Difference between a spouse, a conjugal partner, and a common-law partner?
When looking for information about Canadian funding for you or your partner, you may come across different ways to describe a relationship. The government lets you bring a love partner to Canada if you are a spouse, a conjugal partner, or a common-law partner.
Who Can Be a Spouse?
When both people, whether they are the same or different genders, are legally married in the country where the marriage took place or in Canada.
It’s important to remember that IRCC doesn’t accept marriages that took place outside of Canada where one or both people weren’t there. This includes rituals that were held by proxy, like online or over the phone. The only time this job doesn’t apply is when someone gets married to a member of the Canadian Forces.
What documents do I need if I want to sponsor my spouse?
Who can be a common-law partner?
It is someone you have lived with for more than a year but are not married to. For immigration reasons, your partner can be of the same or different gender as you. You must also show that two people are very committed to each other.
How to show that you are in a common-law marriage?
You must show proof that you and your partner were:
What proof do I need to show that I am in a common-law relationship?
When you apply, you need to show proof of your common-law relationship with at least two of the following:
If you can’t give the above papers, you need to find other ways to show your relationship and give them. Give signed statements or letters from family and friends that explain how you became a common-law couple. The visa officer will decide whether or not to accept your common-law papers, but the more proof you can give, the better your chances of being accepted.
Who can be a “conjugal partner”?
A conjugal partner is someone who lives outside of Canada and with whom you have been in a serious, romantic relationship for at least a year, but you can’t live together because of big problems. This could be because of things they can’t change, like a barrier to immigrants, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation, among other things.
In some situations, they also can’t formally get married to their sponsor and become a spouse. In every other way, this group is the same as a common-law partner or a husband, because they have been in a bona fide (real or true) marriage for at least a year.
For example, if you can’t marry or live with your partner because you lived in a country, this is called a conjugal relationship.
How to show that you are married
If a Canadian citizen or permanent resident wants to sponsor their partner to come to Canada as their spouse, they must show proof:
When there are no formal records to show that you are married
If there is no formal proof or a specific event that shows your commitment to your partner, this is true for both married and common-law relationships. In these situations, you must show the immigration officers proof of strong emotional and social links that show you are in a serious, committed relationship and plan to stay with your partner for a long time.
When thinking about bringing a partner with you to Canada, it’s important to understand these different words. Because each group has its own set of rules, it’s important to know which one you fall into before you apply.
It’s also important to remember that the papers you have to give and how the process goes for you will depend on a lot of other things. If you still have questions, you can read our page about sponsoring a spouse to find out more.
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