An individual who is 18 years or older and who is married to a person who is not permanent resident or citizen of Canada, can sponsor their spouse to become a permanent resident of Canada.
The sponsoring spouse and the sponsored spouse sign a sponsorship agreement under which the sponsoring spouse promises to provide financial support for the sponsored spouse for three years from the date on which the sponsored spouse becomes a permanent resident.
The sponsored spouse’s permanent residency is contingent on two conditions:
- 5-year ban on sponsoring a new spouse, common-law or conjugal partner; and,
- the parties being in a conjugal relationship for two years following the acquisition of the permanent residency status.
There are two exceptions to the two year conjugal relationship requirement:
- death of the sponsoring spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner; or,
- the end of the conjugal relationship due to abuse or neglect.