Canada Visa Wait

Permanent residence · Family sponsorship

Spousal sponsorship, inland (partner in Canada) processing time

For a Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsoring a spouse or partner who lives with them in Canada.

Estimated wait for a new application

about26 months

● About the same as in July

IRCC estimate, update of October 9, 2026. Check IRCC's tool

Already waiting

about 55,600 people

▼ 1,300 fewer waiting than in July

If you apply today

A new application sent today would be decided around December 2028, if IRCC's estimate holds.

Already applied?

Choose the month you applied. IRCC estimates how many people are ahead of you and how much time is left.

People ahead of you–
Time left–
See every month in a table
Applied inPeople ahead of youTime left
September 2026about 55,60026 months left
August 2026about 54,50026 months left
July 2026about 51,40025 months left
June 2026about 47,60023 months left
May 2026about 44,10021 months left
April 2026about 40,80019 months left
March 2026about 37,40017 months left
February 2026about 34,10015 months left
January 2026about 31,20014 months left
December 2025about 28,10013 months left
November 2025about 25,20011 months left
October 2025about 22,30010 months left
September 2025about 18,9009 months left
August 2025about 15,6007 months left
July 2025about 12,6006 months left
June 2025about 9,5004 months left
May 2025about 8,2004 months left
April 2025about 6,9003 months left
March 2025about 5,9003 months left
February 2025about 5,1003 months left
January 2025about 4,4002 months left
December 2024about 3,9002 months left
November 2024about 3,5002 months left
October 2024about 3,0002 months left
September 2024about 2,500IRCC says it needs more time
August 2024about 2,100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2024about 1,900IRCC says it needs more time
June 2024about 1,700IRCC says it needs more time
May 2024about 1,500IRCC says it needs more time
April 2024about 1,300IRCC says it needs more time
March 2024about 1,200IRCC says it needs more time
February 2024about 1,100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2024about 1,000IRCC says it needs more time
December 2023about 900IRCC says it needs more time
November 2023about 800IRCC says it needs more time
October 2023about 700IRCC says it needs more time
September 2023about 700IRCC says it needs more time
August 2023about 600IRCC says it needs more time
July 2023about 500IRCC says it needs more time
June 2023about 500IRCC says it needs more time
May 2023about 400IRCC says it needs more time
April 2023about 400IRCC says it needs more time
March 2023about 400IRCC says it needs more time
February 2023about 300IRCC says it needs more time
January 2023about 300IRCC says it needs more time
December 2022about 300IRCC says it needs more time
November 2022about 300IRCC says it needs more time
October 2022about 300IRCC says it needs more time
September 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
August 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
July 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
June 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
May 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
April 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
March 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
February 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
January 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
December 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time

Estimated wait for a new application

about32 months

● About the same as in July

IRCC estimate, update of October 9, 2026. Check IRCC's tool

Already waiting

about 14,500 people

▲ 800 more waiting than in July

If you apply today

A new application sent today would be decided around June 2029, if IRCC's estimate holds.

Already applied?

Choose the month you applied. IRCC estimates how many people are ahead of you and how much time is left.

People ahead of you–
Time left–
See every month in a table
Applied inPeople ahead of youTime left
September 2026about 14,50032 months left
August 2026about 13,90032 months left
July 2026about 13,20030 months left
June 2026about 12,40029 months left
May 2026about 11,70027 months left
April 2026about 11,10026 months left
March 2026about 10,60025 months left
February 2026about 10,00024 months left
January 2026about 9,60023 months left
December 2025about 9,10022 months left
November 2025about 8,70021 months left
October 2025about 8,40021 months left
September 2025about 8,00020 months left
August 2025about 7,50019 months left
July 2025about 7,10018 months left
June 2025about 6,60017 months left
May 2025about 6,00016 months left
April 2025about 5,40014 months left
March 2025about 4,90013 months left
February 2025about 4,30012 months left
January 2025about 3,70010 months left
December 2024about 3,2009 months left
November 2024about 2,7008 months left
October 2024about 2,2006 months left
September 2024about 1,7005 months left
August 2024about 1,3004 months left
July 2024about 1,1003 months left
June 2024about 9003 months left
May 2024about 7002 months left
April 2024about 6002 months left
March 2024about 5002 months left
February 2024about 4002 months left
January 2024about 4001 month left
December 2023about 300IRCC says it needs more time
November 2023about 3001 month left
October 2023about 300IRCC says it needs more time
September 2023about 200IRCC says it needs more time
August 2023about 200IRCC says it needs more time
July 2023about 200IRCC says it needs more time
June 2023about 200IRCC says it needs more time
May 2023about 200IRCC says it needs more time
April 2023about 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2023about 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2023about 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2023about 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2022about 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2022about 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2022about 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2022about 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2022about 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2022about 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2022about 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2022about 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2022about 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2022about 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2022about 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2022about 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2021fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2021fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2021fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2021fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2021fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2021fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2021fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2021fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2021fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2021fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2021fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time

Quebec selects some immigrants itself, so IRCC publishes separate figures for people who will live in Quebec.

In plain English

  • IRCC estimates a new application would take about 26 months for people who will live outside Quebec.
  • About 55,600 people are already waiting for a decision (outside Quebec).
  • The estimate is about the same as in July.
  • In Quebec the estimate is about 32 months, with about 14,500 people waiting.

How the estimate has changed

Each point is an IRCC update.

More in Family sponsorship

All programs
Spousal sponsorship, outland (partner outside Canada)about 18 monthsabout 65,600 waiting · Quebec: about 33 months● SteadyParents and grandparents sponsorshipabout 28 monthsabout 35,600 waiting · Quebec: about 63 months● Steady

What does this estimate mean?

1

It looks ahead

IRCC estimates how long a new application would take, based on how many people are already waiting and how many decisions it plans to make.

2

“Waiting” is IRCC's own count

The number of people waiting is IRCC's rounded count of applications in the queue.

3

Already applied?

IRCC also estimates how many people are ahead of you and how much time is left, by when you applied.

Common questions

How long does an inland spousal sponsorship take?

IRCC's latest estimate, from October 9, 2026, is about 26 months for a new application for people who will live outside Quebec. For people who will live in Quebec it is about 32 months.

How many people are waiting?

About 55,600 people are waiting (outside Quebec), by IRCC's count of October 9, 2026.

I already applied. How long is left for me?

IRCC estimates how many people are ahead of you and how much time is left, by the month you applied. Choose your month in the “Already applied?” box above.

Is this an official government website?

No. Canada Visa Wait is an independent site and is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. The figures are IRCC's own. Before you rely on a date, check IRCC's official processing-times tool.

All published figures

Outside Quebec

Every published estimate
IRCC updateFigureChange
September 3, 2026about 26 months−1 month
July 7, 2026about 27 months+1 month
June 8, 2026about 26 months+1 month
May 12, 2026about 25 months+1 month
April 7, 2026about 24 months+3 months
January 14, 2026about 21 months+1 month
November 6, 2025about 20 months−2 months
October 9, 2025about 22 monthsfirst figure
Every published count of people waiting
IRCC updateFigureChange
October 9, 2026about 55,600+900
September 3, 2026about 54,700−2,100
August 10, 2026about 56,800−100
July 7, 2026about 56,900+1,700
May 12, 2026about 55,200+1,300
April 7, 2026about 53,900+1,500
March 9, 2026about 52,400−200
February 12, 2026about 52,600+500
January 14, 2026about 52,100+1,500
December 9, 2025about 50,600+700
November 6, 2025about 49,900+400
October 9, 2025about 49,500–

Quebec

Every published estimate
IRCC updateFigureChange
June 8, 2026about 32 months+1 month
April 7, 2026about 31 months−5 months
March 9, 2026about 36 months+1 month
February 12, 2026about 35 months−1 month
December 9, 2025about 36 months−1 month
November 6, 2025about 37 months−2 months
October 9, 2025about 39 monthsfirst figure
Every published count of people waiting
IRCC updateFigureChange
October 9, 2026about 14,500+300
September 3, 2026about 14,200+200
August 10, 2026about 14,000+300
July 7, 2026about 13,700+600
May 12, 2026about 13,100+400
April 7, 2026about 12,700+400
March 9, 2026about 12,300+200
February 12, 2026about 12,100+100
December 9, 2025about 12,000−200
November 6, 2025about 12,200+100
October 9, 2025about 12,100–

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