IRCC states that a conjugal partner (IRCC, Who you can sponsor):
- • "isn’t legally married to you or in a common-law relationship with you"
- • "is at least 18 years old"
- • "can be any gender"
- • "has been in an exclusive and mutually interdependent relationship with you for at least 1 year". "This means that you've shared your lives in different ways, including physically, emotionally, financially and socially."
- • "is in a genuine relationship with you, not only for the purpose of getting permanent resident status"
- • "lives outside Canada"
- • "must not be inadmissible to Canada"
Why You Can’t Live Together or Marry
IRCC states that a conjugal partner "may not be able to live with you in their country of residence or marry you because of legal, immigration, social, cultural, religious or other reasons, such as" (IRCC, Who you can sponsor):
- • "their marital status (for example, they’re still married to someone else in a country where divorce isn’t possible)"
- • "their sexual orientation (for example, you’re in a same-sex relationship, and same-sex relationships aren’t accepted, or same-sex marriage is illegal where they live)"
- • "persecution (for example, your relationship is between different religious groups, which isn’t accepted, and they may be punished legally or socially)"
If you are married, see spousal sponsorship. If you have lived together for 12 consecutive months, see common-law sponsorship.
Quick Facts
- Relationship:"for at least 1 year"
- Income requirement:"In most cases, there isn’t an income requirement"
- Partner lives:"outside Canada"
- Appeal:IRPA s. 63(1)
- Processing times are published by IRCC and updated regularly.
Related Pathways
Before filing, a consultation can confirm whether conjugal, common-law or spousal sponsorship fits your relationship.
Schedule your consultationA consultation is required for case-specific advice.