Family Sponsorship Update — June 15, 2026
Monday, June 15, 2026
Family sponsorship processing times, including under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), saw declines as of February 2026, bucking a broader trend of rising temporary resident wait times.
Spousal sponsorship processing times in 2026 are approximately 12 months (outland) to 18 months (inland) for complete applications, with IRCC's service standard targeting 80% of complete applications within 12 months.
What You Should Do
- If you are sponsoring a spouse, submit a complete application — including all required supporting documents — to maximize your chances of meeting IRCC's 12-month service standard; use the spousal sponsorship checklist at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/spouse-partner-children/apply.html.
- If your spouse is applying inland (inside Canada), submit an Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) application at the same time as the sponsorship application — the SOWP typically processes in 4–6 months, allowing your spouse to work while the PR application is pending.
- If you are interested in sponsoring parents or grandparents, monitor IRCC's PGP intake announcements at canada.ca — processing times improved in February 2026, but intake is limited and application windows open and close quickly.
Sources
Topics Covered
Spousal sponsorship processing times in 2026 are approximately 12–18 months, with IRCC targeting 80% of complete applications within 12 months. Family sponsorship times broadly declined as of February 2026, including under the PGP.
More Family Sponsorship Updates
Family Sponsorship Update — June 22, 2026
Jun 22, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update — June 18, 2026
Jun 18, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update — June 11, 2026
Jun 11, 2026
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