Spousal sponsorship (inland and outland), dependent children, and the Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP). What separates an approval from a refusal is the relationship-genuineness package, the evidence that builds a complete, credible picture of your relationship for the officer reviewing it.
Family sponsorship is privileged in the Canadian immigration system, family class is one of three core economic-and-family priorities in the 2026-2028 Levels Plan. Use it.
For Canadian citizens and PRs to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner. Inland (spouse already in Canada) and outland (spouse abroad) streams. Both lead to PR.
$3,700 Full Rep
Sponsor your biological or adopted children under 22 (or older if continuously dependent due to physical or mental condition). Often added to a primary applicant’s PR application; sometimes filed separately.
$2,950 Full Rep
The PGP runs as a lottery: submit interest, get selected, then apply. Slow and oversubscribed. For most families, the Super Visa is the realistic interim solution while waiting on PGP rounds.
$2,950 Full Rep
IRCC officers reviewing spousal sponsorship applications are trained to identify marriages of convenience and relationships that are not genuine. The single biggest reason spousal sponsorships are refused is insufficient evidence that the relationship is genuine and that it wasn’t entered into primarily to acquire status.
You can have a real, loving, long-term relationship and still get refused if the documentation doesn’t build the picture an officer needs to see. Conversely, applicants whose relationships look suspicious on paper can still get approved if the documentation answers every officer’s question.
What we build: photos with metadata across the duration of the relationship; joint financial accounts and proof of co-mingling; tenancy or property documents; communication history (WhatsApp, email, video calls); affidavits from people who know you both; evidence of relationship development through the timeline; documented family acceptance; and a clear narrative of how, when, and why the relationship formed.
For when the sponsored spouse is already living in Canada with the sponsor. Faster in some ways, you can apply for an open work permit while waiting, but you cannot leave Canada during processing without risking your application. Currently around 12 months processing.
Best for: Spouses already in Canada on visitor, study, or work permits who want to remain continuously through processing.
For when the sponsored spouse is outside Canada (or wants the flexibility to travel). Filed in Canada but processed by the visa office serving the sponsored spouse’s country. You can travel during processing. Currently around 12 months for most countries.
Best for: Spouses currently outside Canada, or anyone who needs to be able to travel during the processing period.
All prices CAD professional fees only. Government fees (sponsorship $85, principal applicant $545, RPRF $575, biometrics $85) are separate.
| Service | Full representation | DIY (guided) | Diagnostic / review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spousal Sponsorship (inland or outland) | $3,700 | $2,250 | $650 |
| Dependent Child Sponsorship | $2,950 | $1,800 | $650 |
| Parent & Grandparent Sponsorship | $2,950 | $1,800 | $650 |
| Adding spouse to PR application | +$1,000 | +$600 | +$200 |
| Adding dependent child to PR application | +$500 | +$300 | +$100 |
| Spouse Open Work Permit (with inland sponsorship) | $1,200 | $750 | $425 |
Current target is 12 months for both inland and outland streams, though specific visa offices process faster or slower than average. Dhaka and Delhi tend to track close to the global average. Some offices in Africa run longer.
Yes, if you’re applying inland and the principal applicant is already in Canada with valid status. The Spouse OWP (SOWP) is filed at the same time as the sponsorship application and is typically issued within 4–6 months, letting you work for any Canadian employer while the PR file processes.
Refusals of spousal sponsorships from outside Canada (outland) can be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD), this is work that requires IRB-licensed counsel or a lawyer. We do not handle IAD appeals. We will refer you to qualified counsel.
For inland refusals, there’s no IAD appeal right, but reapplication or Federal Court judicial review may be options. We handle reapplications; Federal Court matters are referred to lawyers.
Not for PR, the PGP lottery is the only pathway. But for visitor status, the Super Visa offers up to 5-year stays per visit with 10-year multi-entry. Many families use the Super Visa as a long-term solution rather than waiting indefinitely for PGP selection. See our Visitor & Super Visa page.
Sponsors sign an undertaking to financially support the sponsored person and prevent them from needing social assistance. For spouses and dependent children, the undertaking is 3 years. For parents and grandparents, 20 years. The sponsor is liable for any social assistance the sponsored person receives during this period.
We pull the GCMS notes, read what the officer flagged about your relationship genuineness, and write a strategy memo with options. Note: IAD appeals (outland refusals) are lawyer work, we’ll refer you. But for reapplication strategy, the diagnostic is the right starting point.
Free 15-minute eligibility check, $200 1-hour deep-dive, or go straight to a retainer if you know your file. Bangla, Hindi, Urdu, and English available.