Updated on December 9, 2025 by canadian immigration experts
Canada wants families to stay together, so they have rules for people who want to bring their husbands, wives, or partners to live with them. This process is called spousal or partner sponsorship. But before someone can bring their partner to Canada, the government checks if their relationship is real.
Why IRCC Checks the Relationship
The government does this because sometimes people pretend to be in a real relationship when they’re not. They might do this to become a permanent resident in Canada. But this can be a problem, especially if the person who lives in Canada really thinks their relationship is true. It can be hard for them emotionally and financially. They have to promise to help their partner with money for three years if their partner becomes a permanent resident, even if they break up.
Sometimes, people from Canada might also pretend to be in a relationship with someone from another country just to get money from them.
So, the government looks at everything carefully to see if the relationship is real. They want to make sure people aren’t just trying to get something by pretending.
This is important because it can be tough for the person who lives in Canada if their partner is not being honest. They might think everything is real, but it’s not. They might have to help their partner for a long time, even if the relationship isn’t true.
Meeting With an Officer
To show that their relationship is real, couples who want to bring their partner to Canada need to provide certain documents when they apply. If an immigration officer wants more proof that the relationship is real, they might call the couple for a meeting at an office of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). During this meeting, both the person sponsoring their partner and the person who wants to come to Canada may be asked questions separately.
If the immigration officer is not convinced that the relationship is real, the person who wants to come to Canada won’t be able to get sponsorship.
Proving the Relationship is Real
When applying for sponsorship, all couples, including those who are the same sex, need to give documents that prove their relationship is real. The papers needed depend on whether the couple is legally married or living together without being married.
How To Prove The Relationship Is Real
Couples Who Are Married
For couples who are married, they need these important papers:
- A form called “Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation Questionnaire” (IMM 5532), which comes with the application.
- A paper that shows they got married.
- Proof that their marriage is officially registered with the government.
- Proof that they’re divorced if they were married before to someone else.
- If they have kids together, papers that show the kids’ births or adoption records, with both parents’ names.
- Pictures and things from their wedding.
Couples Who Aren’t Married
If a couple isn’t married but has lived together for at least a year, they need to give similar papers as married couples, except for the wedding pictures. They also need to give:
- Papers that show they help each other with money.
- Other proof that their friends and family know about their relationship, like letters from them or proof they’re friends on social media.
Both married and unmarried couples also need to give at least two of these kinds of papers:
- Papers that show they own a house together.
- A paper that shows they both live in a rented place.
- Papers that show they share bills or expenses, like electricity or credit card bills.
- Papers that show they both use the same address on their driver’s licenses or other government papers.
- Other papers that show they both live at the same place, even if they’re not in both of their names, like phone bills, pay stubs, tax papers, or bank statements.
If they can’t give at least two of these kinds of papers, they need to write a good explanation.
Proving They Live Together
To show they’ve lived together as a couple in Canada, couples can give papers like:
- Papers that show they have a bank account or credit card together.
- Papers that show they own a house together.
- Copies of papers that show they both live in a rented place.
- Papers that show they both pay for things like electricity or gas.
- Papers that show they both take care of their household expenses together.
- Proof that they’ve bought things together for their home.
- Letters or papers that show they both get mail at the same address.
- Papers like IDs or driver’s licenses that show they both live at the same place.
- Proof that they share responsibilities for things at home, like chores.
- Records of their phone calls.
If the couple doesn’t live together in Canada, they need to show proof that they lived together for at least a year in the past. They can do this by giving:
- Proof that they talked with each other using letters, printed text messages, emails, or social media. They can show up to 10 pages of this.
- Proof that the Canadian person visited the other person in their home country. They can show things like flight tickets, passport copies with entry stamps, or boarding passes. If they didn’t visit, the person who wants to move to Canada needs to explain this in the form called “Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation Questionnaire” (IMM 5532), in part C, question 4.
Conclusion
So, the process of spousal sponsorship in Canada needs many papers and proof to show that the relationship is real. This careful checking is important to keep the immigration system fair and to help real couples and families stay together. Jane Katkova and Associates are here to help you navigate through this process and lift the paper burden off your shoulders. Book a consultation now to bring your loved one closer
