Facts About Common-Law Partners

Common-law partners are available when it comes to Canadian Immigration. The term refers to a couple who have lived together continuously for more than a year. In the event of family obligation, travel or employment, living separately is accepted when temporary and a combined household is used for most of the time.

After the required time, when applying as common-law partners, both partners are granted the same freedom and rights as that of any married couple when submitting the application for Canadian immigration.

In addition, common-law applies when still married, long as you have lived apart from the spouse over a period of 365 days, while living with another person for a year or longer.

The following are documents you will need to support your common-law status:

• Telephone records
• Evidence showing children belonging to one or both partners and live with the couple.
• Documentation showing the same address for both parties, such as drivers license, ID or insurance policies
• Sharing household responsibility, including chores, management, etc.
• Evidence showing joint purchases, particularly household items
• Corresponding address for both or each party for the same address
• Utilities are in both names
• Household expenses are managed jointly
• Joint rental receipts or residential lease
• Joint control over credit cards or bank accounts