Family Sponsorship Update — August 17, 2026
Monday, August 17, 2026
As of 2026, spousal sponsorship processing times are approximately 12 months on average, with outland applications from some countries running 12–14 months and inland applications taking 21–24 months.
The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan keeps the Family Class at roughly 81,000–84,000 PR admissions per year, with no cuts to spousal sponsorship targets.
Government fees for spousal sponsorship (no children) are approximately $1,290, and IRCC is actively working toward a 12-month or less processing target.
What You Should Do
- Check your current spousal sponsorship processing time estimate directly on the IRCC website at ircc.canada.ca/english/information/times/index.asp — times vary by stream (inland vs. outland) and can change monthly.
- If your spouse is already in Canada on an inland application, apply for an Open Work Permit through the IRCC online portal (ircc.canada.ca) so your spouse can work while the PR application is in progress.
- Before submitting a spousal sponsorship application, confirm the current government fee total (~$1,290 for sponsor + principal applicant, no children) on the IRCC fees page and pay online through the IRCC portal to avoid delays.
- If applying for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), note that income must be proven for three consecutive tax years — gather your Notices of Assessment from the CRA My Account portal (canada.ca/my-cra-account) for 2022, 2023, and 2024 now.
Sources
Topics Covered
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan allocates approximately 81,000–84,000 PR admissions per year to the Family Class, with no reductions to spousal sponsorship targets.
Spousal Sponsorship Processing Improvements: IRCC is targeting 12 months or less for spousal sponsorship processing in 2026, with current average times around 12 months for outland and 21–24 months for inland applications.
More Family Sponsorship Updates
Family Sponsorship Update — August 27, 2026
Aug 27, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update — August 24, 2026
Aug 24, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update — August 13, 2026
Aug 13, 2026
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