Common-Law partner Canada - Can I sponsor my girlfriend/boyfriend to Canada?

The Canadian government allows you (the Canadian) to sponsor your better half even if you are not married. So technically a marriage license is not required, and as long as you qualify as a common-law partner, you can sponsor them to Canada.

Who can be a common-law partner?

If you have not lived with your girlfriend or boyfriend during this past year (continuously) then you are not considered common-law partners, hence it is not possible to sponsor them for a PR and work permit. If you are in Canada and your boyfriend or girlfriend is overseas, then you can only issue an invitation letter to them to apply for a visitor visa.

Take note that the Canadian embassy does not recognize any casual relationship as grounds to issue a visitor visa or any type of ‘family reunification’. This invitation would be considered as if you extended an invitation for a friend. Therefore, the chances of approval will not be especially high. 

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How can I bring my girlfriend/boyfriend to Canada?

If your girlfriend or boyfriend are from visa-exempt countries such as Europe, the US, Chile, Mexico, Japan, Israel, or similar countries, then all they need to do is apply for an electronic Travel authorization (also known as eTA).  For Brazilians who hold valid US visas, it is also possible to apply for an eTA to travel to Canada.

Bring them in, live with them for 1 year continuously (while renewing their visitor status in Canada), and then apply to sponsor them from inside the country as a common-law partner.

In other words, if you have a girlfriend or boyfriend overseas, there is not much you can do for them. What you can consider is:

• apply for a visitor visa to live with them inside Canada (in order to be recognized as common-law partners)
• travel overseas to live with them (to become common-law partners)
• travel overseas to get married and apply to sponsor them as your spouse.

Otherwise, you can only apply for a regular visitor visa – with no special treatment by the Canadian embassy to process their applications for them to come and visit you in Canada.

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How do you prove a common-law relationship in Canada?

What do you need to prove to the government that you are common-law partners before you apply to sponsor them? As you all know, the Canadian government allows for spousal sponsorship, conjugal partners, and common-law partner sponsorships.

To prove that you are common-law partners, you will need to live or cohabit continuously for a minimum of 12 months together in one location until the date of your application and continue to live together throughout the application processing period. This means you can’t apply if you lived with your partner 2 years ago for 12 months or if you stop living together halfway through your application process as common-law partners.

The list below is not exhaustive and should not be considered a document checklist to prepare your application. There are many other documents you can prepare to make it a solid application. This article is just to give you a general idea of the concept of common-law sponsorship and what it means to be just in a relationship as a girlfriend or boyfriend in the eyes of the Canadian immigration department.

1. government IDs: such as driver’s licenses, or other IDs which indicate your residential addresses (this is to prove you are staying at the same address)
2. utility bills that are to the same address. So it could be that you have your mobile bill and the electricity under your name, but the same address. Your partner has the gas bill or other bills under their name but all going to the same address because you live together
3. lease agreement being under both of your names. So, if you are renting an apartment, house, or unit, you need to have both of your names on the lease as co-habiting tenants
4. joint bank accounts would be very helpful and useful to prove that you share expenses and financial resources
5. remember to change your statuses on your social media as the government can check this as well, and have photos of you together regularly posted on your social media
6. having life insurance in the name of your partner is also very helpful (but not mandatory).
7. proof of your relationship origins: how did you meet? Do you have photos of your relationship developing before you became common-law partners? Photos always help especially if they are time stamped
8. trips together with your partner: this can also help tremendously (airplane tickets, hotel bookings under both of your names together, photos, attending events)
9. letters from both sides of your family proving that they are aware of the relationship since X date/year and are supportive. Obviously, not all family members will be supportive but even a few from either side can help

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Why should you choose INGWE to bring your loved ones with you to Canada?

Our team in Canada speaks over +8 languages and we are licensed to help applicants like yourself and families to apply for immigration purposes. We have $1 million liability insurance which protects you and us from mistakes or fraud as well as a dedicated client trust account which is also covered by this insurance.

We help applicants from over +47 countries. Unlike other immigration companies which may only handle applicants from their own home countries only – we help everyone from everywhere. If you require assistance in sponsoring any family members, or common-law partners we are happy to help.

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