Recent data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals a startling fact: nearly 27% of inland spousal and common-law partner sponsorship applications submitted between January and October 2025 never made it past the very first screening stage.
Out of 45,235 applications reviewed, only 32,994 were accepted for processing. The remaining 12,241 were returned because they failed the mandatory R10 completeness check.
This means thousands of couples lost valuable time, had to start over, and faced unnecessary delays — all because of avoidable mistakes in their application package.
What Is the R10 Completeness Check?
Before IRCC even looks at whether you qualify to sponsor or be sponsored, they perform a quick administrative review under Regulation 10 (R10) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Your application is considered complete only if every required form, document, signature, piece of information, and fee payment listed in the official checklist is included at the time of submission.
At this stage, eligibility is not assessed — only completeness. If anything is missing, the entire file is returned to you and you receive a refund of the fees paid.
What Happens After Your Application Passes the R10 Check?
Once your application is deemed complete, you’ll receive:
- An application number
- An Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) letter
Processing then begins in stages:
- Assessment of the sponsor’s eligibility
- Assessment of the sponsored person’s (and any dependents’) eligibility and admissibility for permanent residence
- Requests for biometrics and medical exams
- Final decision on permanent residence
If approved as a sponsor, IRCC continues with the sponsored person’s application. If the sponsor is refused, you have the option to withdraw or continue processing the PR application. Inland sponsorship refusals cannot be appealed (unlike outland applications), making it even more important to get it right the first time.
How to Ensure Your Application Passes the R10 Check – Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these six essential steps to dramatically increase your chances of success:
Step 1: Read the Official Guide Cover to Cover Start with the complete instruction guide: Sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child (IMM 5289). This guide explains everything you need to know about preparing both the sponsor’s and the sponsored person’s applications.
Step 2: Use the Correct Document Checklists
- Sponsor’s checklist: IMM 5287
- Sponsored person’s checklist: IMM 5533
These checklists themselves must be included in your submission. Gather every mandatory document and any additional ones that apply to your situation.
Step 3: Complete All Forms Accurately Pay close attention to required signatures — many forms need signatures from both the sponsor and the sponsored person. Write “Not Applicable” or “NA” in any section that doesn’t apply to you. If you need extra space, attach an additional page.
Step 4: Prepare Supporting Documents Properly Include notarized English or French translations for any documents not in those languages. Check IRCC’s country-specific requirements for civil documents. If you can’t provide a particular document, include a detailed Letter of Explanation (LOE) with supporting evidence.
Step 5: Pay All Fees and Attach Proof Current fees (as of early 2026) for sponsoring a spouse/common-law partner:
- Total: $1,205 ($85 sponsorship fee + $545 processing fee + $575 right of permanent residence fee)
For each dependent child: additional $170. Biometrics: $85 per person (or $170 for a family of two or more).
Always include the payment receipt. (Note: You can pay the right of permanent residence fee later, but doing so may cause delays.)
Step 6: Double-Check Everything Before Submitting Review the entire package against the checklists one final time. Missing even a single signature or forgetting to include the checklist itself can result in an immediate return.
Don’t Let Your Application Become One of the 12,000+ Rejected in 2025
Submitting an incomplete inland spousal sponsorship application doesn’t just waste time — it can set your entire immigration journey back by months.
At Career Brick, we specialise in helping couples prepare strong, complete applications the first time. Our team stays on top of the latest IRCC requirements and can guide you through every step, from eligibility assessment to final submission.
Ready to sponsor your spouse or common-law partner and move to Canada without the stress? Contact our immigration experts today for a free consultation — let’s make sure your application gets processed, not returned.
