Maple News reports that Canada remains committed to prioritizing family reunification, continuing to expedite up to 6,000 spousal sponsorship applications each month through the end of 2020. The initiative, led by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), was announced to address prolonged separation among families due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before the global health crisis, Canada welcomed around 70,000 new permanent residents annually under the ‘spouse, partner, and children’ category of its family class immigration stream. However, under the federal government’s ambitious 2021–2023 Immigration Levels Plan, this number is expected to grow significantly. The plan targets the admission of approximately 80,000 family-class immigrants per year, with the majority entering through spousal sponsorship.
To sponsor a partner for Canadian permanent residency, the sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident. Sponsorship is open to three categories of relationships: spouses (legally married), common-law partners (living together for at least 12 consecutive months), and conjugal partners (in an exclusive relationship but unable to live together due to barriers such as immigration constraints or cultural restrictions).
Sponsors must be at least 18 years old, not receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability, and capable of financially supporting their partner’s basic needs. Canadian citizens living abroad must also prove their intent to reside in Canada with their sponsored partner once the application is approved.
This fast-tracking process reflects Canada’s broader commitment to family reunification as a central pillar of its immigration policy. Beyond the humanitarian motivation of keeping families together, it also recognizes that newcomers supported by close family ties often integrate more successfully into Canadian society.
IRCC has implemented new measures, including digital application tools and additional processing staff, to accelerate decision-making in spousal sponsorship cases. These efforts aim to reduce backlogs while maintaining integrity checks to prevent fraud.
Canada’s ongoing efforts to facilitate and prioritize spousal immigration align with the country’s broader objective of building strong, inclusive communities while also responding to dynamic challenges such as border restrictions and global migration patterns.
For those considering sponsoring a spouse or partner, Maple News recommends reviewing IRCC’s official guidelines carefully and preparing documentation that clearly establishes the authenticity and nature of the relationship. It’s also important to ensure eligibility criteria are fully met before submitting an application.