No More Conditional Permanent Residence Provision for Spouses and Partners in Canada

For the past 5 years, sponsored spouses or partners received a conditional permanent residence. The condition is that both spouses or partners live together in Canada for two years. After then does the permanent residence status becomes unconditional. There are exceptions though. Spouses or partners who had a long enough relationship or had a child together are exempted to this rule.

From now on, spouses and common-law partners who are sponsored to immigrate to Canada will no longer conditional permanent resident status. Instead, they will have full permanent resident status upon landing. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed the removal of the conditional permanent residence provision last April 28, 2017.

The Liberal government considered the concerns regarding vulnerable sponsored spouses or partners who may stay in abusive relationships because they are afraid of losing their permanent resident status. Not everyone knows that there is an exception to the condition which existed for these types of situations. Abuse in the relationship may be physical, sexual, psychological, and/or financial.

The regulation for the condition was imposed to prevent marriage fraud. However, the current government believes that this regulation did not actually prevent marriage fraud. They also claim that it put abused sponsored spouses/partners in a bad position. The abused partner or spouse could not leave the home for fear of losing permanent resident status in Canada.

“The government’s action today, and over recent months, says to new immigrants and Canadians alike that they are trusted. It also reaffirms the government’s belief that the existing legislation is robust enough to be able to deal with any possible case of abuse without recourse to a conditional permanent residence provision,” says Attorney David Cohen. “The safety and well-being of all residents of Canada is paramount, and by eliminating this provision, the government will allow more newcomers to settle and integrate, knowing that Canada is their long-term home. Overall, it helps to build a stronger society for all.”

Canada has always put its people’s welfare over anything else. In Canada, abuse is not tolerated. If you are an abused sponsored spouse or partner by your sponsor or their family, you do not have to remain in that abusive situation. Get help here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/

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