Sponsoring a spouse or partner to Canada from India costs CAD 1,260 in government fees, which includes the CAD 600 right of permanent residence fee, plus CAD 85 for biometrics and CAD 180 for each dependent child. IRCC's processing tool in October 2026 showed about 18 months for a spouse living outside Canada and about 26 months for an in-Canada application. There is no minimum income, but the sponsor signs an undertaking that lasts three years after the spouse lands and survives separation. This guide covers who can sponsor, how to choose between the two classes, the fees, the forms, the evidence file for an Indian marriage, the timeline and the refusals.
The checklist and refusal cases in short form are on the Canada spousal sponsorship route page.
Who qualifies as a sponsor for Canada spousal sponsorship?
A Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person registered under the Indian Act who is at least 18, lives in Canada (a citizen abroad must show they will return when the spouse becomes a permanent resident), is not receiving social assistance other than for disability, is not in default of a previous undertaking, support order or immigration loan, is not an undischarged bankrupt, has no conviction for a violent or sexual offence or an offence against a relative, and was not themselves sponsored as a spouse within the last five years. Those bars cannot be waived; a sponsor who was landed as a sponsored spouse in 2023 cannot sponsor a new spouse until 2028.
The sponsored person must be a spouse (legally married; in India that means a marriage registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, the Special Marriage Act or the applicable personal law), a common-law partner who has lived with the sponsor for 12 continuous months, or a conjugal partner where marriage or cohabitation was impossible for reasons outside the couple's control. The sponsored person must also be admissible: medical, criminal and security checks apply, though spouses are exempt from the excessive-demand medical ground.
What does the officer decide?
Regulation 4 has two limbs: the relationship must be genuine, and it must not have been entered into primarily to acquire status. Officers read how the couple met, the time spent together before and after the wedding, communication, knowledge of each other's families and finances, and whether the story is consistent across the sponsor's IMM 5532, the applicant's forms, the documents and any interview. Arranged marriages are assessed on the same evidence. The file should explain the arrangement, the families' role and the timeline in a joint statement rather than leaving the officer to infer it. The wider guide to evidencing a genuine relationship compares the Canadian test with the UK, Australian and US versions.
Inland or outland: which class should we use?
| Family class (spouse in India) | In-Canada class | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the spouse lives | Outside Canada, or in Canada but processed abroad | In Canada, living with the sponsor |
| Processing (October 2026) | About 18 months; 12-month service standard | About 26 months |
| Open work permit | Not available | Yes, CAD 255, usually within 4 to 6 months |
| Appeal on refusal | Immigration Appeal Division | No appeal; judicial review only |
| Travel during processing | Spouse may visit on a visitor visa, declaring dual intent | Spouse should stay in Canada and keep status |
For a couple where the spouse is in India, the family class is faster at present and keeps appeal rights. The in-Canada class suits couples already living together in Canada who need the spouse to work while they wait.
What are the fees?
| Item | CAD |
|---|---|
| Sponsor your spouse or partner (sponsorship and processing fees plus RPRF) | 1,260 |
| Spouse or partner without the RPRF | 660 |
| Each dependent child | 180 |
| Biometrics, per person | 85 |
| Open work permit, in-Canada class | 255 |
All fees are paid online when the sponsorship and permanent residence applications are submitted together in the permanent residence portal. The right of permanent residence fee is the only fee refunded if the application is refused or withdrawn. Vistolane lists the fees at the official rate on the Canada destination page.
Which forms and documents are needed?
Sponsor. IMM 1344 (application to sponsor, sponsorship agreement and undertaking), IMM 5532 (relationship information and sponsorship evaluation), proof of status (citizenship certificate, Canadian passport or both sides of the PR card), proof of residence in Canada (lease, utility bills, pay slips) or, for a citizen abroad, evidence of the plan to return.
Applicant. IMM 0008 (generic application), IMM 5669 (Schedule A background declaration), IMM 5406 (additional family information), IMM 5562 (travel history), passport, digital photo, birth certificate, any divorce decrees, police clearance certificates from India (Passport Seva Kendra) and every country lived in for six months or more since age 18, and an upfront medical exam with an IRCC panel physician.
Relationship evidence for an Indian marriage. The registered marriage certificate (a religious ceremony alone is not enough), the wedding invitation and photographs with both families, receipts for the venue or ceremony, chat exports and call logs sampled across the whole relationship, boarding passes and entry stamps for each visit, joint account statements or remittance receipts, insurance beneficiary forms, a lease or property in both names, and signed statements from relatives and friends with their identification. Documents in Hindi or a regional language need a certified translation with the translator's affidavit.
How does the application run?
- Confirm sponsor eligibility and choose the class.
- Complete the forms, drawing every date from one shared timeline so the sponsor's and applicant's answers match.
- Assemble the relationship evidence in chronological order with a short index.
- Submit online and pay CAD 1,345 (CAD 1,260 plus biometrics).
- Biometrics at a VAC in India, medical, interview if called, decision. Outland approval brings a confirmation of permanent residence and visa; in-Canada approval brings a landing appointment.
What is the timeline at October 2026 rates?
Sponsor approval takes two to four months in both classes. The in-Canada open work permit arrives four to six months after filing. The full decision averaged about 18 months for the family class and 26 months for the in-Canada class. IRCC's figures are averages of recently finalised files, not promises; a complete, consistent file closes faster, and a request for more documents or an interview adds months.
Why are spousal sponsorships refused?
Relationship not genuine or entered into for immigration. Inconsistencies between IMM 5532, the interview and the evidence; few meetings before the wedding; no shared finances; communication that began only around the ceremony. Build a chronological file that covers the whole relationship, explain cultural context, prepare both spouses for the interview on dates and family details, and take advice before reapplying or appealing.
Sponsor ineligible. Social assistance, a defaulted undertaking, bankruptcy or the five-year bar. Clear the default or wait out the bar.
Misrepresentation. An undeclared previous marriage or an omitted child brings a five-year ban. Declare every marriage, child and refusal on every form.
Applicant inadmissible. A conviction or a security concern. Obtain rehabilitation or a record suspension first.
Incomplete or inconsistent. A missing police certificate or different dates for the same event. Work the IRCC checklist line by line.
After approval
The sponsored spouse lands without conditions; the conditional permanent residence rule ended in 2017. The undertaking runs three years. Citizenship follows after 1,095 days of physical presence in five years. Family routes on Vistolane go to a licence-checked, CICC-registered partner chosen on the Canada destination page; start with the free eligibility check and the Canada spousal sponsorship route page.
