Whether you've lived together for 12+ months or barriers have kept you apart, our immigration lawyers will guide you through the right sponsorship pathway — built to avoid refusals and reunite you in Canada.
SERVICES
If you and your partner have lived together continuously for at least 12 months in a marriage-like relationship, you may qualify to sponsor them for Canadian permanent residence. We build the documentary case IRCC expects — without the gaps that lead to refusal.
Reserved for couples who can't live together or marry due to immigration, religious, or legal barriers beyond their control. It's the hardest category to prove — and the one most often refused without proper legal support. We know how to make the case.
If your partner is already in Canada, they may be eligible for an open work permit (SOWP) while the sponsorship application is processed — allowing them to work for almost any employer while waiting for permanent residence.
Canada recognizes three types of partner sponsorship: spouse, common-law, and conjugal. Choosing the wrong category is one of the most common reasons applications are returned or refused — so the first step is identifying where your relationship actually fits.
Common-law partners have lived together continuously for at least 12 consecutive months in a marriage-like relationship. Short, temporary absences (work travel, family obligations) don't break continuity — but long separations or breaks in the relationship do.
Conjugal partners are couples who have been in a committed relationship for at least one year but cannot live together or marry due to barriers beyond their control — such as immigration restrictions, religious or legal prohibitions, or persecution based on sexual orientation. This category requires strong evidence of both the relationship and the barrier.
With over 23 years of experience and thousands of successful sponsorship cases, Canadim has handled the full range of common-law and conjugal sponsorships — including same-sex couples, long-distance relationships, applications from countries where the relationship faces legal barriers, and complex evidentiary cases.
The most common reason these applications are refused is insufficient or poorly organized proof of a genuine relationship. Our immigration lawyers build your file the way visa officers want to see it: a complete documentary timeline, sworn declarations where evidence is thin, and a strategy chosen for your specific situation. Same-business-day reply, every time.
"I am so happy that we chose Canadim. Our case manager Jasmine is absolutely terrific. My husband was immigrating to QC and it's a very long application. Jasmine always had fast responses to all our questions over a two-year process (QC is longer). The process is stressful and grueling but they helped every step of the way making it less stressful. Worth every penny."
"I highly recommend this company! If you're looking for a serious and professional law firm, I strongly recommend CANADIM. A big thank you and shoutout to Jasmine! Any immigration process can feel overwhelming, so it's important to choose a team that makes you feel supported, valued, and at ease. CANADIM did exactly that for me."
"I had a fantastic experience working with Canadim Law Firm. From the beginning, the communication was clear, professional, and supportive. Nadia was particularly helpful — always responsive, kind, and knowledgeable throughout the process. I felt confident every step of the way thanks to their guidance. I would highly recommend Canadim to anyone navigating immigration pathways in Canada."
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You qualify as common-law partners if you've lived together continuously for at least 12 consecutive months in a marriage-like relationship. The relationship can be same-sex or opposite-sex, and you'll need to show shared finances, a shared home, and that you present yourselves publicly as a couple.
Short, temporary absences — like business trips, school terms, or family obligations — generally don't break continuity, as long as the relationship itself stayed intact. Longer separations, or any break-up during the 12 months, will reset the clock. If your situation is borderline, this is exactly the kind of case where having a lawyer review the timeline matters.
Common-law: You've lived together for 12+ months.
Conjugal: You've been in a committed relationship for at least a year but cannot live together because of barriers beyond your control — immigration restrictions, marriage laws that don't recognize your relationship, or persecution risk in your partner's country. Conjugal is the harder category to prove because you must document both the relationship and the obstacle.
Not directly. Canada does not have a "dating" or "fiancé" visa. To sponsor your partner, your relationship must qualify as a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner under Canadian immigration law. If you've lived together for under a year and aren't married, you generally won't qualify yet — though there are strategies to bring your partner to Canada temporarily while you build toward eligibility.
IRCC looks for a paper trail showing you've built a life together: a shared lease or mortgage, joint bank accounts, utility bills with both names, shared insurance or beneficiary designations, government IDs with the same address, photos over time, and letters from family and friends recognizing the relationship. The stronger and more varied the evidence, the better your chances. Weak or thin documentation is the #1 cause of refusal in this category.
On average, IRCC processes spousal and common-law sponsorship applications in around 12 months — though times vary by visa office and the completeness of the file. Quebec destinations typically take longer due to the additional provincial approval step. Conjugal cases can also take longer because of the additional evidence required.
Often, yes. If your partner is in Canada with valid temporary status, they may be eligible for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) once the application is acknowledged — usually 4 to 5 months after submission. This lets them work for almost any Canadian employer while waiting for permanent residence.
Generally, no. Unlike parent or grandparent sponsorship, there is no Minimum Necessary Income for sponsoring a common-law or conjugal partner. You must, however, sign a three-year undertaking promising to support your partner's basic needs and confirming they won't need to rely on social assistance.
Every relationship is different — and the right pathway depends on your timeline, your circumstances, and the evidence you can provide. Our immigration lawyers will assess your case and recommend the strongest application strategy.
Schedule a free confidential consultation — same business day response.