Family Sponsorship Update — June 8, 2026
Monday, June 8, 2026
As of March 2026, IRCC's official spousal sponsorship processing times are 16 months for outland applications (outside Canada, excluding Quebec) and 25 months for inland applications, per IRCC's own processing time tool.
Quebec-destined spousal sponsorship applications face a significantly longer wait of 37 months, compared to 11 months in the rest of Canada, due to the Canada–Quebec Accord's separate provincial processing requirements.
Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) sponsorship processing times saw a decline as of February 2026, though temporary resident application processing times (study and work permits) have spiked during the same period.
What You Should Do
- If you are sponsoring a spouse from outside Canada (outland), use IRCC's processing time tool at ircc.canada.ca/english/information/times to check the current 16-month estimate and calculate your expected decision date based on your submission date.
- If you are sponsoring a spouse from within Canada (inland), note the 25-month processing estimate. Apply for a spousal open work permit (SOWP) concurrently with the sponsorship application so your spouse can work while waiting — instructions are at canada.ca/spousal-open-work-permit.
- If you are in Quebec and planning to sponsor a spouse, be aware of the 37-month provincial processing timeline. Contact the Quebec immigration ministry (Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration) at immigration.gouv.qc.ca to confirm current intake status before applying.
- If you are sponsoring a parent or grandparent, check the latest PGP processing time at ircc.canada.ca/english/information/times — times dropped as of February 2026, which may represent an opportunity to expedite planning.
Sources
Topics Covered
Spousal Sponsorship Processing Improvements: As of March 2026, IRCC's official outland spousal sponsorship processing time is 16 months and inland is 25 months, while Quebec-destined applications remain at 37 months due to the separate provincial process.
Parents and Grandparents Program Regional Disparities: PGP processing times declined as of February 2026 at the federal level, but Quebec's spousal sponsorship cap and 37-month processing times underscore continued regional disparities in family class processing.
More Family Sponsorship Updates
Family Sponsorship Update — June 11, 2026
Jun 11, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update — June 4, 2026
Jun 4, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update — June 1, 2026
Jun 1, 2026
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