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Last verified: June 2026 · Source: justice.gc.ca← Back to Law Explorer
IRPRPART 1 Interpretation and ApplicationDIVISION 2 Family Relationships
r.4

Bad faith

🍁 In Simple Terms

A marriage, common-law partnership, or conjugal partnership will not be recognized for immigration purposes if it was entered into mainly to gain immigration status, or if it simply isn't genuine. The same rule applies to adoptions, if the adoption was done primarily to give the child immigration status rather than to create a real parent-child relationship, it won't be recognized.

Affects: Foreign nationals and permanent residents in Canada
Legal Text: IRPR Regulation 4

(1)For the purposes of these Regulations, a foreign national shall not be considered a spouse, a common-law partner or a conjugal partner of a person if the marriage, common-law partnership or conjugal partnership (a)was entered into primarily for the purpose of acquiring any status or privilege under the Act; or (b)is not genuine.

Adopted children

(2)A foreign national shall not be considered an adopted child of a person if the adoption (a)was entered into primarily for the purpose of acquiring any status or privilege under the Act; or (b)did not create a genuine parent-child relationship.

Cross-References
In Practice
Official Source: Justice Canada: IRPR r. 4 (authoritative, may differ from this display)
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