What is the difference between inside and outside spousal sponsorship?

Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have a relationship with a foreign national can sponsor that person to join them in Canada and become a permanent resident. You can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner.

You have two main options when you sponsor your spouse or partner: outside sponsorship and inside sponsorship.

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Sponsorship of Outland

Overseas sponsorship is an option for couples who do not live together in Canada. This application is for foreign nationals residing abroad and who must be sponsored by their Canadian spouse or partner. If your spouse or partner is unable to apply inside Canada or is not legally living in Canada at the time of application, overseas sponsorship is likely the only option available.

To be eligible to sponsor a spouse or partner in the Outland application category, both the sponsor and the sponsored person must meet the following criteria:

• The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
• The sponsor and the sponsored party must be at least 18 years old;
• The sponsor and the sponsored person must be in one of the following types of relationship: Spouse: you are legally married and your marriage is valid according to the law of the jurisdiction where it was registered and according to Canadian law; Common law spouse: you cohabit or have cohabited with your partner in a relationship similar to marriage for at least 12 consecutive months; Conjugal partnership: you have been in a continuous and committed relationship for at least 12 months, but due to significant factors beyond your control, such as an immigration barrier or marital status, you cannot live together.
• The sponsor must not have sponsored a spouse in Canada in the five years preceding the application.
• The sponsor or sponsored person must not be in jail, charged with a serious crime or bankrupt.

It is important to note that if you are in a spousal relationship, applying for outside sponsorship is the only option available to you, as spousal relationships are not eligible for inside sponsorship.

If the sponsored person’s job or personal situation requires them to travel outside the country, the Outland sponsorship may be the best option as it allows travel to and from Canada during the application process.

Domestic sponsorship

Domestic sponsorship is an option for couples living together in Canada. This application is for foreign spouses or partners who have valid temporary status in Canada, either as a worker, student or visitor. The sponsored person will be able to continue to live, work or study in Canada while the inland sponsorship application is being processed.

To be able to sponsor a spouse or partner in the Domestic application category, both the sponsor and the sponsored person must meet the following criteria:

• The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada;
• The sponsor and the sponsored person must be at least 18 years old;
• The sponsor and the sponsored person must be in one of the following types of relationships: Spouse: you are legally married and your marriage is valid under the law of the jurisdiction where it was registered and under Canadian law; Common-law union: you cohabit or have cohabited with your partner in a marriage-type relationship for at least 12 consecutive months.
• The sponsor must not have sponsored a spouse in Canada in the five years preceding the application
• Sponsor or sponsored person must not be in jail, charged with a serious offense or bankrupt

One of the main advantages of domestic sponsorship is that the sponsored person may be eligible for an open work permit, which allows them to work full-time in Canada while their application for permanent residence is being processed.

The sponsored person is expected to remain in Canada while their application is being processed. If the sponsored person does not plan to stay in Canada or needs to be able to travel while the application is being processed, Outland Sponsorship may be a better option.

Where do I submit my spousal sponsorship application?

Applications to sponsor a spouse or partner can be submitted outside Canada at a visa office or in Canada at a local immigration office. Sponsorship applications for marital partners can only be submitted through an application process outside of Canada.

How long does it take to process Outland and Inland sponsorship applications?

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) target processing period for spousal sponsorship is approximately 12 months.

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