If you’re sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner for Canadian permanent residence, your first strategic decision comes before any form: do you apply inland (your partner is in Canada with you) or outland (processed through their country of residence)?
Inland sponsorship
The inland route lets couples stay together in Canada during processing, and the applicant may qualify for an open work permit while waiting. The trade-off: leaving Canada mid-process is risky, and inland applications historically offer no appeal right to the Immigration Appeal Division if refused.
Outland sponsorship
Outland applications are processed whether or not the applicant is in Canada, the applicant can travel more freely, and a refusal generally carries appeal rights. Many couples living together in Canada still choose the outland route for these reasons.
What actually decides sponsorship cases
Whatever the route, the heart of every sponsorship application is evidence that the relationship is genuine and not entered into primarily for immigration purposes. Officers look at the full picture: how you met, communication history, cohabitation, finances, family knowledge of the relationship. Thin or poorly organized evidence is the most common cause of painful delays and refusals.
Learn more about spousal and family sponsorship.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different: book a consultation to discuss your situation.
About the author
Miguel Martins Pereirinha is a Canadian immigration lawyer and partner at Slayen Immigration Law in Vancouver, British Columbia. He practises Canadian immigration law exclusively — work permits, permanent residence, family sponsorship, citizenship and inadmissibility — and works with clients in English and Portuguese.
