Common-Law Sponsorship Canada, How to Sponsor Without Being Married

No pre-declaration is required. However, if you have previously applied for immigration benefits (visitor visas, study permits, etc.) and failed to disclose an existing common-law relationship when asked, this may raise credibility concerns. Consistency across all applications matters.

Yes. Canadian immigration law explicitly includes same-sex partners. The definition of common-law partner in IRPR applies equally regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

Brief separations for travel, work assignments, or family emergencies do not automatically break the cohabitation requirement, but they must be explained. Extended separations (months apart) are more problematic. Document the reason for any gap and provide evidence that the relationship continued during the separation (messages, flights, visits).

Yes. Both Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are at least 18 years old can sponsor a common-law partner. Permanent residents must be residing in Canada to sponsor (with limited exceptions).

Yes. Sponsors sign a sponsorship undertaking promising to provide for the sponsored partner's basic needs. Outside Quebec, the undertaking for a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner is generally 3 years from the day the person becomes a permanent resident. The sponsor agrees the partner will not need to rely on social assistance during that period, and if the partner does receive social assistance the sponsor may have to repay it. Quebec sets its own undertaking length, so confirm the Quebec figure on IRCC or with the Quebec immigration ministry if you live there.

In most cases, no. For a straightforward common-law partner, spouse, or conjugal partner application there is generally no minimum necessary income (LICO) test. The main exception is if the partner you are sponsoring has a dependent child who has their own child; in that case an income requirement can apply and a Financial Evaluation form may be needed. The LICO income test mainly applies to sponsoring parents and grandparents. Always confirm the current rule on IRCC, because requirements can change.

Generally not right away. Under IRPR s.130(3), a person who was sponsored as a spouse or partner usually cannot sponsor a new spouse or partner until 5 years after they became a permanent resident (the "5-year sponsorship bar"). This rule is designed to discourage relationships entered into mainly to gain status. Confirm how it applies to your situation on IRCC or with a licensed professional.

IRCC publishes a service standard and current processing-time estimates that change over time, so check the IRCC processing-times tool for an up-to-date figure rather than relying on a fixed number. On fees, biometrics are $85 per person (to a family maximum of $170) as of December 1, 2025; the sponsorship and permanent residence application fees are set separately and change periodically, so confirm the current amounts on IRCC before you pay. An officer, not this guide, decides each application.

Not automatically. IRCC accepts that couples who genuinely live together sometimes spend short periods apart for work, study, or family reasons. The key is that you maintained a shared home and the relationship continued. Short, explained absences are generally fine; long or unexplained periods living apart are more likely to be questioned. Keep evidence (messages, travel records, a consistent shared address) covering any gap so an officer can see cohabitation continued.