Common-Law Partner Sponsorship

What is a Common-Law Relationship?

IRCC states that a common-law partner (IRCC, Who you can sponsor):

• • "is not legally married to you"
• • "is at least 18 years old"
• • "can be any gender"
• • "is in a genuine relationship with you, not only for the purpose of getting permanent resident status"
• • "has lived with you for at least 12 consecutive months, meaning" "you’ve lived together continuously for 1 year in a conjugal relationship, without any long periods apart"
• • "must not be inadmissible to Canada"

If you are married, see spousal sponsorship. If you have not lived together, see conjugal partner sponsorship.

Sponsor Eligibility

To sponsor a spouse, partner or child, IRCC lists that you (IRCC, Check if you’re eligible):

• • "are at least 18 years old"
• • "are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada under the Canadian Indian Act"
• • "live in Canada"

IRCC states: "In most cases, there isn’t an income requirement to sponsor your spouse, partner or dependent child." (IRCC, Check if you’re eligible) The full list of reasons you may not be eligible is on our spousal sponsorship page.

Eligibility Points to Check

• • IRCC: the partner "has lived with you for at least 12 consecutive months" (IRCC, Who you can sponsor)
• • IRCC: you may not be eligible if you "were sponsored by a spouse or partner and you became a permanent resident less than 5 years ago" (IRCC, Check if you’re eligible)
• • IRCC: the partner "must not be inadmissible to Canada" (IRCC, Who you can sponsor). See inadmissibility.