Who is a Spouse, Common-Law Partner, or Conjugal Partner?

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor a spouse or partner in one of these 3 spousal relationships if the following conditions are met:

• Spouse – the marriage must be considered legal and valid in Canada and in the country of marriage.
• Common-Law Partner – the couple must have been living together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 ongoing months.
• Conjugal Partner – the couple has the same level of commitment and permanence as in a marriage with at least 12 ongoing months, but are not able to live together due to circumstances beyond their control.

What are the requirements to sponsor a Spouse or Common-Law/Conjugal Partner?

The minimum requirements to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner are:

• your spouse or partner must be at least 18 years old
• you have a monogamous relationship
• your marriage must not have been a proxy marriage
• you have lived together for at least 1 year
• you are able to show proof of income

How do you prove your relationship to your Spouse or Common-Law/Conjugal Partner?

There is no firm, all-inclusive list of documents to prove your relationship. However, commonly used documents include:

• shared ownership of residential property or joint rental agreements
• shared utility bills
• joint tax returns
• same address for important documents (e.g., driver’s license, insurance policies)
• communication (e.g., texts, calls, emails)
• statutory declaration of family and friends
• photographs

Can you include dependants in your spousal sponsorship application?

Yes, you can include the following dependants of your spouse or common-law/conjugal partner:

• any child under 22 years old and single
• any child 22 years old and over who is single, if the child became mentally or physically dependent on your spouse or partner when he/she was not yet 22 years old
• any dependent child of a dependent child

Why do you need to prove your ability to support your spouse or partner’s basic needs?

Applying to sponsor your spouse or partner means you are willing to take on the responsibility to provide for their basic needs and not be a burden on social assistance. Basic needs include housing, food, personal necessities, clothing, and health care not covered by public health insurance.

The period of undertaking to sponsor a spouse or common-law/conjugal partner to Canada is 3 years from the day the person lands in Canada.

How long is the processing time and what are the processing fees?

Processing times depend on the volume of applications. At present, processing time is approximately 12 months from the day a complete application is accepted by the visa office.

The processing fee and right of permanent resident fee for the spouse or partner is C$1,050. For every dependent child under 22 years old, the fee is C$150. For every dependent child over 22 years old, the fee is C$550.

What are the key considerations in submitting an application?

The requirements might look simple on paper, but often applications are rejected because the documents submitted were inaccurate, incomplete, or non-compliant. Here are some key considerations when applying to sponsor a spouse or common-law/conjugal partner to Canada:

• How do you prove that the relationship is genuine and for at least 1 year?
• What if you married your spouse when he/she was less than 18 years old?
• What if your spouse or partner has overstayed in Canada illegally?
• How do you adequately prepare for the interview?