If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident you can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner who is a foreign national to join you in Canada.
Inland Sponsorship
An Inland sponsorship applies to couples who are already living together in Canada. If your spouse or partner has a valid temporary status in Canada, you can apply for Inland sponsorship. Valid temporary status includes workers, students, or visitors in Canada. The requirement for the Inland sponsorship application are as follows:
- Sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Both the sponsor and sponsored person must be at least 18 years old.
- To qualify as a Spouse, you must be legally married, and your marriage must be valid under the law of the jurisdiction where it is registered and under Canadian law.
- To qualify under Common-law, you must have cohabited with your partner in a marriage-like relationship for at least 12 consecutive months.
- The sponsor must not have sponsored a spouse in Canada in the past 5 years.
- The sponsor or sponsored person must not be in prison, charged with a serious offense or bankruptcy.
While the sponsored person is waiting for their permanent resident application to be processed, they may be eligible for an open work permit.
Outland Sponsorship
An Outland sponsorship is for couples who are not living together in Canada. It is for Canadian spouses or partners to sponsor foreign nationals who are outside of Canada. The requirements for an Outland sponsorship are as follows:
- Sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Both the sponsor and sponsored person must be at least 18 years old.
- To qualify as a Spouse, you must be legally married, and your marriage must be valid under the law of the jurisdiction where it is registered and under Canadian law.
- To qualify under Common-law, you must have cohabited with your partner in a marriage-like relationship for at least 12 consecutive months.
- To qualify as a Conjugal partnership, you must be in an ongoing and committed relationship for at least 12 months but do not live together because of significant factors beyond your control. Conjugal relationships are only available under the Outland sponsorship.
- The sponsor must not have sponsored a spouse in Canada in the past 5 years.
- The sponsor or sponsored person must not be in prison, charged with a serious offense, or bankruptcy.
It takes around 12 months to process spousal sponsorship applications.
Ready to get started with your application or have any questions? Contact one of our professional Immigration Consultants today!
Sources
Government of Canada. (n.d.). Guide 5525 – Basic guide: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child Print . Retrieved from Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-5525-basic-guide-sponsor-your-spouse-partner-child.html#before
Hornstein, J. (n.d.). What is the difference between inland and outland spousal sponsorship? Retrieved from CIC News: https://www.cicnews.com/2022/07/what-is-the-difference-between-inland-and-outland-spousal-sponsorship-0727876.html#gs.62jxfo