Does spouse include common-law partners, or is it only for married couples?

[NiphredilSelphie]

Hi, I have a job offer in Canada, and my partner has a work permit and is working in Canada already. I am in Canada as a visitor at the moment. According the to CIC, you can apply for a work permit from within Canada if you:

"are currently in Canada and have a valid study or work permit, or your spouse or parents have a study or work permit,"

I think we qualify as common-law partners. Does that count as a spouse or do you have to be married?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi, I have a job offer in Canada, and my partner has a work permit and is working in Canada already. I am in Canada as a visitor at the moment. According the to CIC, you can apply for a work permit from within Canada if you:

"are currently in Canada and have a valid study or work permit, or your spouse or parents have a study or work permit,"

I think we qualify as common-law partners. Does that count as a spouse or do you have to be married?

Common-law also counts. Have you lived together continuously for a year?

 

[NiphredilSelphie]

We've lived together for more than two years, however we were long distance for four months earlier in the year when my partner had moved to Canada and I hadn't joined him as a visitor yet.

This website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=346&top=14
says you can't have "long periods" apart, but I don't know how long is long?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

We've lived together for more than two years, however we were long distance for four months earlier in the year when my partner had moved to Canada and I hadn't joined him as a visitor yet.

This website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=346&top=14
says you can't have "long periods" apart, but I don't know how long is long?

The "long periods apart" is referring to time apart during the one year of cohabitation needed to become common-law. Once you are common-law, you can live separately without losing your common-law status provided you can prove the relationship is ongoing.

 

[NiphredilSelphie]

Oh great, thanks!