Spouse Visa Canada: Processing Time, Requirements, Fees

If the applicants are in Canada on a student visa (study permit) and wish to bring their spouse or common-law partner to Canada, they can apply for a spouse visa in Canada or a common-law partner open work permit for them. This work permit allows spouses or partners to work in Canada while the primary applicant studies. Canada is going to reduce spouse visa permits by more than 1,00,000 lakhs over the next 3 years.   

If you are studying in Canada and now you want to take your wife with you then you need a Canada Spouse Visa. It's not only for your wife but common-law partners, or conjugal partners to become permanent residents of Canada. This comes under the family reunification program. There is some eligibility that you need to fulfil to get the spouse visa approved. 

As the primary student visa holder, the applicant must have a valid Canada study permit to be eligible to sponsor their spouse or partner visa. Also, ensure that the study permit is in good standing while studying in Canada. According to The country's Immigration Minister Marc Miller, Canada is going to reduce the Spouse visa approval by 1,00,000 in the next 3 years. In this article, we will cover every important information related to a Canada spouse visa, including eligibility, application process and more.

Related Reads:

• Study Abroad with Your Spouse
• Student Spouse Visa

What is a Spouse Visa in Canada? 

A spouse visa in Canada is offered to spouses of those applicants who are either studying in Canada or are permanent residents of Canada. And those whose spouses or partners are settled elsewhere can come to Canada and settle or stay with their partners on a spouse visa in Canada. Thus, there is a process which needs to be followed and fulfil the eligibility criteria in order to apply for a spouse visa in Canada.

Dependent Visa Canada Eligibility  

In order to be eligible for a spouse or common-law partner for an open work permit in Canada, applicants must have a valid study permit and be a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada. The spouse or common-law partner must also meet certain eligibility criteria. 

In Canada, a spouse is a dependent or partner of the applicant already residing in Canada for study or work purposes. The following criteria deem fit for declaring an applicant having a partner or spouse under the Family Law Act of Canada if: 

• The applicants are or were married for a certain period of time. Or,  
• The two of them have lived with each other in a similar relationship as that of marriage, referred to as common, even if it was for a certain period of time. 

Apart from these, the applicant filing a spouse visa application as a sponsor can do it only if his/her partner is either a: 

• Spouse: A partner of the applicant with whom he/she is married legally. 
• Common-law partner: A relationship where two individuals have lived together for more than 12 months in a marriage-like relationship.  

• Conjugal partner: A partner of the applicant who stays out of Canada. The relationship will be considered only if the sponsor and the partner have been in a conjugal relationship for at least one year.  

Please note: Criminal inadmissibility or medical issues may affect dependent visa eligibility in Canada. Only upon fulfilling the above criteria, the applicants will be eligible for a dependent visa in Canada.  

How to Apply for a Spouse Visa in Canada from India? 

The spouse or partner residing in Canada has the authority to apply for an open work permit online or through a Visa Application Center (VAC) for their spouse. The application process for a spouse or common-law partner open work permit involves several steps: 

• Step 1: Check out the eligibility criteria and apply on the VAC website. 
• Step 2: Apply under family class if: 
  • The applicant to be sponsored lives outside Canada. Or,  
  • The sponsored applicant currently lives with the applicant in Canada but doesn’t plan on staying in Canada while the application is being processed. 
  • The applicant is planning to appeal if the wife's visa Canada application is refused. 
• • Also applicable if a conjugal partner or dependent child is being sponsored. 
• Step 3: Gather all important documents and save them in the prescribed format. 
• Step 4: The applicant of the spouse or partner must fill out the necessary application forms. These forms are available on the official website of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 
• Step 5: Spouse sponsorship should be submitted which acts as proof of the relationship status of the applicant. 
• Step 6: Submit the documents and application. 

Documents Required for Spouse Visa Canada 

Along with the application form, the applicants would also need to provide supporting documents, such as:  

• Marriage certificates 
• Common-law partner proof 

• Evidence of student status 
• Employment proof if aiming to work in Canada with details of the employer 
• Proof of income  
• Completed application along with the application fee 

Spouse Visa Canada Fees 

Spouse visa requirements in Canada are more or less the same but can vary with the type of application the applicant submits for their partners. The spouse visa Canada fees for various types of applications or scenarios are tabulated below for reference: 

Please note, that the application fees are dynamic and are subject to change, hence applicants must check the fee before applying and then plan accordingly.   

Canada Dependent Visa Processing Time 

The processing time for a spouse or common-law partner's open work permit can vary, so it's advisable to apply well in advance by the applicant for their spouse or partner's intended start date for work in Canada. Additionally, consider these important factors: 

• Renewal: Open work permits are generally issued for the same duration as the study permit. If applicants wish to extend their study permit, then their spouse or partner should also renew their open work permit accordingly. 
• Work Authorization: Once the open work permit is approved, the applicant’s spouse or partner will be authorized to work in Canada. They should be aware of their rights and responsibilities as a worker in Canada. 
• Travel: If in case the spouse or partner plans to travel in and out of Canada during the validity of the open work permit, ensure they have all necessary travel documents, including a valid visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). 

Thus, plan ahead of time, as to when to apply and for whom all the applicants will have to apply. Also check the spouse visa processing times, so that nothing clashes at the end of the day. Have more queries? Write to us in the comments below. Or sign up for free Shiksha Abroad Counselling.