01
At Least 18 Years Old
The sponsored conjugal partner must be at least 18 years of age.
FAMILY
Conjugal Partner Sponsorship
A family sponsorship pathway for certain couples who have built a genuine committed relationship but face significant barriers to marriage or cohabitation.
Assess Your Conjugal Partner CaseCONJUGAL PARTNER SPONSORSHIP
What Is a Conjugal Partner?
The conjugal partner category is intended for certain couples who are in a genuine, committed and mutually interdependent relationship but are neither married nor able to qualify as common-law partners.
A conjugal partner must generally have been in an exclusive relationship with the sponsor for at least one year.
The relationship should demonstrate significant emotional, physical, financial and social interdependence similar to a marriage or common-law partnership.
Importantly, this category is not simply an alternative for couples who prefer not to marry or who have not yet lived together for 12 months. Marriage or qualifying cohabitation must generally have been prevented by circumstances beyond the couple's reasonable control.
ELIGIBILITY
Key Conjugal Partner Requirements
Conjugal partner sponsorship is a specific category and requires more than simply showing that two people are in a romantic relationship.
02
At Least One Year
The couple must generally have been in an exclusive and mutually interdependent relationship for at least one year.
03
Genuine Relationship
The relationship must be genuine and not entered into primarily for the purpose of obtaining permanent residence.
04
Not Married
The couple cannot already qualify under the spouse category as legally married spouses.
05
Not Common-Law
The couple cannot already qualify as common-law partners based on at least 12 consecutive months of qualifying cohabitation.
06
Partner Outside Canada
The person being sponsored in the conjugal partner category must live outside Canada.
A CRITICAL REQUIREMENT
Why Can't You Marry or Live Together?
This is one of the most important questions in a conjugal partner sponsorship case.
The category is designed for couples who would ordinarily be expected to marry or establish common-law status but have been unable to do so because of significant circumstances beyond their reasonable control.
IRCC may consider legal, immigration, social, cultural, religious or other substantial circumstances that prevent marriage or cohabitation.
The specific barrier should be clearly explained and supported by appropriate evidence.
Not Simply a Long-Distance Category
Living in different countries does not by itself establish eligibility as conjugal partners. The reason the couple cannot marry or establish common-law cohabitation is a central part of the case.
Review My CircumstancesPOSSIBLE BARRIERS
Circumstances That May Be Relevant
Every case is assessed individually. The following are examples of circumstances that may be relevant when a couple cannot marry or establish common-law status.
01
Legal Barriers
The laws of a country may prevent the couple from legally marrying or otherwise recognizing their relationship.
02
Immigration Barriers
Immigration or visa restrictions may prevent the couple from living together long enough to establish common-law status.
03
Marital Status Barriers
A partner may remain legally married to another person where divorce is not legally available or cannot reasonably be obtained, preventing the couple from marrying.
04
Same-Sex Relationship Restrictions
Laws or conditions affecting same-sex relationships or same-sex marriage may prevent the couple from marrying or living safely together.
05
Religious or Cultural Barriers
Serious religious, cultural or social circumstances may be relevant where they genuinely prevent the couple from marrying or living together.
06
Risk of Persecution
A relationship may expose one or both partners to serious legal or social consequences in the country where they live.
IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS
Situations That Do Not Automatically Make a Couple Conjugal Partners
The conjugal partner category should not be treated as a substitute for spouse or common-law sponsorship.
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Long-Distance Dating
Maintaining a long-distance relationship does not by itself establish conjugal partner eligibility.
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Choosing Not to Marry
A personal preference not to marry, without a significant barrier preventing marriage or cohabitation, is generally different from the circumstances the conjugal category is intended to address.
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Not Yet Living Together for 12 Months
A couple does not automatically become eligible as conjugal partners simply because they have not yet completed the 12-month common-law period.
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Ordinary Travel Difficulties
The circumstances preventing marriage or cohabitation should be examined carefully rather than assuming ordinary inconvenience is sufficient.
RELATIONSHIP EVIDENCE
Demonstrating a Mutually Interdependent Relationship
IRCC considers whether the relationship reflects a genuine commitment and interdependence similar to a marriage or common-law partnership.
01
Emotional Connection
Evidence may demonstrate a committed, ongoing emotional relationship and the couple's involvement in each other's lives.
02
Time Together
Visits, travel history and other evidence can help show how the couple has maintained and developed the relationship.
03
Financial Connection
Financial support, shared expenses, beneficiary arrangements or other financial connections may demonstrate interdependence.
04
Communication
Communication records can help demonstrate the continuity and development of a relationship maintained across distance.
05
Social Recognition
Where available, evidence showing that family members, friends or others recognize the couple's relationship may be relevant.
06
Future Plans
Evidence of plans for a shared future can help demonstrate the couple's commitment to establishing a life together.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Evidence Should Address Both the Relationship and the Barrier
A conjugal partner application generally needs to explain two connected issues: the genuine nature of the relationship and why the couple has been unable to marry or establish common-law status.
Depending on the circumstances, evidence may include immigration records, visa refusals, legal documents, country information, travel history, correspondence, proof of attempted visits or other documentation relevant to the particular barrier.
The appropriate evidence will vary significantly from one case to another.
Barrier Evidence Matters
A strong relationship alone does not necessarily establish conjugal partner eligibility. The circumstances preventing marriage or cohabitation should also be clearly documented.
Review My EvidenceSPONSOR ELIGIBILITY
Who Can Sponsor a Conjugal Partner?
The sponsor must meet Canada's general spouse and partner sponsorship requirements.
01
At Least 18 Years Old
The sponsor must be at least 18 years old.
02
Eligible Canadian Status
The sponsor must generally be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a person registered in Canada under the Indian Act.
03
Residence Requirements
Permanent residents generally must live in Canada. Canadian citizens living outside Canada may be able to sponsor if they can demonstrate plans to live in Canada when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.
04
Sponsorship Undertaking
The sponsor must accept the applicable financial responsibilities toward the sponsored partner.
05
Previous Sponsorships and Other Restrictions
Previous spousal or partner sponsorships, an existing sponsorship undertaking, certain financial defaults, social assistance, bankruptcy, removal orders or certain criminal convictions may affect eligibility to sponsor.
06
Ability to Provide Basic Needs
The sponsor must agree to provide financial support for the sponsored partner's basic needs during the applicable sponsorship undertaking period.
In particular, a person who became a permanent resident through spousal or partner sponsorship generally cannot sponsor a new spouse or partner until five years have passed, and a sponsor may also be restricted while a previous three-year spousal or partner undertaking remains in effect.
SPONSOR RESPONSIBILITY
Sponsorship Creates an Ongoing Financial Responsibility
Outside Quebec, the sponsorship undertaking for a conjugal partner generally lasts for three years beginning when the sponsored partner becomes a permanent resident.
In most conjugal partner sponsorship cases, there is no standard minimum income requirement. However, the sponsor must still meet the applicable sponsorship eligibility requirements and agree to support the sponsored partner.
Separation after permanent residence is granted does not cancel or shorten the undertaking.
Three-Year Undertaking
The sponsor remains financially responsible during the applicable undertaking period even if the relationship later changes.
Check Sponsor EligibilityAPPLICATION PROCESS
How Conjugal Partner Sponsorship Works
The application requires careful assessment of both the relationship and the circumstances preventing marriage or common-law cohabitation.
1
Confirm the Category
Determine whether the relationship truly fits the conjugal partner category rather than spouse or common-law sponsorship.
2
Assess the Barriers
Identify and document the circumstances preventing marriage or qualifying cohabitation.
3
Prepare Relationship Evidence
Gather documentation showing the genuine, committed and mutually interdependent nature of the relationship.
4
Submit Both Applications
The principal applicant submits the sponsorship application and permanent residence application together online.
5
Complete IRCC Processing
Complete applicable biometrics, medical examinations, background checks and any additional requests made during processing.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Conjugal Partner Sponsorship Is a Narrow Category
The conjugal partner category exists to address genuine relationships where circumstances beyond the couple's reasonable control have prevented marriage or qualifying cohabitation.
It should not automatically be selected simply because a couple lives in different countries or has not yet accumulated 12 months of cohabitation.
Before applying, the relationship history, efforts to spend time together, ability to marry or cohabit and the specific barriers involved should all be reviewed carefully.
Is Conjugal Sponsorship Really the Right Category?
AddPlus Immigration Solutions Inc. can review your relationship history and the barriers you face to help determine whether conjugal partner, common-law or spousal sponsorship is the appropriate pathway.
Contact UsWHEN DISTANCE IS NOT BY CHOICE
Understand Your Path to Being Together in Canada
Tell us about your relationship, where you both live and what has prevented you from marrying or living together, and our team can help you assess the appropriate sponsorship pathway.
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