Canada Spouse Visa - How to Apply for a Canadian Spouse Visa in 2025

Canada is one of the best countries to live in since it has the best job opportunities, free healthcare, various immigration programs, etc. With its lenient immigration policies, it is easier to become a permanent resident in Canada. Those who settled in Canada permanently can use the spouse sponsorship program, if they want to bring their spouse. A variety of requirements must be fulfilled to get a spouse visa such as age, marital status, etc. In this blog, we will provide you with detailed information regarding the Canada spouse visa program.

Canada PR Visa holder and Canadian citizen can only sponsor their spouse. The spouse and sponsored partner must be an adult (at least 18 years old) and they need to prove their relationship is authentic to fulfil the criteria fixed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. 

Table of Content

• What is a Canadian Spouse Visa?
• Eligibility requirements to sponsor a spouse or dependent
• How to Apply for a Canadian Spouse Visa?
• Application Processing Time for Canadian Spouse Visa
• Cost of Canada Spouse Visa
• Changes in Spouse Immigration to Canada 2025
• FAQ

What is a Canadian Spouse Visa?

The Spouse sponsorship program enables the Canadian citizen or Canada PR visa holders to sponsor their spouse or common-law partner as Canada permanent residents. After the respective partner receives sponsorship, they can live, work, or settle permanently in Canada. All immigration matters in Canada are handled by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada).

The spousal sponsorship visa can be categorized into two types:

• Inland sponsorship: It allows the Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor their spouse, if both living together in Canada legally.
• Outland sponsorship: It allows the Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor their spouse who resides outside the Canada border.

Eligibility requirements to sponsor a spouse or dependent

The following are the necessary requirements one needs to have in order to sponsor their spouse, 

• You must be above the age of 18 to participate.
• You have to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of the country or a person (Indian) registered in Canada under the Canadian Indian act.
• You should prove that you are not getting social assistance, except for your disability.
• You must be in the low-income category.
• You should be legally married to your spouse.
• Your relationship with the dependents must be "genuine and durable".
• You are able to provide basic financial needs for three years for the person you want to sponsor.
• Your child must be under the age of 22 in order to sponsor them.

Factors that can prevent you from sponsoring your spouse:

• If your age is below 18 or getting to marry somebody at the time of the marriage to a sponsored applicant
• If you have not provided financial evidence to support your previous sponsorship
• If you and your spouse live separately and either of you is involved in a conjugal or common-law relationship with a third person. 
• Not examined by CIC, but admitted to Canada

Note: Importantly, you need to prove that your relationship is legitimate to be eligible for spousal sponsorship. Immigration officers will take different factors to determine whether your relationship is genuine. Some involve you providing wedding photos where your family are present. If your marriage is not conventional, you need to provide additional evidence as proof of the genuineness of the relationship. Letters of explanation are needed to explain why your marriage does not have all the elements which exist in the marriage from the cultural background.

How to Apply for a Canadian Spouse Visa?

You need to consider two applications in order to sponsor your spouse, partner, or child. First, you need to apply to become a sponsor. Second, Your spouse, partner, or child has to apply for permanent residence (PR). Follow the given 4 steps to sponsor your spouse, partner, or child.

Step 1 - Apply to become a sponsor

• The sponsor needs to download and complete the PDF forms in the application package. Also, the sponsor needs to sign digitally along with the person you are sponsoring.
• The principal applicant (the person you are sponsoring) will upload those forms in their online application. And, sign electronically the entire application.
• The application package contains - document checklists for the sponsor and the person who is being sponsored, forms the sponsor and the person who are being sponsored have to be filled out, and instruction guides to fill the forms correctly.

Note: The sponsorship application fee to process the application will not be refunded.

Step 2 - Apply to be sponsored by a sponsor (permanent residence)

• First, you need to sign in or create a permanent residence online application portal account
• You have to fill out the following digital forms online

• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008) 
• Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
• Supplementary Information - Your travels (IMM 5562)

• You need to have one photo for each person on your application. Follow the given instructions online to scan and upload both sides of the photo.
• If you are struggling with technical difficulties when applying, use the web form. Choose technical difficulties from the drop-down menu of type of application/ enquiry. In the text box, you need to specify the program you are applying to. And, you have to upload screenshots of the pages you are having problems with and the error messages you got. 

Note: The application needs to be fully completed. If the application is incomplete, then IRCC will return it without processing the application.

Step 3 - Paying your application fees

You need to pay fees which include,

• Processing fee for you, the person you want to sponsor and their dependants
• Fee for the right of permanent residence
• The biometric fee

Based on your situation, you need to pay third-party fees, which includes

• For Medical exam
• Police certificate

Step 4 - Send Additional Information during the processing

You need to submit the following documents of the person you are sponsoring,

• Medical exam
• Police certificate
• Biometrics: Your spouse or family member has 30 days to give their biometrics at their closest collection point. 

If IRCC needs any further information, they could ask for an in-person interview at any time. And, you must tell IRCC if there is any change in circumstances, such as birth or adoption of children, marriage/ divorce/ separation, or death of an applicant or dependent. 

Note: Before submitting the application, check and make sure you answered all the questions, signed electronically, included a processing fee receipt, and uploaded all the supporting documents.

Download the PDF version of How to apply for a Canada spouse visa.

Application Processing Time for Canadian Spouse Visa

Spouse Visa Processing time in Canada is between 7-9 months. The application processing time for a spouse visa depends on the application type and other conditions. As per the family application type, if you are sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner living inside Canada, 14 months will take to process. On the other hand, if you are sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner living outside Canada, 16 months will be the processing time. 

The processing time includes:

• to provide your biometric information.
• to assess the sponsor and the person being sponsored.
• to verify your eligibility requirements.

Cost to Sponsor the Spouse/Common-Law Partner to Canada

The Canada spouse visa fee varies depending on how many dependants you wish to sponsor. In the table below, we are providing the government processing fees to get a dependent visa for spouses and other relations. 

Fees	The total amount in CAN ($)
Sponsor your spouse or partner Sponsorship fee ($75) Principal applicant processing fee ($490) Right of permanent residence fee ($515)	$1,080
Sponsor your spouse or partner (without right of permanent residence fee) Sponsorship fee ($75) Principal applicant fee ($490)	$565
Sponsor a dependent child Sponsorship fee ($75) Processing fee ($75)	$150 (per child)
Include any dependent child Including dependent child on an application with your spouse or partner Processing fee ($155)	$155 (per child)
Biometrics fee Biometrics - per person Biometrics - per family (two or more people) Biometrics - per group ( 3 or more performing artists)	$85 $170 $255

Note: Spouse sponsorship fees have to be paid online. And, payment receipt must be included with the sponsorship application. 

Changes in Spouse Immigration to Canada 2025

The Liberal Government of Canada declared a number of important changes in the family sponsorship immigration process.

• Faster Processing times
• Flexibility for spousal applications has increased
• An application is common for all candidates inside or outside Canada
• Simplified relationship questionnaire (fewer questions)
• Exemption from Medical Exam
• Police certificates are only required from the current country you are residing in and the country where you lived most of your adult life.
• Can access real-time information online regarding the application with an application status tracker. 

IRCC is putting efforts into approving a greater number of Canadian sponsorship applications in line with Canada's dedication towards family reunification. The government is actively working to reduce the backlog and increase the allocation of resources under the spousal immigration program.

FAQ

1. How long does it take to get a spouse visa for Canada?

Typically, the processing time for a Canadian spouse visa is between 10 -12 months. It will take longer than usual if the application is complicated.

2. What are the requirements for a spouse visa in Canada?

You have to be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have a work permit to sponsor your spouse. Your relationship with your spouse must be genuine. Your relationship duration of yours must be at least a year old.

3. Can I take my wife to Canada on a dependent visa?

Yes, you can bring your spouse, common-law partner and dependent children with the help of a dependent visa.

4. Can I bring my spouse to Canada with me?

Yes, you can bring your spouse with you to Canada if they are processed as permanent residents as your dependents.

5. What is the success rate of spouse visas in Canada?

The TRV approval rate for applicants who want to come to Canada to visit a spouse is under 50%. And, the approval rate for spousal sponsorship applications exceeds 90%.

6. Is IELTS required for a Canadian spouse visa?

No, IELTS is not required for Canadian spouse visa applicants. But, the partner will receive additional points if they provide an IELTS score, when they apply for a visa under the express entry system.