One of the quirkier features of Canadian immigration law is the distinction between what is generally referred to as the “Inside-Canada Sponsorship” process and the “Outside-Canada Sponsorship” process. The biggest myth is that if a couple is residing in Canada then they must use the “Inside-Canada Sponsorship” process. This is not true. However, each program contains advantages and disadvantages vis-a-vis the other, and I have provided a list of the key features and requirements of each program below.
Inside-Canada Process |
Outside-Canada Process |
The spouse/common-law partner must be in a genuine, conjugal relationship that was not entered into for the primary purpose of acquiring an immigration benefit. | The spouse/common-law partner must be in a genuine, conjugal relationship that was not entered into for the primary purpose of acquiring an immigration benefit. |
The spouse/common-law partner must reside together in Canada. | The spouse/common-law partner do not have to reside together in Canada. As well, once a common-law relationship is established, periods of separation will not change their common-law status if there is a short separation that does not sever the common-law partnership. |
The applicant must live with the spouse/common-law partner inside Canada during the duration of processing. | The applicant can live with the spouse/common-law partner inside Canada during the duration of processing, but does not have to. |
The immigration paperwork is sent to a processing center inside Canada, and remains in Canada. | The immigration paperwork is sent to a processing center inside Canada, and it then may be transferred to a visa post outside of Canada. |
If the applicant has valid temporary resident status in Canada, and submits an application to extend that status inside Canada with the permanent residence application, then the applicant will have implied status during the processing of the permanent residence application, provided he/she does not leave Canada. | If the applicant has valid temporary resident status in Canada, he/she must maintain his/her status. The process is separate from the permanent residence application, and there is no implied status for the duration of processing. |
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will process the application even if the applicant does not have valid temporary resident status in Canada. If an individual has an application in processing, and is detained by the Canada Border Services Agency for being without status, then the applicant will generally benefit from a 60 day deferral period, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada will endeavour to process the permanent residence application within 60 days. | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will not process the application if the applicant does not have valid temporary resident status in Canada. |
The current processing time is 12 months. The Applicant will receive “first-stage approval” at around the half-way point if it is determined that the spouse/common-law partnership is bona fide, and the applicant will be entitled to an open work permit. | Processing times vary depending on the visa post, and range from 4 months to 38 months. There is no first-stage approval for the issuance of open work permits. |
There is currently a pilot project in place to provide work permits to applicants who have valid temporary resident status after 2ish months of processing. | The permanent residence application is completely separate from any ability to work in Canada. |
There is no appeal right to the Immigration Appeal Division. The only recourse is an application to Federal Court for judicial review. | There is a general appeal right to the Immigration Appeal Division, except for refusals based on serious criminality, terrorism, national security, espionage, and similar serious matters. The only recourse in those situations is an application to Federal Court for judicial review. |
If the applicant leaves Canada and is for whatever reason denied re-entry by the Canada Border Services Agency, then the permanent residence application will be refused, and the applicant must start over from outside Canada. | If the applicant leaves Canada and is for whatever reason denied re-entry by the Canada Border Services Agency, this will generally not impact the permanent residence application. |
Legislative Requirements
The following concise summary of Family Class and Inside-Canada sponsorship requirements was obtained through an Access to Information Act request.
1. Family ClassJurisprudence
In Fashina v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2023 FC 1295, the Federal Court affirmed that in the Spouse or Common-Law Partner Class while there is no requirement that a couple be “continuously present with one another” any gaps in cohabitation “separation must be temporary and short.”
Children Abroad
Section 5.11 of Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Inland Processing Manual 8 – Spouse or Common Law Partner in Canada states that:
For dependent children living outside Canada, the [Case Processing Centre – Vegreville] will forward a copy of the permanent residence application listing the dependent children and their relevant contact information to the responsible visa office for verification of the relationship, once the sponsor and applicant have been assessed and approved against eligibility requirements.
The visa office will determine admissibility of dependent children outside Canada, conduct interviews if necessary and advise the CPC-V of the outcome by updating the electronic record. The CPC then informs the CIC [office] responsible for the applicant’s place of residence that permanent residence may be granted. Once the CIC [office] has granted permanent residence to the principal applicant, it will notify the visa office, which will issue permanent resident visas to the overseas dependent children who are seeking permanent residence.
There are many differences between the Inside Canada Sponsorship and the outside Canada sponsorship. Whether children outside of Canada can accompany the principal applicant in the same application is not one of them.
Statistics – Approval Rates
Please note that the statistics below were obtained through an Access to Information Act request.
The following are some statistics regarding the approval rate for the Inside-Canada Spousal Sponsorship program.
The following shows the approval rates for the Inside-Canada sponsorship process vs. the Outside-Canada sponsorship process.
The following shows temporary resident visa vs. electronic travel authorization approval rates for those with Family Class applications in processing.
Here are the statistics for Inside-Canada spousal sponsorship approval rates based on country of citizenship for 2019 – 2021.
Approvals Country of OriginStatistics – Processing Times
The following shoes processing times for Inside-Canada sponsorship applications from 2016 – 2021.
The following shows processing times for overseas applications during the same period.
Here are the statistics by visa office.