How Long Does It Take to Get a Canadian Spouse/Partner Visa?

17-04-25

Yogesh shukla

Are you a married individual looking to bring your beloved spouse to Canada? But you are confused with the entire process? The paperwork for bringing your spouse to live with you in Canada may be long, but with the right strategy, the PR Spouse Visa can be accepted on the first attempt.

Throughout this blog, we will guide you through the process of how to get a Canadian Spouse Visa for your better half faster and efficiently. So, let’s get started.

What Is the Benefit of a Canada Spouse Visa?

The Canada Spouse Visa is an integral part of theFamily Sponsorship Programthat allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner forpermanent residency (PR).

What is the Average Time Taken to Process the Applications?

Application Type	Estimated Processing Time
Inland Sponsorship	10 to 16 months
Outland Sponsorship	8 to 12 months
Open Work Permit (Inland applicants)	3 to 6 months

The aforementioned time frame includes the time it takes to:

Check your spouse’s eligibility for the visa
Conduct medical examinations
Background as well as security verifications

Which Application tends to process faster? Outland or Inland?

1. Outland Sponsorship as Visa option for Canada PR

Your spouse resides outside Canada ( for instance, he/she is in India).
The Canada spouse visa application is processed in a Canadian visa office that is located abroad.
It is significantly faster (takes approximately 8–12 months to process).
Your spouse has the freedom totravel to and from Canada(if he/she has a visitor visa).

2.Inland Sponsorship as Visa option for Canada PR

Your partner staysinside Canada(on a valid visa).
Your spouse needs tostay within Canadaduring the application’s processing.
This type of application is significantly slower compared to Outland Sponsorship.
Your spouse has the option to apply for anOpen Work Permit.

What Factors Impact the Processing Time for Canadian Spouse Visa?

The following aspects determine your processing period for the Canada Spouse Visa application:

Completeness of the Application

The submission of your application along with the risk of rejection depends on proper document completion and all necessary signatures and papers to be present.

Use the IRCC Online Portal to confirm your application requirements or contact Aptech Visa to get the specific list as per your application because following their guidelines helps you maintain accurate documentation. 50% of the cases are rejected due to documentation issues; make sure everything is proofread properly.

Proof of Relationship

The assessment process takes longer for immigration authorities when they need to confirm the validity of a married couple. Include the following with the application to make it faster:

Photos together
Travel history
Financial ties
Joint property or leases
Country of Application

3.Background or Medical Issues

The application process extends when a person either has criminal records or has faced visa rejection previously. Medical examinations that need additional checks can also increase the wait time.

If you have faced any rejections previously, there are still ways to get the Visa accepted, You can talk to an Aptech Visa Counsellor.

5.Application Type (Paper vs. Online)

IRCC has made online applications their preferred method, and these applications tend to reduce the entire processing duration.

If you want to apply offline, then this will be the schedule for your application:

Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) – 1–2 months
Biometric Instruction Letter – Within 30 days after AOR
Medical Exam Request – 2–4 months
Background/Security Checks – 4–10 months
Eligibility Assessment – 6–10 months

How can you speed up your spouse's Visa Application for Canada?

1.Organize Documents Carefully

All documents must be submitted with correct file formats (PDF or JPEG etc.) along with certified translations if documents are not in English or French.

2.Include a Relationship Timeline Letter

Your application stands a better chance when you submit an official letter documenting your relationship being genuine. Presenting the application properly is very important. Aptech Visa can guide you better if you want any help in this case.

Approximate Time for Canada Spouse Visa to Process in 2025

Scenario Estimated Time

An Indian applicant who applies for outland

sponsorship must complete their application before proceeding : 9–11 months

An Indian spouse seeking permanent residence

by applying as an inland candidate from Canada

who holds a visitor status will need to file for an open work permit.: 11–14 months

Complex background or minimal relationship proof : 14–18 months

The Canada Spouse Visa processing time for 2025 spans between 8 to 16 months, depending on your application and completion status.

Outland sponsorship is generally faster. While the process of inland sponsorship provides the best solution when both partners live together in Canada.

Pro Tip: Start early. Apply for medical and biometrics services before the application and obtain all documents.

Spouses who need assistance with visa application preparation or want to check their eligibility can contact Aptech VISA , a leading consultant with 20+ years of experience in the industry. Our experts will guide you throughout the Canada Spouse Visa application journey after your free consultation with us. So book your free consultation now! call us at 750 383 2132 / 91310 59075, or you can also write us at info@aptechvisa.com.

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