can overturn the original decision.
Is a shorter relationship automatically a problem?+
Not automatically, but shorter relationships with limited documented history typically need a stronger, more detailed evidence package to satisfy an officer of the relationship's genuineness.
Agree the next stepA focused consultation turns questions into an accountable plan.