If you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, you can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, dependent child (including adopted child) or other eligible relative (such as a parent or grandparent) to become a permanent resident.

A common law partner is a person with whom you have been continuously living with in a marital relationship for at least one year. Temporary absences for short periods of time for business travel or family reasons can be tolerated.

A conjugal partner is a person with whom you been in a continuous marital relationship for a minimum of one year but exceptional circumstances beyond your control have prevented you from living together or getting married.

* Note that a Canadian sponsor can sponsor a same sex spouse / common law partner / conjugal partner.