United Kingdom vs 
Canada: family visa
United Kingdom or Canada for a family visa? ₹2.63 lakh vs ₹85,552 government fee, about 12 weeks vs about 18 months decision, funds and process compared.
Verdict
- Canada is cheaper (₹85,552 vs ₹2.63 lakh government fee)
- United Kingdom: Spouse and partner visa, £2,064 per applicant, About 12 weeks; priority about 30 working days
- Canada: Spousal and partner sponsorship, CAD 1,260 per spouse, About 18 months (IRCC tool, October 2026); 12-month service standard
- Pick on the sponsor's income test and the relationship evidence; the fee is the smaller difference.
United Kingdom vs Canada: family visa side by side
| United Kingdom | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Family visa route | Spouse and partner visa | Spousal and partner sponsorship |
| Government fee | ₹2.63 lakh | ₹85,552 |
| Route page fee (official) | £2,064 per applicant | CAD 1,260 per spouse |
| Processing (route page) | About 12 weeks; priority about 30 working days | About 18 months (IRCC tool, October 2026); 12-month service standard |
| Funds, income or salary threshold | £29,000 gross a year from the sponsor (and the applicant if already in the UK), or £88,500 in cash savings | None for a spouse or partner; sponsor must not be on social assistance |
Which is cheaper?
United Kingdom costs ₹2.63 lakh government fee and Canada ₹85,552. Canada is cheaper by ₹1.77 lakh per applicant. Government fees are charged at the official rate; the partner's fee is quoted on the destination page.
Which is faster?
United Kingdom: About 12 weeks; priority about 30 working days. Canada: About 18 months (IRCC tool, October 2026); 12-month service standard. Both windows are the authority's own published figures as read on the route pages; a complete file at submission is the single biggest lever on either.
Which needs less money in the bank?
United Kingdom: £29,000 gross a year from the sponsor (and the applicant if already in the UK), or £88,500 in cash savings. Canada: None for a spouse or partner; sponsor must not be on social assistance. Statements must be seasoned and match the plan or the sponsor's declaration.
How the processes differ
United Kingdom: Spouse and partner visa, filed with gov.uk. Canada: Spousal and partner sponsorship, filed with canada.ca. Both are decided on the sponsor's or applicant's status and the evidence file rather than at a visa window; the route pages list the steps, the document checklist and the refusal reasons for each.
Which should you pick for a family visa?
Family routes turn on the sponsor's status and income and on relationship evidence, not on the applicant's profile: United Kingdom uses the Spouse and partner visa (£2,064 per applicant) and Canada the Spousal and partner sponsorship (CAD 1,260 per spouse). Processing is the slowest of any visa type, so pick the one whose window and income test fit your household, then build the relationship file to that standard.