Canadian Spousal Sponsorship After a Short Marriage: What You Need to Know

If you're wondering about sponsoring a spouse after a short marriage, you're not alone. Many couples find themselves in this situation—whether due to a whirlwind romance, international circumstances, or time spent apart during immigration processes.

But short marriages can raise red flags for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This post explains what you need to know before applying for Canadian Spousal Sponsorship in these cases, especially around proving the legitimacy of your relationship.

 

Why Short Marriages Get Extra Scrutiny in Spousal Sponsorship Cases

IRCC’s primary concern with Canadian Spousal Sponsorship is ensuring that relationships are genuine and not entered into for immigration purposes.

Unfortunately, short marriages are often linked to fraudulent sponsorships, where one person enters a marriage just to gain permanent residency in Canada. To guard against this, IRCC looks more closely at the details of the relationship when the marriage is recent—usually less than 2 years.

This doesn’t mean your sponsorship will be denied, but it does mean you need strong proof of relationship and a clear, well-documented application.

 

Are You Eligible for Canadian Spousal Sponsorship After a Short Marriage?

Yes, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor a spouse even if they’ve been married for a short time. However, there are a few rules to be aware of:

• You must be at least 18 years old
• You must not be receiving social assistance (except for disability)
• You must demonstrate the ability to financially support your spouse
• You must not have sponsored a spouse within the last 5 years
• You cannot be in a previous sponsorship default (e.g., didn’t fulfill financial obligations to a previously sponsored spouse)

Even after a short marriage, if you meet these conditions, you are eligible to apply.

 

What Counts as a “Short” Marriage for Canadian Spousal Sponsorship?

There is no official cutoff, but generally, IRCC flags relationships that are under 2 years and especially those under 1 year as requiring closer review.

If your marriage is very recent—say, a few months—expect to provide detailed documentation of your relationship history and reasons for quick marriage.

 

Key Documentation for a Short Marriage in Sposual Sponsorship Cases

When applying to sponsor your spouse, especially after a recent marriage, your proof of relationship becomes even more important. Here’s what to include:

1. Detailed Relationship Timeline

Provide a written explanation of how your relationship began, how it developed, and why you got married. Include key dates like:

• When you met
• When you started dating
• When you met in person (if applicable)
• When and why you decided to marry

 

2. Evidence of Ongoing Contact

Since your marriage is new, IRCC will want to see that it’s not just a “paper” marriage. Show that your relationship is continuing through:

• Text messages
• Phone logs
• Video call screenshots
• Travel records to visit one another

 

3. Photos and Social Media Proof

Pictures of your wedding, events with family and friends, and daily life together help show that your relationship is real. If you’re active on social media, include posts where you refer to each other as spouses or celebrate milestones together.

 

4. Letters from Friends and Family

Ask people close to you to write letters explaining how they know about your relationship and why they believe it's genuine. Ideally, they should mention witnessing your time together.

 

5. Shared Finances and Living Arrangements

If you're already living together, include:

• Lease or mortgage documents with both names
• Utility bills at the same address
• Joint bank accounts
• Shared subscriptions or memberships

If you're living apart, explain why (such as visa issues or work commitments) and include plans to live together in Canada.

 

Conditional Permanent Residency (CPR): Does It Still Apply?

Between 2012 and 2017, newcomers who were sponsored through short marriages were issued conditional permanent residence. They had to live with their sponsor for at least two years or risk losing status.

That rule was repealed in 2017. Now, once your spouse receives permanent residence, their status is not conditional, even after a short marriage. However, IRCC still evaluates each application carefully and can revoke PR status if they discover fraud.

 

What If You Divorce Shortly After Spousal Sponsorship?

If a marriage ends soon after your spouse gets permanent residency, IRCC may investigate whether the relationship was real.

As a sponsor, you remain financially responsible for your spouse for 3 years, even if the relationship ends. This means if your spouse uses social assistance during that time, the government could ask you to repay those costs.

If you're concerned that your partner may have used the relationship to immigrate fraudulently, consult an immigration lawyer immediately.

 

How to Strengthen a Spousal Sponsorship When a Short Marriage is a Factor

Short marriages don’t automatically mean your application will be rejected. Many real couples meet and marry quickly and go on to have successful sponsorships. Here's how to improve your chances:

• Be transparent about how your relationship developed and why you married quickly.
• Include as much evidence as possible from before and after the wedding.
• Explain delays or gaps in communication, especially if you were living apart.
• Stay consistent in all forms and documents. Inconsistencies can trigger red flags.
• Work with an immigration professional who can help review your application for completeness and clarity.

 

Spousal Sponsorship After a Short Marriage - Additional Support

Sponsoring a spouse after a short marriage is absolutely possible, but it requires extra care and strong documentation. IRCC will be looking closely at your relationship to ensure it’s genuine. The more evidence you provide to tell your love story clearly and truthfully, the better your chances of approval. Whether you're preparing your application or unsure how to start gathering proof, having expert support can save you time, stress, and even prevent a refusal.

 

How can we help?

Book a strategy session today to get personalized help with your spousal sponsorship application:  https://sisulegal.com/pages/booking-immigration-law-windsor-troy

 

Prefer to learn at your own pace?

Explore our trusted informational immigration legal products—designed to help you navigate the sponsorship process on your own: https://sisulegal.com/collections/immigration-legal-resources

You don’t have to go through this alone—we’re here to help, every step of the way.