Approval in Principle (AIP) in Canada: What It Means in 2026
As of July 29, 2026. Approval in principle means Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has accepted that you meet the permanent residence eligibility rules, but your medical, security and background checks are still open.
For sponsored spouses and partners waiting on a decision. This guide explains what the approval in principle letter actually confirms, why it is not the same thing as your acknowledgement of receipt, and the one situation where you genuinely cannot get an open work permit without it.
What does approval in principle (AIP) mean in Canada?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) defines it precisely. Your application is "approved in principle (AIP)" if you have received a letter from IRCC stating that you meet the permanent residence eligibility requirements, but you still have to pass the medical, security and background checks for you and, if needed, your family members. In a spousal sponsorship file, that means two things have been settled: your sponsor was approved as a sponsor, and IRCC accepted your relationship as genuine. Nothing else is final. Approval in principle is a first-stage decision, not permanent residence, and it does not by itself give you status in Canada.
Is AIP the Atlantic Immigration Program or approval in principle?
Both, and that is why searching for it is confusing. The acronym AIP carries two unrelated meanings in Canadian immigration. Approval in principle is a first-stage decision on a permanent residence application. The Atlantic Immigration Program is an employer-driven permanent residence program for New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. IRCC's own processing-times data feed uses the key aip for the Atlantic Immigration Program, which is why search engines routinely return Atlantic Immigration Program pages and its 26-month processing time to people who are asking about a first-stage sponsorship decision. The two have no relationship. If you are a sponsored spouse, the Atlantic Immigration Program's timeline tells you nothing about your file.
| Term | What it is | Who it applies to |
|---|
| Approval in principle (AIP) | First-stage decision on a permanent residence application | Sponsored spouses, partners, and other PR applicants |
| Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) | Employer-driven PR program in the four Atlantic provinces | Skilled workers and graduates with an Atlantic job offer |
How long does approval in principle take in spousal sponsorship?
IRCC does not publish a processing time for the approval in principle stage. It publishes one figure for the whole application, from submission to final decision. Any "AIP takes 4 to 9 months" figure you find online is a third-party estimate, not an IRCC service standard, and IRCC does not commit to it. What IRCC does publish, updated July 7, 2026, is the total spousal sponsorship processing time. Treat approval in principle as an unscheduled milestone somewhere inside these windows rather than a date you can count on.
| Application type | IRCC processing time (July 7, 2026) |
|---|
| Spouse or partner in Canada, outside Quebec (inland) | About 27 months |
| Spouse or partner abroad, outside Quebec (outland) | About 17 months |
| Spouse or partner in Canada, Quebec | About 32 months |
| Spouse or partner abroad, Quebec | About 33 months |
Check the live figure on IRCC's processing times tool before you rely on any number, including these. IRCC revises them monthly.
What is the difference between AOR and approval in principle?
They are different letters arriving at different stages, and people mix them up constantly. The acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) is an administrative confirmation. IRCC states that the AOR letter means an officer has reviewed your application package and confirmed that it is complete, and that the application number on it starts with the letter F. It says nothing about whether you qualify. Approval in principle is a substantive decision that comes later and confirms you meet the eligibility rules. Getting an AOR is not approval of anything. Getting approval in principle is approval of eligibility only.
| Acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) | Approval in principle (AIP) |
|---|
| What it confirms | Your package is complete | You meet PR eligibility rules |
| Decision type | Administrative | Substantive, first stage |
| Still outstanding | Everything | Medical, security, background checks |
| Unlocks the open work permit | Yes, if you hold valid status | Yes, and it is required if you are out of status |
Do you need approval in principle to get a spousal open work permit?
For most applicants, no, and this is the single most common piece of outdated advice on the subject. If you hold valid temporary resident status, IRCC's rule is that once you get your AOR letter, you can apply for an open work permit. You do not wait for approval in principle. Older forum threads still say the opposite because that was the rule before the inland open work permit pilot changed it. There is one real exception. If you do not have valid temporary resident status and your permanent residence application is being processed under the spousal public policy, IRCC states you must wait until you have received your approval in principle letter to be eligible to apply for an open work permit. Out-of-status applicants in that situation also cannot apply online.
If you are out of status
You apply on paper, and your package must include a letter explaining that you cannot apply online because you are out of status, plus a copy of your approval in principle letter. Full requirements are on IRCC's spousal open work permit page.
If your status expires within two weeks
You can apply for the work permit without an AOR at all, but only if both conditions are met: your work permit, study permit or temporary resident status expires in two weeks or less, and you applied for permanent residence under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class (SCLPC) or the family class as a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner.
What happens after approval in principle?
Your file moves to the checks that were still open when the letter was issued. IRCC completes medical, security, criminality and background screening on you and any family members included in the application. If your medical exam has expired by this point, you will be asked to redo it. You may receive requests for updated police certificates or additional relationship evidence. Once the checks clear, IRCC issues the final decision and, for applicants in Canada, confirms permanent residence. You can also extend an open work permit granted under this public policy for two more years if you received your AOR, and your permanent residence application is still being processed with no decision made.
What can still go wrong after approval in principle?
Approval in principle is reversible, which is why treating it as the finish line is a mistake. Eligibility was approved on the evidence in front of the officer at that moment. A failed medical, a security or criminality concern, or new information about the relationship can all still sink the application. Separation or divorce after approval in principle ends the basis for a spousal application entirely, and you are obliged to tell IRCC. Misrepresentation discovered later can trigger a five-year bar. The practical rule is simple: keep your medical valid, respond to every IRCC request inside the deadline, and report any change in your relationship or address promptly.
- Medical results expire or come back with an inadmissibility finding.
- Security or criminality screening raises a concern for you or a dependant.
- The relationship ends, or IRCC receives information suggesting it is not genuine.
- You miss a request for additional documents and the file is refused for non-response.
- Undisclosed information surfaces and is treated as misrepresentation.
How much does spousal sponsorship cost in 2026?
Sponsoring a spouse or partner costs $1,260 in government fees. IRCC publishes this as a bundled amount covering the sponsorship fee, the principal applicant processing fee, and the $600 right of permanent residence fee, rather than as separate line items. The right of permanent residence fee can be paid later, which brings the upfront amount down to $660. The totals are identical whether your partner is in Canada or abroad. The open work permit is billed separately at $155 for the work permit plus the $100 open work permit holder fee. Biometrics add $85 per person. None of these figures change based on whether you have reached approval in principle.
| Item | Fee (CAD) |
|---|
| Spousal sponsorship, including right of permanent residence fee | 1,260 |
| Spousal sponsorship, without right of permanent residence fee | 660 |
| Right of permanent residence fee | 600 |
| Work permit | 155 |
| Open work permit holder fee | 100 |
| Biometrics, per person | 85 |
Current amounts are on IRCC's fee list.
Frequently asked questions
What is AIP in spousal sponsorship?
It is the first-stage decision confirming that your sponsor qualifies and IRCC accepts your relationship as genuine. Medical, security and background checks remain outstanding after it is issued.
How long does it take to get approval in principle in spousal sponsorship?
IRCC does not publish a timeline for this stage. It publishes a total processing time of about 27 months for inland applications outside Quebec and about 17 months for outland applications outside Quebec, as of July 7, 2026.
What is an approval in principle letter from IRCC?
It is a letter stating you meet the permanent residence eligibility requirements while the medical, security and background checks are still pending. Out-of-status applicants must attach a copy of it to a paper open work permit application.
Who is the principal applicant in spousal sponsorship in Canada?
The principal applicant is the person being sponsored, not the sponsor. The sponsor is the Canadian citizen or permanent resident who submits the sponsorship undertaking.
Does approval in principle give me status in Canada?
No. It is a decision on eligibility for permanent residence, not a grant of temporary or permanent status. You must maintain your own valid status or apply for restoration if you have lost it.
Can approval in principle be revoked?
Yes. It can be reversed if a check comes back negative, the relationship ends, or IRCC receives new information that changes the eligibility assessment.
Sources
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, book a consultation with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) at gofarglobal.com.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Immigration laws and policies change frequently. Each case is unique and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) before making immigration decisions.
