Canada Visa Wait

Permanent residence · Family sponsorship

Spousal sponsorship, outland (partner outside Canada) processing time

For a Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsoring a spouse or partner who lives outside Canada.

Estimated wait for a new application

about18 months

● About the same as in July

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

Already waiting

about 65,600 people

▲ 11,500 more waiting than in July

If you apply today

A new application sent today would be decided around April 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 65,60018 months left
August 2026about 53,40016 months left
July 2026about 45,10014 months left
June 2026about 39,60012 months left
May 2026about 34,50011 months left
April 2026about 29,8009 months left
March 2026about 25,5008 months left
February 2026about 21,5007 months left
January 2026about 18,2006 months left
December 2025about 15,2005 months left
November 2025about 13,4005 months left
October 2025about 11,8004 months left
September 2025about 10,4004 months left
August 2025about 9,4003 months left
July 2025about 8,4003 months left
June 2025about 7,6003 months left
May 2025about 6,9003 months left
April 2025about 6,300IRCC says it needs more time
March 2025about 5,900IRCC says it needs more time
February 2025about 5,400IRCC says it needs more time
January 2025about 4,900IRCC says it needs more time
December 2024about 4,500IRCC says it needs more time
November 2024about 4,100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2024about 3,700IRCC says it needs more time
September 2024about 3,400IRCC says it needs more time
August 2024about 3,200IRCC says it needs more time
July 2024about 2,900IRCC says it needs more time
June 2024about 2,700IRCC says it needs more time
May 2024about 2,500IRCC says it needs more time
April 2024about 2,300IRCC says it needs more time
March 2024about 2,200IRCC says it needs more time
February 2024about 2,000IRCC says it needs more time
January 2024about 1,800IRCC says it needs more time
December 2023about 1,700IRCC says it needs more time
November 2023about 1,500IRCC says it needs more time
October 2023about 1,400IRCC says it needs more time
September 2023about 1,300IRCC says it needs more time
August 2023about 1,200IRCC says it needs more time
July 2023about 1,100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2023about 1,000IRCC says it needs more time
May 2023about 900IRCC says it needs more time
April 2023about 900IRCC says it needs more time
March 2023about 800IRCC says it needs more time
February 2023about 800IRCC says it needs more time
January 2023about 700IRCC says it needs more time
December 2022about 700IRCC says it needs more time
November 2022about 600IRCC says it needs more time
October 2022about 600IRCC says it needs more time
September 2022about 600IRCC says it needs more time
August 2022about 600IRCC says it needs more time
July 2022about 500IRCC says it needs more time
June 2022about 500IRCC says it needs more time
May 2022about 500IRCC says it needs more time
April 2022about 500IRCC says it needs more time
March 2022about 400IRCC says it needs more time
February 2022about 400IRCC says it needs more time
January 2022about 400IRCC says it needs more time
December 2021about 400IRCC says it needs more time
November 2021about 400IRCC says it needs more time
October 2021about 400IRCC says it needs more time
September 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
August 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
July 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
June 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
May 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
April 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
March 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
February 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
January 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
December 2020about 300IRCC says it needs more time
November 2020about 300IRCC says it needs more time
October 2020about 200IRCC says it needs more time
September 2020about 200IRCC says it needs more time
August 2020about 200IRCC says it needs more time
July 2020about 200IRCC says it needs more time
June 2020about 200IRCC says it needs more time
May 2020about 200IRCC says it needs more time
April 2020about 200IRCC says it needs more time
March 2020about 200IRCC says it needs more time
February 2020about 200IRCC says it needs more time
January 2020about 200IRCC says it needs more time
December 2019about 200IRCC says it needs more time
November 2019about 200IRCC says it needs more time
October 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time

Estimated wait for a new application

about33 months

● About the same as in July

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

Already waiting

about 19,400 people

▲ 800 more waiting than in July

If you apply today

A new application sent today would be decided around July 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 19,40033 months left
August 2026about 18,00031 months left
July 2026about 16,90029 months left
June 2026about 16,10028 months left
May 2026about 15,50027 months left
April 2026about 15,00026 months left
March 2026about 14,40025 months left
February 2026about 13,80024 months left
January 2026about 13,40024 months left
December 2025about 12,90023 months left
November 2025about 12,50022 months left
October 2025about 12,20022 months left
September 2025about 11,70021 months left
August 2025about 11,40020 months left
July 2025about 11,00020 months left
June 2025about 10,50019 months left
May 2025about 10,00018 months left
April 2025about 9,40017 months left
March 2025about 8,90016 months left
February 2025about 8,20015 months left
January 2025about 7,60014 months left
December 2024about 7,00013 months left
November 2024about 6,40012 months left
October 2024about 5,90011 months left
September 2024about 5,30010 months left
August 2024about 4,8009 months left
July 2024about 4,3008 months left
June 2024about 3,9008 months left
May 2024about 3,5007 months left
April 2024about 3,1006 months left
March 2024about 2,7005 months left
February 2024about 2,2005 months left
January 2024about 1,9004 months left
December 2023about 1,7004 months left
November 2023about 1,5003 months left
October 2023about 1,3003 months left
September 2023about 1,2003 months left
August 2023about 1,1003 months left
July 2023about 1,0002 months left
June 2023about 9002 months left
May 2023about 800IRCC says it needs more time
April 2023about 800IRCC says it needs more time
March 2023about 700IRCC says it needs more time
February 2023about 600IRCC says it needs more time
January 2023about 500IRCC says it needs more time
December 2022about 500IRCC says it needs more time
November 2022about 500IRCC says it needs more time
October 2022about 400IRCC says it needs more time
September 2022about 400IRCC says it needs more time
August 2022about 300IRCC says it needs more time
July 2022about 300IRCC says it needs more time
June 2022about 300IRCC says it needs more time
May 2022about 300IRCC says it needs more time
April 2022about 300IRCC 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 200IRCC says it needs more time
November 2021about 200IRCC says it needs more time
October 2021about 200IRCC says it needs more time
September 2021about 200IRCC says it needs more time
August 2021about 200IRCC says it needs more time
July 2021about 200IRCC 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 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2019about 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 18 months for people who will live outside Quebec.
  • About 65,600 people are already waiting for a decision (outside Quebec).
  • The estimate is about the same as in July.
  • In Quebec the estimate is about 33 months, with about 19,400 people waiting.

How the estimate has changed

Each point is an IRCC update.

More in Family sponsorship

All programs
Spousal sponsorship, inland (partner in Canada)about 26 monthsabout 55,600 waiting · Quebec: about 32 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 outland spousal sponsorship take?

IRCC's latest estimate, from October 9, 2026, is about 18 months for a new application for people who will live outside Quebec. For people who will live in Quebec it is about 33 months.

How many people are waiting?

About 65,600 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 18 months+1 month
July 7, 2026about 17 months+1 month
May 12, 2026about 16 months+1 month
February 12, 2026about 15 months+1 month
November 6, 2025about 14 months−1 month
October 9, 2025about 15 monthsfirst figure
Every published count of people waiting
IRCC updateFigureChange
October 9, 2026about 65,600+3,000
September 3, 2026about 62,600+4,600
August 10, 2026about 58,000+3,900
July 7, 2026about 54,100+2,800
May 12, 2026about 51,300+2,100
April 7, 2026about 49,200+1,000
March 9, 2026about 48,200+900
February 12, 2026about 47,300+1,600
December 9, 2025about 45,700+500
November 6, 2025about 45,200−700
October 9, 2025about 45,900–

Quebec

Every published estimate
IRCC updateFigureChange
June 8, 2026about 33 months+1 month
April 7, 2026about 32 months−3 months
January 14, 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 19,400+200
September 3, 2026about 19,200+200
August 10, 2026about 19,000+400
May 12, 2026about 18,600−100
April 7, 2026about 18,700−200
March 9, 2026about 18,900−200
February 12, 2026about 19,100−200
January 14, 2026about 19,300−100
December 9, 2025about 19,400−500
November 6, 2025about 19,900−200
October 9, 2025about 20,100–

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