How do you apply for a fiancé visa?

Last updated: January, 2026

In Canada, there is actually no true fiancé visa or engagement visa.
For more on how Canada handles fiancé cases, see our FAQ explaining ways to sponsor your fiance.

Instead, you apply through one of the partner categories that IRCC recognizes: spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner. The right option depends on your situation.

Here’s how it works:

Spouse: You get legally married first (either abroad or in Canada) and then apply for spousal sponsorship. This is the most common and simplest path when marriage is possible.
Common-law partner: You must have lived together for 12 continuous months. Short trips apart are okay as long as the cohabitation is real and ongoing.
Conjugal partner: This is only for rare cases where you cannot marry or live together because of serious outside barriers (e.g., same-sex marriage is illegal, safety risks, exit restrictions). Long-distance or financial problems do not qualify.

Prepare the full sponsorship package
You submit everything together through IRCC’s online portal. The package includes:

Sponsor forms: proving you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, over 18, living in Canada (PRs), or planning to return (citizens), and not banned from sponsoring.
Applicant forms: identity details, travel history, biometrics, medical exam, and police certificates.
Relationship proof: photos, messages, call logs, visits, joint bills, and a clear story of how your relationship grew.

IRCC checks sponsor eligibility, reviews the relationship, and completes background and medical checks before giving a final decision.

To get help with Canadian immigration, book a consultation with licensed consultants and get to know more about Canada spouse sponsorship. You can also check our Immigration Consultant Prices.