Spousal sponsorship is one of the easiest ways to immigrate to Canada. A person with Canadian citizenship can sponsor their spouse after meeting certain criteria. The spouses can also sponsor themselves from their country of citizenship, which saves a lot of time on the application.
If you’re applying for spousal sponsorship for Canada, our team can help you with that. Here’s a closer look at the process and how long Canada takes to issue spousal visas.
How Long Does Canada Take to Issue a Permanent Residence Visa for Spouses?
Processing time is determined by the country of citizenship, your place of residence, and the type of application you submit. In general, it takes between six months to two years for Canada to issue a permanent resident visa for spouses.
If you are living in Canada at the time of application submission or have been living there for more than five years as an alien resident, this process can be even slower because it needs to be approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
If you live outside Toronto or Vancouver but within the Ontario province (i.e., northern Ontario), it will take longer because CIC has limited resources compared with those available in southern regions.
Processing Times for Spouse Sponsorship in Canada
Processing times for spousal sponsorship applications vary, depending on your personal circumstances. The average processing time is between 6 to 12 months.
If you live abroad, the processing time may be longer because of the additional paperwork needed to process your application. If you’re living in Canada, it could be shorter because there are fewer hurdles to clear.
Processing Time for Applications Submitted in Canada
The processing time can vary from 2–6 months but usually takes 4–6 weeks after receiving all documents. Make sure to submit all documents appropriately to avoid increasing the processing period.
Processing Time for Applications Submitted Outside of Canada
Processing times vary by country of application, but it can take up to five years for an application submitted outside of Canada. It mostly depends on the number of received applications, the stage in the process, and whether it’s approved or rejected.
How Can You Check Processing Times?
The IRCC website is a great place to start your research. You can find the processing times for your province, country, and visa type on this page. If you want to see how long it takes for an application of any other kind—such as an exemption request or work permit—you’ll also have access to that information here!
Get Spousal Sponsorship for Canada Now
Help your spouse relocate to Canada by applying for spousal sponsorship for Canada today. We’re here to assist you at all steps of your application journey, from filing the initial paperwork to its approval.
Schedule your appointment with us now!
Disclaimer: This article is only intended for educational purposes and shouldn’t be used as a substitute for legal advice.
