Inland sponsorship enables Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their loved ones, provided the  couple is legally cohabiting together in Canada.To be eligible for Inland sponsorship, the foreign spouse or common-law partner must also hold valid temporary status in Canada as a worker, student, or visitor. Throughout the processing of an Inland sponsorship application, the sponsored individual can continue living, working, or studying in Canada. An advantageous aspect of submitting an Inland sponsorship application is the potential eligibility for an open work permit for the spouse or partner, allowing them to work full-time in Canada while awaiting permanent residence. Possessing an Open Work Permit (OWP) can alleviate the financial and emotional strain of a potentially lengthy application process, while also enabling the spouse or partner to actively participate in the Canadian job market.

Who can apply under Inland sponsorship?

To qualify for sponsorship under the Inland application category, certain conditions must be met:

• Your spouse or partner must reside with you in Canada.
• Your spouse or partner must hold temporary resident status in Canada.

Moreover, both the sponsor and the sponsored person must fulfill the following requirements for immigration to Canada to be eligible for Inland sponsorship:

• The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident residing in Canada.
• Both the sponsor and the sponsored person must be at least 18 years old.
• The sponsored person must not have been sponsored by their spouse in Canada within the five years preceding the application submission.
• Neither spouse must be in prison, charged with a serious offense or bankrupt.

In addition, the relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored person must fall under one of the following categories:

Spouse: Legally married, with a valid marriage recognized by the jurisdiction of registration and Canadian law.

Common-law: Cohabiting or having cohabited for a minimum of 12 consecutive months in a marriage-like relationship.

Conjugal partnerships, such as relationships hindered by religious or marital status barriers preventing cohabitation or marriage, are ineligible for Inland sponsorship.

It’s important to note that conjugal partnerships, such as relationships hindered by religious or marital status barriers preventing cohabitation or marriage, are ineligible for Inland sponsorship.

How does Inland sponsorship work?

Inland sponsorship is a specific application process used to sponsor a loved one under Canada’s Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class immigration program.

This process involves two main steps:

• The Canadian citizen or permanent resident applies to sponsor their partner.
• The partner from another country applies for permanent residence in Canada.

To apply, you need to:

• Check if both you and your partner qualify.
• Pay the necessary fees online.
• Gather all the required documents.
• Fill out the required forms.

Usually, you should stay in Canada while waiting for your application to be processed. But if your partner needs to leave Canada during this time, there’s another option called Outland sponsorship.