Check your spousal sponsorship eligibility
Answer a few quick questions and this free spousal sponsorship eligibility checker shows you whether you can likely sponsor your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner to Canada, and the route that fits. Built by a licensed RCIC. Your first call is free.
Are you a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered under the Canadian Indian Act?
This free spousal sponsorship eligibility checker tells you, in a couple of minutes, whether you can likely sponsor your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner to Canada. It checks the sponsor rules (citizen, permanent resident or registered under the Indian Act, 18 or older, and no bars), your relationship type and timeline, and your partner's situation, then suggests the likely route, inland or outland. It is an educational first read, not an approval; only IRCC decides your application.
Key takeaways
This free spousal sponsorship eligibility checker shows whether you can likely sponsor your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner to Canada. It weighs the sponsor rules (citizen, permanent resident or registered under the Indian Act, 18 or older, and no sponsorship bars), your relationship type and timeline, and your partner's situation, then suggests the likely inland or outland route. There is usually no minimum income requirement to sponsor a partner. It is an educational first read, not an approval; only IRCC decides.
- A free spousal sponsorship eligibility check for spouses, common-law and conjugal partners.
- It checks the sponsor rules, your relationship, and your partner's situation in a few questions.
- There is usually no minimum income to sponsor a spouse or partner, unlike parents or grandparents.
- It suggests the likely inland or outland route and routes you to a free first call.
- It is a guide using current IRCC rules, not an official decision; only IRCC decides.
Who can sponsor a spouse or partner to Canada?
To sponsor a partner you generally must be at least 18 and a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a person registered under the Canadian Indian Act. You also have to be able to meet your own basic needs and your partner's, and you cannot be barred, for example by defaulting on a past sponsorship undertaking or immigration loan, by an undischarged bankruptcy, or by being under a removal order. A separate rule, the five-year partner bar, means that if you were yourself sponsored as a partner, you usually cannot sponsor a new partner until five years after you became a permanent resident. The checker walks through each of these so nothing is missed. Always confirm the current rules on canada.ca.
Inland or outland: which spousal sponsorship route fits?
There are two ways to sponsor a partner. Inland sponsorship is for when your partner is already in Canada with valid status, and it can come with a spousal open work permit so they can work while you wait. Outland sponsorship is processed through a visa office and usually fits when your partner is outside Canada, and it often keeps more travel flexibility. The checker suggests the route that matches where your partner is now, then a licensed RCIC confirms the safest choice for your situation.
What the checker looks at
The tool asks about three things: you (status, age, residence and any sponsorship bars), your relationship (married, common-law with at least 12 months together, or a conjugal partnership with a genuine barrier to marrying or living together), and your partner (where they are now, and any inadmissibility issues such as a criminal record or a past refusal). It never asks you to prove anything here, it simply flags where the rules look met and where a detail needs a closer look. For the relationship itself, strong applications show it is genuine in several ways at once, which is where our spousal sponsorship guide goes deeper.
A guide, not a guarantee
Confirm your eligibility with a licensed RCIC
Wild Mountain Immigration is a CICC-regulated practice led by a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC, CICC #R706497). Spousal sponsorship is the work we love most, and your first call is free. Once you have your result, tell us your details and a licensed RCIC will confirm whether you can sponsor, choose inland or outland, and map the steps and timeline. The official rules come from IRCC on canada.ca, and only IRCC can decide your application.
Frequently asked questions
Who can sponsor a spouse to Canada?
To sponsor a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner you generally must be at least 18, a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a person registered under the Canadian Indian Act, and able to meet your basic needs and your partner's. You cannot be in default of a previous sponsorship undertaking or an immigration loan, an undischarged bankrupt, under a removal order, or barred for certain other reasons. If you were yourself sponsored as a partner, you usually cannot sponsor a new partner until five years after you became a permanent resident. Confirm the full requirements on canada.ca.
Is there a minimum income to sponsor a spouse?
Usually no. Unlike sponsoring parents or grandparents, sponsoring a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner does not normally have a minimum income requirement. The main exception is if your partner has a dependent child who has their own dependent children, in which case an income test can apply. You still sign an undertaking to support your partner financially. Always confirm your own situation on canada.ca.
Can I sponsor my spouse if I live outside Canada?
Sometimes. A Canadian citizen can sponsor from outside Canada if they show they will live in Canada when their partner becomes a permanent resident. A permanent resident generally must be living in Canada to sponsor. If you are currently abroad, it is worth confirming your situation with a licensed RCIC before you apply.
What is the 5-year partner sponsorship bar?
If you became a permanent resident by being sponsored as a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, you generally cannot sponsor a new partner until five years have passed since you became a permanent resident. The rule is meant to discourage relationships of convenience. Confirm how it applies to you on canada.ca.
Do common-law partners need to live together for 12 months?
Yes. To qualify as common-law partners you normally must have lived together continuously in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 months. Short, justified absences for work or family can be acceptable if the relationship continued. If you have not reached 12 months you may need to marry or wait before applying, or you may fit the conjugal partner category if a genuine barrier prevents marriage or living together.
Is this an official IRCC eligibility tool?
No. This is a free guidance tool from Wild Mountain Immigration, a CICC-regulated practice. It is not affiliated with IRCC or the Government of Canada, it does not submit anything, and it does not make a decision. Only IRCC can decide your application. A licensed RCIC (CICC #R706497) can confirm your real eligibility, and spousal sponsorship enquiries get a free first call.
Ready to sponsor your partner?
Book a free first call with a licensed RCIC. We'll confirm your eligibility, pick the right route, and build your strongest spousal sponsorship application.