Complete guide to documenting your genuine relationship for Canadian spousal sponsorship. Learn what evidence IRCC accepts and where a commissioned declaration or certified copy actually fits.
Understanding Spousal Sponsorship Requirements
Spousal sponsorship is one of the most popular immigration pathways to Canada. Whether you're sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires substantial proof that your relationship is genuine — not entered into primarily for immigration purposes.
This guide explains what evidence IRCC looks at and where a notary's commissioning or certified copies fit — and where they do not.
Types of Relationships IRCC Recognizes
Before gathering evidence, understand which category applies to you:
Married Spouses
You are legally married in Canada or in a country where the marriage is recognized under Canadian law. You'll need:
- A copy of your marriage certificate (IRCC generally takes a clear scan or photocopy; get a certified copy only if your checklist asks for one)
- Wedding photos and invitations
- Proof the marriage is legal in the country where it occurred
Common-Law Partners
You have lived together continuously in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 months. This is a popular option for couples who aren't married but have shared their lives together.
Conjugal Partners
For couples who cannot live together or marry due to significant barriers (immigration, religious, or legal restrictions). This category requires additional documentation proving the barriers.
Categories of Relationship Evidence
IRCC evaluates your relationship based on several factors. Providing evidence in multiple categories creates a stronger case.
1. Cohabitation Evidence
Proving you live or have lived together is crucial, especially for common-law applications.
| Document | What to submit |
|---|---|
| Joint lease or mortgage | Copies (a certified copy only if your checklist asks) |
| Shared utility bills | Copies |
| Joint bank statements | Copies |
| Government mail to same address | Copies |
| Statutory declaration of cohabitation | Declared before a commissioner or notary |
Pro Tip: If you don't have many joint documents, a statutory declaration from a third party (friend, family member, or landlord) confirming you live together can be very helpful.
2. Financial Interdependence
Joint financial responsibility demonstrates commitment:
- Joint bank accounts or credit cards
- Joint investments or RRSPs
- Shared insurance policies (auto, home, life)
- Evidence of financial support during travel or unemployment
- Joint ownership of property or vehicles
3. Shared Responsibilities
Evidence that you function as a unit:
- Joint custody of children (if applicable)
- Shared household duties
- Joint decision-making on major purchases
- Emergency contact designations at work or school
4. Social Recognition
Proof that family, friends, and community recognize you as a couple:
- Photos together at various events over time
- Messages and cards addressed to both of you
- Invitations to events as a couple
- Affidavits from friends and family attesting to your relationship
5. Communication History
Especially important if you've spent time apart:
- Phone records showing regular communication
- Email or messaging history
- Video call logs
- Letters and cards (physical or digital)
The IMM 5532 Relationship Questionnaire
Both the sponsor and applicant must complete IMM 5532 — a detailed questionnaire about your relationship. Key sections include:
How You Met
Be specific and consistent:
- Exact date, location, and circumstances
- How you communicated afterward
- When and how the relationship became romantic
Development of Relationship
Timeline of key milestones:
- First meeting in person (if met online)
- Introduction to family and friends
- Moving in together
- Engagement and marriage (if applicable)
Knowledge of Each Other
Questions about daily life:
- Daily routines and habits
- Employment and education history
- Family background
- Health information
Important: Both questionnaires must be consistent. IRCC compares your answers for discrepancies.
Where a Notary Fits in a Sponsorship File
A notary commissions declarations and affidavits and certifies copies. That records who declared or signed what, and when — it does not strengthen the merits of your application or improve approval odds. Where a notary does fit:
Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union
This is a mandatory document for common-law applications. Both partners declare on the form that they have been living together in a conjugal relationship since a stated date — read the current IMM 5409 for its exact wording.
It is declared before a commissioner of oaths or notary public. This is a commissioning act, so it can be done online by video; see our common-law declaration guide.
Affidavit of Relationship
An affidavit is a sworn statement that can include:
- Detailed history of your relationship
- Explanation of any gaps in cohabitation
- Future plans together
Third-Party Affidavits
Friends, family, coworkers, or community members can provide sworn statements confirming:
- They know you as a couple
- How long they've known about the relationship
- Specific events they've witnessed (holidays together, celebrations, etc.)
Tip: Include 2-3 third-party affidavits from people who know your relationship well. Have each person focus on different aspects or time periods.
Certified Copies — Only Where Asked
IRCC generally takes scans or photocopies of your originals (passports, marriage and birth certificates, divorce decrees) and does not require certified true copies as a rule. Get a certified true copy only where your specific checklist, a foreign authority, or another recipient asks for one — it is an in-person act at our Orléans office in Ottawa or by mobile visit within Ottawa. For police certificates, follow IRCC's police-certificate instructions for submitting the certificate itself.
Common Mistakes That Lead to Refusals
Avoid these pitfalls that raise red flags:
❌ Inconsistent Information
Your questionnaire answers must match. Different dates, names, or details can suggest the relationship isn't genuine.
❌ Lack of Evidence Over Time
One weekend trip isn't enough. Show evidence spanning the entire relationship — photos from year one, year two, etc.
❌ Missing Mandatory Documents
Forgetting the statutory declaration or questionnaire can result in automatic refusal.
❌ Poor Quality Photos
Blurry photos or images that don't clearly show both partners together aren't helpful. Include clear, dated photos at various events.
❌ No Third-Party Evidence
Relying only on documents you created yourselves is weaker than including statements from others who can verify your relationship.
Special Circumstances
Long-Distance Relationships
If you've spent significant time apart:
- Emphasize communication records (calls, texts, video chats)
- Document all visits with travel receipts, photos, and passport stamps
- Explain the circumstances (work, immigration barriers, study)
Short Courtships
Relationships that moved quickly need extra documentation:
- Explain how you developed a serious relationship quickly
- Include more third-party statements
- Provide detailed narrative affidavits
Previous Sponsorship History
If either partner was previously sponsored or acted as a sponsor:
- Be transparent about previous relationships
- Explain how this relationship is different
- Include divorce or annulment documentation
How Much Evidence Is Enough?
Quality matters more than quantity, but aim for:
- 20-30 photos spanning your relationship timeline
- 3-5 third-party affidavits or letters
- Evidence from multiple categories (cohabitation, financial, social)
- A commissioned declaration or certified copy only where your checklist asks for one
Timeline and Processing
Processing times for inland and outland spousal sponsorship, and for the inland open work permit, change through the year. Check the current figures on IRCC's processing times tool before you plan around them.
Starting with complete, well-documented evidence reduces the chance of delays from requests for additional information.
Checklist Before Submitting
Use this checklist to ensure your application is complete:
- IMM 5532 completed by both sponsor and applicant
- Statutory declaration of common-law union (if applicable)
- Scans or copies of passports, birth certificates, marriage certificate (certified copies only if your checklist asks)
- Photos with dates and descriptions
- Communication evidence (phone records, messages)
- Cohabitation proof (lease, bills, bank statements)
- Financial interdependence evidence
- 2-3 third-party affidavits or letters
- Narrative statement about your relationship
How We Can Help
What a notary can and cannot do: A notary public commissions declarations and affidavits and certifies copies. A notary does not advise on whether your relationship qualifies, what evidence to include, or how to respond to IRCC. That is the role of an immigration lawyer or a regulated Canadian immigration consultant (RCIC).
At Minute Notary, we commission and certify the documents a spousal sponsorship file actually calls for:
- Statutory Declarations — The common-law declaration (IMM 5409), declared before the notary
- Affidavits — Sworn statements from you or third parties
- Certified True Copies — In person, only where your checklist asks for one
We understand the stress of immigration applications and provide professional, efficient service. We do not review your application or advise on it.
Ready to Prepare Your Documents?
Need your common-law declaration commissioned, a third-party affidavit sworn, or a certified copy your checklist asks for? Book an appointment with Minute Notary today.
We offer same-day service for most notarization needs.
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About the author
Kai Mai
Content Editor, Minute Notary
Kai Mai writes and edits the Minute Notary guides, working from the published federal and Ontario guidance each article links, and from what Ottawa clients actually run into with certified copies, affidavits, statutory declarations, travel consent letters, and immigration paperwork. These guides are general information written by our editorial team — not legal advice, and not a professional opinion on your document. The receiving authority always has the final say.