Reunite with your partner despite barriers keeping you apart
On This Page You Will Find:
- The exact definition of conjugal partnership that IRCC officers use for approval decisions
- Complete eligibility requirements for both sponsors and applicants (including income thresholds)
- Step-by-step application process with current fees and processing times
- How to prove your relationship is genuine and avoid "bad faith" refusals
- Your legal right to appeal if your application gets denied
Summary:
Conjugal partner sponsorship offers a lifeline for couples who can't live together due to circumstances beyond their control—whether it's immigration restrictions, same-sex relationship bans, or other legitimate barriers. Unlike common-law partnerships, conjugal relationships don't require cohabitation, but you must prove genuine commitment, financial interdependence, and exclusivity over at least 12 months. This comprehensive guide walks you through every requirement, from sponsor eligibility (including the 3-year financial undertaking) to avoiding common pitfalls that lead to refusal. You'll discover the complete application process, current government fees, and how to build an unshakeable case for your relationship's authenticity.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
- Conjugal partners must live outside Canada and prove they couldn't cohabitate for legitimate reasons (immigration barriers, legal restrictions, etc.)
- Sponsors commit to a 3-year financial undertaking starting when their partner lands in Canada
- You must demonstrate financial dependency, emotional commitment, sexual intimacy, and exclusivity without requiring cohabitation
- Bad faith refusals happen when relationships appear primarily motivated by immigration rather than genuine love
- Appeal rights exist for most refusals, but you have limited time to act after an adverse decision
Suban stared at his phone screen, reading the visa refusal letter for the third time. His partner Mooge couldn't visit Canada, and their secret relationship in Somalia meant marriage wasn't an option. They'd been meeting in European countries for two years, sharing expenses, supporting each other emotionally and financially—but Suban had no idea he could sponsor Mooge as his conjugal partner.
If you're in a similar situation, you're not alone. Thousands of couples face barriers that prevent them from living together or getting married, yet their relationships are as real and committed as any traditional marriage. Canada's conjugal partner sponsorship program exists precisely for these circumstances.
What Exactly Is a Conjugal Partnership?
A conjugal partner is someone who lives outside Canada and maintains a marriage-like relationship with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for at least 12 months. The key difference from common-law partnerships? You don't need to live together.
IRCC officers evaluate four critical factors in every conjugal relationship:
Financial Dependency: Joint bank accounts, shared property ownership, mutual financial support, or one partner supporting the other economically.
Sexual Intimacy: This doesn't mean explicit details, but evidence of a romantic (not platonic) relationship through photos, communications, and personal testimony.
Commitment and Exclusivity: Proof that you're in a monogamous relationship with future plans together, not seeing other people romantically.
Emotional Dependency: Evidence that you rely on each other for emotional support, share life decisions, and function as a couple despite physical separation.
The crucial element that distinguishes conjugal partnerships from common-law relationships is that cohabitation must be impossible due to legitimate circumstances beyond your control. This might include:
- Immigration restrictions preventing one partner from visiting the other's country
- Legal prohibitions against same-sex relationships in certain countries
- Religious or cultural barriers to marriage
- Travel restrictions (like those experienced during COVID-19)
Are You Eligible to Sponsor Your Conjugal Partner?
Before diving into the application process, you need to meet specific sponsor requirements. Here's what IRCC demands:
Basic Eligibility Requirements
You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, and residing in Canada during the sponsorship process. If you're a Canadian citizen living abroad, you can sponsor from outside Canada—but you'll need compelling evidence that you'll return to Canada when your partner becomes a permanent resident.
The 3-Year Financial Undertaking
When you sponsor your conjugal partner, you're signing up for a significant financial commitment. You agree to support them financially for three years from the day they land in Canada as a permanent resident. If they receive social assistance during this period, you'll have to repay the government—even if your relationship ends.
The undertaking extends to any dependent children your partner has, with different time periods based on the child's age at landing:
- Under 15 years old: 10 years from landing
- 15-22 years old: Until they turn 25
- 22 or older: 3 years from landing
Criminal History Restrictions
Certain criminal convictions will disqualify you from sponsoring. These include:
- Domestic violence against current or former family members
- Sexual abuse offenses
- Significant violent crimes
However, exceptions exist. If you received a record suspension in Canada, or if five years have passed since completing your sentence for an offense outside Canada, you might still qualify. Each case is unique, so professional consultation is crucial if you have any criminal history.
Financial and Legal Standing
You cannot sponsor if you're:
- Receiving social assistance (unless due to disability)
- An undischarged bankrupt
- In debt to the federal government
- Subject to a removal order
- Under a five-year sponsorship ban (if you were previously sponsored as a spouse/partner)
- Still bound by a previous undertaking (within three years of your last sponsored partner's landing)
Is Your Partner Eligible for Conjugal Sponsorship?
Your conjugal partner must meet their own set of requirements:
Age and Residence Requirements
They must be at least 18 years old and living outside Canada when you submit the application.
Cohabitation Impossibility
This is crucial: your partner must demonstrate that living together for 12 months was impossible due to legitimate barriers. Simply choosing not to live together because it's more convenient won't qualify you for conjugal sponsorship—that's what common-law partnerships are for.
Admissibility to Canada
Your partner must pass medical examinations and security/criminal background checks. Unlike other immigration categories, conjugal partners aren't inadmissible due to "excessive demand" on Canada's healthcare system.
Avoiding "Bad Faith" Refusals
Immigration officers scrutinize conjugal relationships for authenticity. They'll refuse applications if they believe:
- The relationship's primary purpose is gaining Canadian immigration status
- The relationship isn't genuine
To prove authenticity, compile evidence such as:
- Letters from friends and family confirming your relationship
- Joint financial accounts or shared investments
- Travel records showing visits to each other
- Communication history (emails, texts, call logs)
- Photos together at different times and locations
- Evidence of future planning (shared goals, discussed marriage, etc.)
Including Dependent Children
If your conjugal partner has dependent children, you can include them in the sponsorship application. The children must meet Canada's definition of dependent children (generally under 22 and financially dependent, or over 22 with disabilities that occurred before age 22).
If the applicant's child has their own dependent child (your partner's grandchild), you can include them too—but you'll need to meet minimum income requirements equivalent to 12-month Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) levels.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Here's exactly how to navigate the conjugal partner sponsorship process:
Step 1: Document Collection and Form Completion
Gather all required documents and complete the necessary forms. This typically takes 2-4 months if you're thorough and organized.
Step 2: Pay Government Fees
Current fees (subject to change):
- Processing fees: $550 ($75 for sponsor + $475 for applicant)
- Right of Permanent Residence Fee: $500
- Biometrics fee: $85 (or $170 if including children over 14)
- Additional processing fee per dependent child: $150
Step 3: Submit Your Complete Package
Mail your application to:
By Regular Mail: CPC Sydney P.O. Box 9500 Sydney, NS B1P 0H5
By Courier: CPC Sydney 49 Dorchester Street Sydney, NS B1P 5Z2
Step 4: Initial Processing at CIO
The Central Intake Office in Sydney, Nova Scotia, reviews your application for completeness and assesses sponsor eligibility. This typically takes 2-4 months.
Step 5: Transfer to Local Visa Office
If they approve you as a sponsor, your file transfers to the visa office responsible for your partner's country. They'll usually request medical examinations at this stage.
Step 6: Applicant Assessment
The local visa office evaluates your partner's eligibility. They may request additional documents or conduct interviews with either or both of you. Processing times vary significantly by country—from 8 months to over 2 years.
Step 7: Final Decision and Landing
If approved, your partner receives their permanent resident visa and can travel to Canada to "land" and activate their permanent residence status.
Your Right to Appeal
If your application gets refused, you generally have the right to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD). However, you lose this right under certain circumstances, and you have limited time to file your appeal—typically 30 days from receiving the refusal decision.
Common grounds for refusal include:
- Relationship not considered genuine
- Failure to prove cohabitation was impossible
- Sponsor doesn't meet eligibility requirements
- Applicant inadmissible to Canada
Don't let a refusal discourage you if you believe your case is strong. Many successful appeals overturn initial refusal decisions, especially when couples provide additional evidence or address specific concerns raised by officers.
Building an Unshakeable Case
The strongest conjugal partner applications tell a compelling story supported by concrete evidence. Focus on these areas:
Communication Consistency: Show regular, ongoing communication over the entire relationship period. Officers look for natural patterns—daily texts, weekly video calls, special occasion messages.
Financial Integration: Even without cohabitation, successful couples often share financial responsibilities. Joint savings for visits, one partner supporting the other during hardship, or shared investments in future plans all strengthen your case.
Social Recognition: Evidence that friends, family, and community recognize you as a couple. Social media posts, family event invitations, and letters from people who know your relationship all carry weight.
Future Planning: Concrete plans for your life together in Canada. Job research, housing plans, discussions about children or marriage—anything showing you're building a shared future.
Overcoming Barriers: Clear documentation of why you can't live together or marry. Government policies, legal restrictions, family circumstances—make the barriers obvious and insurmountable.
What Happens After Approval?
Once your conjugal partner lands in Canada, they become a permanent resident immediately. They can work, study, access healthcare, and eventually apply for Canadian citizenship after meeting residency requirements.
Remember your three-year undertaking obligation starts from their landing date. During this period, maintain financial records showing you're supporting them if needed, as the government may audit undertaking compliance.
Your partner will need to meet permanent resident obligations—spending at least 730 days in Canada during every five-year period to maintain their status.
Conclusion
Conjugal partner sponsorship offers hope for couples facing genuine barriers to traditional relationships. While the process demands patience, thorough documentation, and often professional guidance, thousands of couples successfully reunite in Canada through this program each year.
The key to success lies in understanding that immigration officers need to see authentic relationships that would be marriages or common-law partnerships if circumstances allowed. Focus on building a comprehensive case that demonstrates genuine commitment, addresses the barriers preventing cohabitation, and shows concrete plans for your future together in Canada.
If you're considering this path, start documenting your relationship now—even before you apply. The stronger your evidence of an ongoing, committed partnership, the better your chances of approval and the sooner you'll be together in Canada.
FAQ
Q: How long does the conjugal partner sponsorship process actually take in 2025?
The total processing time for conjugal partner sponsorship typically ranges from 12 to 24 months, but varies significantly by country. The process happens in two stages: first, the Central Intake Office in Sydney, Nova Scotia reviews your sponsor eligibility (2-4 months), then your file transfers to the local visa office handling your partner's country. Popular destinations like the Philippines or India often experience longer delays (18-24 months), while European countries may process faster (8-12 months). COVID-19 continues to impact some offices, causing additional delays. You can check current processing times on IRCC's website, but these are estimates—complex cases or requests for additional documentation can extend timelines considerably.
Q: What's the minimum income requirement for sponsoring a conjugal partner in 2025?
Unlike other family sponsorship categories, conjugal partner sponsorship has no minimum income requirement unless you're including dependent children who have their own children (your partner's grandchildren). However, you cannot be receiving social assistance (except for disability-related support) and must demonstrate ability to fulfill your 3-year financial undertaking. If including grandchildren, you must meet the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for 12 consecutive months before applying. For a family of two (you and your partner), LICO is approximately $22,324 annually, increasing with additional dependents. Remember, you're legally obligated to repay any social assistance your partner receives during the 3-year undertaking period, even if your relationship ends.
Q: What evidence proves that cohabitation was impossible for conjugal partners?
You must provide concrete documentation showing legitimate barriers prevented living together for 12 months. Strong evidence includes: immigration refusal letters or visa denials, government policies restricting same-sex relationships in your partner's country, travel bans or restrictions (like COVID-19 measures), religious or cultural prohibitions against unmarried cohabitation, or legal barriers to marriage. Simply stating "it was inconvenient" or "we preferred long-distance" won't qualify you. Include official government documents, legal statutes, embassy correspondence, or expert letters explaining the barriers. IRCC officers need to see that cohabitation was genuinely impossible, not just difficult or undesirable. Without compelling proof of insurmountable barriers, your application will likely be refused, as officers will question why you didn't pursue common-law partnership instead.
Q: Can I sponsor my conjugal partner if I'm living outside Canada as a Canadian citizen?
Yes, Canadian citizens can sponsor conjugal partners while living abroad, but you must prove your intention to return to Canada when your partner becomes a permanent resident. Required evidence includes: job applications or employment offers in Canada, property ownership or lease agreements, family ties requiring your return, school enrollment for children, or detailed settlement plans. You cannot sponsor from outside Canada if you're a permanent resident (not citizen) unless you're accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse abroad. The challenge lies in convincing officers that you'll actually return—many applications get refused because sponsors can't demonstrate genuine return intentions. Start building your return plan early with concrete steps like job searches, housing arrangements, and maintaining Canadian connections throughout the sponsorship process.
Q: What happens if my conjugal partner sponsorship application gets refused?
Most refusals can be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) within 30 days of receiving the decision, but you lose appeal rights if your partner was found inadmissible for serious criminality, security reasons, or human rights violations. Common refusal reasons include: relationship not considered genuine, failure to prove cohabitation was impossible, or sponsor ineligibility. During appeals, you can present new evidence and testimony to address officers' concerns. Appeals typically take 12-18 months but have reasonable success rates when couples provide compelling additional evidence. Alternatively, you might reapply with stronger documentation addressing the refusal reasons. Don't ignore refusal letters—they contain specific concerns you must address. Consider professional legal assistance for appeals, as procedural mistakes can result in losing your case entirely.
Q: How do I prove my conjugal relationship is genuine and not just for immigration purposes?
IRCC officers look for evidence of financial dependency, emotional commitment, sexual intimacy, and exclusivity spanning your entire relationship. Strong proof includes: joint bank accounts or financial support documentation, regular communication records (emails, texts, call logs) showing natural relationship progression, photos together at different times and locations, travel records of visits, letters from friends and family confirming your relationship, shared future planning (marriage discussions, housing plans, career decisions), and evidence of monogamous commitment. Avoid obviously staged evidence like sudden joint accounts right before applying. Officers are trained to spot "relationships of convenience"—they want to see organic relationship development over time. Include both partners' perspectives through personal statements explaining how you met, relationship milestones, and future goals. The key is demonstrating that your relationship would naturally progress to marriage or common-law status if barriers didn't exist.
Q: What are the total costs for conjugal partner sponsorship in 2025, including hidden fees?
Government fees total approximately $1,185-$1,355 per application: $75 sponsor fee, $475 applicant processing fee, $500 Right of Permanent Residence Fee, $85-$170 biometrics (depending on family size), and $150 per dependent child. However, budget for additional costs: medical examinations ($200-$500 per person), document translation and certification ($20-$100 per document), police clearances from multiple countries ($25-$200 each), courier fees for document submission ($25-$50), and potential travel costs for interviews. Many couples also invest in professional assistance ($2,000-$5,000) given the complexity and high refusal rates. If refused, appeal costs include $800 filing fee plus potential legal representation ($3,000-$10,000). Plan for $3,000-$8,000 total investment for straightforward cases, more for complex situations requiring professional help or appeals.
