Outland sponsorship is for foreign nationals living outside of Canada to obtain permanent resident (PR) status in the country through sponsorship by their Canadian spouse or partner. Unlike Inland spousal sponsorship, where the couple must reside together in Canada, Outland sponsorship allows for the sponsor and the sponsored individual to be in different countries during the application process.

This option might be the best fit for individuals who cannot apply for spousal sponsorship from within Canada. Essentially, if your partner isn’t legally residing in Canada when you apply, Outland sponsorship becomes the primary choice.

Even those living in Canada can choose the Outland sponsorship process. It permits travel to and from Canada while the application is being processed, making it suitable for individuals whose work or personal circumstances necessitate travel in and out of the country.

For the sponsored person to secure a Canadian PR visa through Outland sponsorship, both the Canadian citizen or permanent resident and the foreign national must gain approval from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Who can apply under outland sponsorship?

To qualify for sponsorship under the outland 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 outland 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.

If you are in a conjugal relationship, you will need to submit an Outland sponsorship application as this type of relationship is not eligible under Inland sponsorship.

How does Outland sponsorship work?

Outland sponsorship is a specific application to sponsor a family member under Canada’s Family Class immigration program. This process includes multiple steps, such as confirming eligibility, gathering necessary documents, filling out mandatory forms, and submitting them to the relevant visa office. Specifically, the Canadian citizen or permanent resident must initiate sponsorship by applying to become a sponsor, while the foreign spouse or partner is responsible for applying for permanent residence.