https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/protect-fraud/marriage-fraud.html
Marriages of convenience
In some cases, sponsors and foreign applicants set up a “marriage of convenience.” This is a marriage or common-law relationship whose sole purpose is to let the sponsored spouse or partner immigrate to Canada.
Our officers are trained to recognize real immigration applications. They know how to detect false marriages. They have many ways to spot marriage fraud, including:
- document checks
- visits to people’s homes and
- interviews with both sponsors and applicants
Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are in a marriage of convenience for immigration reasons may be charged with a crime.
Sponsors
Don’t be tempted by offers of money or other rewards to marry a person just so they can immigrate to Canada. If you do this, you may face serious criminal charges. You'll also still have to meet the terms of the sponsorship.
Don’t feel you must help somebody by being part of a marriage of convenience, no matter what the reason. It’s not worth the risks.
Visa applicants
Don’t get involved in a false marriage. We’ll refuse your visa and may ban you from travel to Canada for 5 years. This will stay on your immigration record
forever.
We know that even genuine marriages can fail. But, if you enter into a marriage of convenience to come to Canada as an immigrant, we may:
- take legal action against you
- not allow you to enter Canada for 5 years and
- deport you from Canada