10/22/2026
“We just got married. Do we have to wait one year before applying for spousal sponsorship?”
There is no general requirement to be married for 12 months before submitting a spousal sponsorship application.
The 12-month requirement people often hear about applies to common-law partners. To qualify as common-law, you must have lived together continuously in a marriage-like relationship for at least 12 months. Simply dating for a year does not meet that requirement.
For married couples, the focus is on having a legally valid marriage, demonstrating a genuine relationship and meeting the other sponsorship requirements.
That means being newly married doesn’t automatically prevent you from applying, but your marriage certificate alone doesn’t establish that you meet every requirement.
Your application should explain how your relationship developed, including your history before the wedding. Relevant communication records, visits, photos and shared responsibilities can help support that history, depending on your circumstances and application checklist.
Before deciding when to apply, check both the sponsor’s eligibility and the requirements for the person being sponsored.
We can assess your circumstances and guide you through preparing your spousal sponsorship application. Swipe through to see what one client shared about their experience with us. 🫶🏻
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