For unmarried couples, the Canadian immigration system offers a direct pathway to permanent residency through Common-Law Sponsorship. However, without a marriage certificate, the burden of proving the relationship falls heavily on documenting your shared life. Our Vancouver lawyers help couples structure ironclad applications.
To qualify as common-law partners under IRCC rules, you must have lived together continuously for at least one full year (12 consecutive months). Brief separations for work or family reasons may be acceptable, but you must demonstrate that you have established a single household. We help audit your timeline to ensure it meets legal definitions.
IRCC officers evaluate your relationship's authenticity through financial interdependence, social recognition, and shared responsibilities. We help you gather and present compelling evidence, including joint lease agreements, shared bank accounts, utility bills, and statutory declarations from family and friends.
Many couples do not keep perfect records of their early cohabitation. If you lack joint bills or a formal lease from the beginning of your relationship, we can build alternative evidentiary packages—using sworn affidavits, mail records, and communication logs—to satisfy the officer's requirements.
General information for Vancouver applicants — not legal advice. Outcomes depend on facts and current IRCC or IRB policy.
For immigration purposes, a common-law relationship means you and your partner have cohabited in a marriage-like relationship for at least one continuous year. This involves physical cohabitation, financial interdependence, and an emotional commitment.
While British Columbia recognizes common-law relationships under provincial family law after certain periods, IRCC relies on its own federal definition. You do not need a provincial registry certificate, but you must sign a Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409) as part of your application.
If you have already established a common-law relationship by living together for one continuous year, a subsequent temporary separation (e.g., for work or study) does not necessarily dissolve the relationship, provided you maintain an intention to reunite. However, proving the initial year of cohabitation remains mandatory.
No. IRCC processes both common-law and married spousal sponsorship applications under the same Family Class timelines. Assuming the application is complete, processing typically takes around 12 months.
Share your timeline and goals on our consultation page — we will outline practical next steps for your immigration strategy in BC.
Immigration consultation — Vancouver