Side-by-side comparison
| Inland | Outland | |
|---|---|---|
| Where your partner lives | In Canada, living with you | Anywhere, inside or outside Canada |
| Your partner's status in Canada | Should have valid status (or be eligible to restore it) | Needs their own valid status if they're in Canada |
| Open work permit while waiting | Yes, a spousal open work permit | Not through this application |
| Travelling outside Canada | Risky: they may not be able to come back | Yes |
| If refused | No appeal (only judicial review in Federal Court) | The sponsor can appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division |
When inland makes sense
- Your partner is already in Canada with valid status and plans to stay.
- They want to work while waiting: inland applicants can apply for an open work permit with or after the sponsorship. See our spousal open work permit guide.
- You don't expect your partner to need to travel abroad during processing.
When outland makes sense
- Your partner lives outside Canada.
- Your partner is in Canada but needs to travel, for work or family.
- There's a higher risk of refusal, for example a past refusal or immigration history, because outland keeps appeal rights.
Requirements are the same
Either way, the sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident aged 18+, and the relationship must be genuine. You'll prove it with documents like marriage records, photos, communication and, for common-law couples, proof of 12 months living together (common-law guide). Permanent residents must live in Canada to sponsor; citizens living abroad must show they'll return when their partner becomes a PR.
Next steps
- Prove your relationship with our common-law partner guide.
- See how we handle sponsorships on our spousal sponsorship page.
- Not sure which route fits? Book a consultation.