Sponsor Spouse Canada Fees: What It Actually Costs (2026 Fees)

Government fees for spousal sponsorship are the same whether you're applying inland or outland, and there's no minimum income requirement to qualify as a sponsor — but the fees themselves have a few moving parts worth understanding before you pay. Here's the current breakdown, straight from IRCC's official fee list.

This is general information, not legal advice, and fees can change. Always confirm the current amount on IRCC's official fee list before you pay.

Sponsor Spouse Canada Fees

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Government Fees at a Glance

Item	Fee (CAD)
Sponsor your spouse or partner (includes sponsorship fee, processing fee, and Right of Permanent Residence Fee)	$1,260.00
Sponsor your spouse or partner — without the Right of Permanent Residence Fee	$660.00
Include a dependent child	$180.00 per child
Biometrics — per individual	$85.00
Biometrics — per family (2 or more people applying together)	$170.00

That means a straightforward application for a spouse with no dependent children generally totals around $1,345 to $1,430 CAD in government fees, depending on whether biometrics are charged individually or at the family rate.

What's Actually Bundled Into That $1,260

The headline fee isn't one flat charge — it's three fees rolled together:

1.     The sponsorship fee — for your application to sponsor

2.     The processing fee — for the sponsored person's permanent residence application

3.     The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) — a separate charge tied to actually becoming a permanent resident

You can pay the RPRF portion up front (which is what the $1,260 figure assumes), or defer it and pay only the $660 now. IRCC recommends paying it upfront to avoid delays near the end of processing, since you'll need to pay it eventually regardless — it just needs to be settled before permanent residence is finalized.

The One Fee That's Refundable

The RPRF is the only government fee IRCC will refund once your application has entered processing. If the sponsorship is refused, or you withdraw before a decision is made, you get the RPRF back. The sponsorship fee and processing fee are not refunded once your file has been accepted into processing.

There's one exception that covers the whole fee: if your application is returned as incomplete before processing even starts (missing a form, a missing signature, an incomplete document checklist), IRCC refunds everything — because the file never entered the queue in the first place. That's a meaningful distinction: a returned application costs you time, but not money; a refused application, once processing has started, costs you the sponsorship and processing fees.

Dependent Children

Adding a dependent child to the application costs $180 per child, and importantly, children don't pay the RPRF — that fee only applies to the principal applicant (your sponsored spouse or partner).

Biometrics

Biometrics fees depend on how many family members are applying together:

·       $85 for a single individual

·       $170 maximum for a family of two or more applying at the same time and place — so a couple giving biometrics together pays the family rate rather than $85 each

Canadian citizens and existing permanent residents are exempt from giving biometrics.

The Spousal Open Work Permit (Optional, Inland Only)

If you're applying inland and your spouse wants to work while the sponsorship is processed, the Spousal Open Work Permit is a separate application with its own fee, on top of the sponsorship fees above. It's optional, but the majority of inland applicants apply for it since it's typically processed well ahead of the permanent residence decision.

Costs Beyond IRCC's Fee List

Government fees are only part of the budget. Depending on your situation, you should also plan for:

·       Immigration medical exam fees, paid directly to the panel physician

·       Police certificates from any country where the sponsored person lived 6+ months since age 18 — costs vary significantly by country

·       Certified translations for any document not in English or French

·       Courier or notarization costs for original documents and certified copies

·       Legal or consultant fees, if you choose to work with a representative — entirely optional, since IRCC doesn't require one

Quebec Sponsors: One More Fee

If you live in Quebec, your spouse's application also requires a provincial undertaking through MIFI, which comes with its own separate processing fee — paid to the Quebec government, not to IRCC. Don't include this fee with your federal sponsorship application; it's submitted separately once IRCC confirms you meet the federal eligibility requirements and instructs you to proceed with Quebec's process.

A Practical Note on Paying

IRCC only accepts online payment for applications submitted in Canada — other payment methods will result in your application being returned. Once you pay, download and save the official receipt immediately; it's your proof of payment, and you'll need to upload a copy to your application.

Considering Sponsorship? Sponsor Spouse Canada Fees?

Government fees are only one line item — the real cost of a spousal sponsorship application is the time lost if it's returned or refused over a documentation issue. Our immigration team at Brace Law helps couples across Oakville, Vaughan, and the greater GTA–Hamilton corridor budget accurately and file complete applications the first time.

Reach out to Brace Law if you'd like help mapping out the full cost of your specific application.