Proving Genuine Relationships for Canadian Permanent Residence Sponsorship

To sponsor your loved one for Canadian permanent residence (PR), you must satisfy the immigration officer reviewing your case that your relationship is genuine.

Proving the authenticity of your relationship involves providing various types of evidence and supporting documentation in your sponsorship application, and potentially during an interview.

The strength of your application relies on the amount and quality of documentation provided. The specific type of evidence required may vary depending on whether you are sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner.

Relationship Types Defined by IRCC

• Spouses: Legally married individuals, with the marriage recognized in Canada and the country where it occurred. Both parties must have been physically present at the ceremony.
• Common-law partners: Unmarried couples living together in a marriage-like relationship for at least 12 consecutive months, without significant periods of separation.
• Conjugal partners: Couples who have maintained a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months but face barriers preventing them from living together or marrying, with the sponsored person residing outside Canada.

Only Canadian citizens or permanent residents are eligible to sponsor their spouse or partner for Canadian immigration.

Documentation Requirements

For spousal and common-law partnerships, IRCC mandates providing at least two of the following documents as proof of a genuine relationship if you are living together at the time of application:

• Shared ownership of a residential property
• Joint leases or rental agreements
• Bills for shared utility accounts or joint financial accounts
• Car insurance with both partners listed