Sponsor Your Spouse to Canada From Pakistan: CAD 1,260 Fee, 3 Year Undertaking and Who Can Apply

Short answer: to sponsor a husband or wife in Pakistan for Canadian permanent residence, the sponsor must be at least 18 and a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident living in Canada, or a person registered under the Indian Act. The fee is CAD 1,260 for the spouse, which includes the sponsorship fee, the processing fee and the CAD 600 right of permanent residence fee, plus CAD 85 for biometrics. The spouse submits both applications together online through IRCC's Permanent Residence Portal. The sponsor promises to support the spouse for 3 years.

These figures are from the fee list of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which we read on 6 November 2026. On 5 November 2026, IRCC also said its new levels plan should bring spouse and partner waits "closer to 12 months" for people going to provinces outside Quebec. That is a goal, not a promise, but it makes a complete file more important than ever.

This guide covers who can sponsor, the full cost, the 3 year promise, the steps, and the mistakes that cause refusals for Pakistani couples.

Who can sponsor a spouse from Pakistan

The sponsor must be 18 or older and hold Canadian citizenship, permanent residence, or registration under the Indian Act. A permanent resident who lives outside Canada cannot sponsor. A Canadian citizen living abroad can sponsor, but must show they plan to live in Canada once the spouse becomes a permanent resident.

IRCC lists several bars. You may not be able to sponsor a spouse or partner if you:

• became a permanent resident through a spouse's sponsorship less than 5 years ago,
• sponsored a previous spouse and 3 years have not passed since that person became a permanent resident,
• are behind on an immigration loan, a performance bond, or court-ordered alimony or child support,
• declared bankruptcy and have not been discharged,
• receive social assistance for a reason other than disability,
• were convicted of a violent or sexual offence, are in prison, or have a removal order.

Some of the payment and bankruptcy bars work differently for sponsors who live in Quebec. Quebec also requires its own undertaking with the provincial government.

The spouse sponsorship fee is CAD 1,260, plus biometrics

IRCC charges one combined amount for the spouse. It includes the sponsorship fee, the processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee (RPRF), which is the fee for becoming a permanent resident. The RPRF is CAD 600 and is refunded if the application is withdrawn or refused.

A couple with one child would pay CAD 1,260 plus CAD 180 for the child, plus CAD 170 for biometrics, which is CAD 1,610 in IRCC fees. You will also pay a panel doctor for the medical exam and pay for police certificates. Those are third-party costs and IRCC does not set them.

The sponsor promises 3 years of support

The sponsor signs an undertaking, which is a legal promise to support the people being sponsored. It starts on the day they become permanent residents. If they receive social assistance during that time, the sponsor must repay it and cannot sponsor anyone else until it is repaid.

The length depends on who is sponsored, for all provinces except Quebec:

• Spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner: 3 years.
• Dependent child 22 or older: 3 years.
• Dependent child under 22: 10 years, or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first.

The undertaking cannot be cancelled once the family becomes permanent residents. It continues even after divorce, a move, a job loss or citizenship. That is why IRCC asks sponsors to read it carefully before signing.

Spouse, common-law and conjugal partners are different categories

Most Pakistani couples apply as spouses, because they are legally married. IRCC also accepts common-law partners, who have lived together for at least 12 months in a row, and conjugal partners, who have been in a committed relationship for at least 1 year but cannot live together or marry for legal, religious or social reasons.

Every category needs a genuine relationship. IRCC says the relationship must not exist "only for the purpose of getting permanent resident status". Both partners must be at least 18. A dependent child must be under 22 and without a spouse, unless they depend on their parents because of a physical or mental condition.

If your marriage certificate or Nikah Nama will be used abroad, check whether it needs attestation first. Our Nikah Nama attestation guide explains the Foreign Office steps.

How to apply to sponsor your spouse, step by step

There are two applications: the sponsor applies to become a sponsor, and the spouse applies for permanent residence. The spouse, who IRCC calls the principal applicant, submits both together online.

1. Check the sponsor's eligibility against IRCC's list.
2. Get the application package and read the country-specific instructions for Pakistan.
3. Collect documents, photos, police certificates and the medical exam as the package asks.
4. Pay the fees online and keep the receipt.
5. The spouse creates an account and submits both applications on the Permanent Residence Portal.
6. Give biometrics when IRCC asks, at the centre named in the letter.
7. Track the case in the IRCC account or the application status tracker.

Declare every family member in the application, even those who are not coming. IRCC says you cannot sponsor an undeclared family member later. The applicant must type their own name to sign, exactly as on the passport. A representative cannot sign for them.

Avoid the mistakes that delay Pakistani sponsorship cases

Paid representatives must be authorised. If you use a consultant or lawyer, both of you sign the Use of a Representative form, IMM 5476, and upload it. Check the person on the official register first, using our CICC licence guide. A friend or relative can help for free without a licence.

Pay the biometrics fee with the application. IRCC says applications can be delayed if you do not. If the decision takes longer than you expected, you can ask for your file notes for free; our GCMS notes guide shows how.

Watch for marriage fraud warnings too. IRCC runs a separate page on marriage fraud, and a relationship entered only for immigration can lead to refusal and a ban.

Common questions

How much does it cost to sponsor a wife from Pakistan to Canada?

CAD 1,260 in IRCC fees for the spouse, including the right of permanent residence fee, plus CAD 85 for biometrics. Add CAD 180 for each child, and pay separately for the medical exam and police certificates.

Can a permanent resident living outside Canada sponsor a spouse?

No. IRCC says a permanent resident living outside Canada cannot sponsor. A Canadian citizen abroad can, if they show they will live in Canada.

How long does the sponsor have to support the spouse?

3 years from the day the spouse becomes a permanent resident, outside Quebec. It cannot be cancelled after that day.

How long does spouse sponsorship take?

IRCC says its new plan should bring spouse and partner waits closer to 12 months for people going outside Quebec. Check the current time in IRCC's processing time tool.

Is the RPRF refundable?

Yes. IRCC says the CAD 600 right of permanent residence fee is refunded if the application is withdrawn or refused.

Can my spouse work in Canada while we wait?

IRCC offers an optional open work permit for spouses who are already in Canada with the sponsor. A spouse still in Pakistan applies from abroad and waits for the decision.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 6 November 2026. Fees are from IRCC's fee list on ircc.canada.ca, dated 21 September 2026. Eligibility, the undertaking periods, the relationship categories and the application steps are from IRCC's "Sponsor your spouse, partner or child" pages on canada.ca. The 12 month aim is from IRCC's 2027 to 2029 levels plan backgrounder of 5 November 2026. Medical exam and police certificate costs are set by third parties and were not checked.