Canada is one of the most welcoming countries in the world for foreigners, and yes, you can get married there even if you are not a citizen or permanent resident. Better still, marrying a Canadian citizen or permanent resident opens a direct path to living and working in Canada permanently through the spousal sponsorship programme. This guide covers both sides clearly including how to get married in Canada as a foreigner, and how to use that marriage to apply for a sponsored visa to stay.
Can Foreigners Get Married in Canada?
Absolutely. You do not have to be a citizen or permanent resident to marry in Canada. People who are passing through Canada including tourists, temporary workers, and students, are perfectly able to get married on Canadian territory, provided they meet the requirements of each province.
What you do need:
- A valid visitor visa or temporary resident permit
- To be physically present in Canada, you cannot use a representative or get married via webcam or phone
- All required documents
Same-sex marriages are also fully legal and recognised across all Canadian provinces and territories.
Legal Requirements to Get Married in Canada
Before anything else, make sure both partners meet these basic requirements:
- Both must be at least 18 years old in most provinces
- Both individuals must be unmarried, bigamy is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code of Canada
- Consent must be freely given by both individuals, without duress, fraud, or mistake
- Canadian law prohibits marriage between individuals who are closely related by blood or adoption
- Both must be present in Canada on the day of the ceremony
Documents You Need
All foreign documents must be translated into English or French by a certified translator and may need apostille or authentication stamps from the country of issuance.
- Valid passport (government-issued photo ID)
- Birth certificate from your home country
- Proof of marital status. If previously married, bring your original divorce decree or death certificate of former spouse
- Immigration documents including your visitor visa, work permit, or study permit
- Both partners must provide two acceptable forms of identification, and each document must be valid and original. Photocopies or scanned images are not accepted.
How to Get Married in Canada
Step 1: Enter Canada Legally
- Ensure you have all the necessary travel documents and visas before your trip. Once in Canada, you can proceed with the marriage process. If your country requires a visa to enter Canada, apply for a Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa) first.
Step 2: Get a Marriage Licence
- Foreign nationals who wish to marry in Canada must first obtain a marriage licence. This is done at a municipal office or the town hall of the locality where they plan to marry. Both parties must be present when applying for the licence, and they must present their identification and marital status documents. The marriage licence is generally valid for around 90 days, meaning the ceremony must occur within that timeframe.
Step 3: Choose Your Ceremony Type
- Canadian law recognises two main types of marriage ceremonies, civil and religious. Civil ceremonies are performed by authorised officials such as a marriage commissioner, judge, or justice of the peace. Religious ceremonies are conducted by an authorised minister, priest, or faith leader.
Step 4: Hold the Ceremony
- You need at least two witnesses of legal age present at the ceremony. Your officiant will sign and process the marriage licence on the day.
Step 5: Get Your Marriage Certificate
- After the ceremony, your officiant registers your marriage with the province or territory. You then apply for an official marriage certificate. Keep multiple copies of your certificate for travel, banking, and visa purposes.
Spousal Sponsorship: How to Stay in Canada After Marriage
What Is Spousal Sponsorship?
The Spousal Sponsorship Programme allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouse or partner to become a permanent resident of Canada. It runs year-round with no draw system and no application cap. You can be sponsored as a:
- Spouse: Legally married partner
- Common-law partner: Lived together continuously for at least 12 months
- Conjugal partner: In a genuine relationship of at least one year but unable to marry or live together due to serious barriers
Who Can Sponsor?
The Canadian partner applying to sponsor you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be living in Canada (or intend to return if currently abroad)
- Not be receiving social assistance (except for disability)
- Not have previously sponsored a spouse or partner in the last 3 years, or become a permanent resident through spousal sponsorship less than 5 years ago
- Have no outstanding court-ordered alimony or child support payments in default
Who Can Be Sponsored?
To be sponsored, you must:
- Be legally married to, or in a genuine long-term relationship with, the Canadian sponsor
- Pass health and medical requirements
- Have no serious criminal history
- Not be inadmissible to Canada on security or other grounds
- Provide solid evidence that your relationship is genuine
How Long Does It Take?
As of March 28, 2026, IRCC’s official spousal sponsorship processing times are 15 months for Outland (spouse outside Canada) and 21 months for Inland (spouse already inside Canada), both figures outside Quebec.
Outland vs Inland?
- Outland: You apply while your spouse is outside Canada. Faster (15 months), allows full appeal rights, and your spouse can visit Canada on a visitor visa while waiting
- Inland: You apply while your spouse is already living with you in Canada. Takes longer (21 months), but your spouse can apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit and work legally in Canada while the application is processed
Note on Quebec: Quebec’s MIFI has reached its maximum number of undertaking applications for sponsoring a spouse or dependent child aged 18 or older until June 25, 2026. If you plan to settle in Quebec, check the latest status before applying.
Check current IRCC processing times
Documents Needed for Spousal Sponsorship
The sponsor provides:
- Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residence (passport, PR card)
- Proof of financial ability to support the sponsored spouse
- Police clearance certificate
- Completed sponsorship forms (IMM 1344)
The sponsored spouse provides:
- Valid passport
- Marriage certificate (original, certified copy)
- Birth certificate
- Police clearance certificates from every country lived in for 12+ months in the last 10 years
- Medical examination results from an IRCC-approved physician
- Relationship evidence including photos, communication records, travel history together, joint financial documents
Both partners write:
- A personal relationship statement, explain how you met, how the relationship developed, and your future plans together. This is one of the most important documents in your entire application.
How to Apply for Spousal Sponsorship
Step 1: Check Eligibility
- Confirm both the sponsor and the applicant meet all the requirements listed above before spending money on applications.
Step 2: Choose Inland or Outland
- Spouse already living with you in Canada, consider Inland
- Spouse still in your home country, apply Outland
- Outland is currently 6 months faster and offers more flexibility
Step 3: Gather All Documents
- Start collecting relationship evidence from day one. The more you have spanning a longer period, photos, messages, joint bills, travel records, the stronger your application.
Step 4: Submit the Application Online
- Apply through the official IRCC portal. Both the sponsorship application and the permanent residence application are submitted together.
Official Spousal Sponsorship Application, IRCC
Step 5: Pay the Fees
- Pay all applicable government fees at the time of submission. Use a credit or debit card through the IRCC secure payment portal.
Step 6: Complete Biometrics and Medical Exam
- After submitting, IRCC will send instructions for:
- Biometrics: fingerprints and photo at an authorised collection centre
- Medical examination: at an IRCC-designated panel physician
Step 7: Track Your Application and Respond Promptly
- Your sponsored spouse can create an IRCC secure account and link their application to track its status. Respond promptly to any requests from IRCC because delays in responding can extend your processing timeline.
Step 8: Receive Permanent Residence
- Once IRCC finishes processing, they issue a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a permanent resident visa. Your spouse can then land in Canada, confirm their PR status, and wait for their physical PR card to arrive by mail.
Tips for a Successful Application
- Document your relationship from the beginning: The more evidence you have spanning months or years, the better
- Be completely honest: Inconsistencies in your story are one of the most common triggers for refusals and extra scrutiny
- Submit a complete application: A single missing document can return your entire application and restart the clock from zero
- Apply Outland if speed matters: Currently 6 months faster than Inland
- Update your contact information: If IRCC cannot reach you, your file stalls
- Get professional help for complex cases: Hire a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) for situations involving previous refusals, criminal history, or complicated relationship timelines
Conclusion
Getting married in Canada and securing a spousal visa is a well-established, clearly structured process. Thousands of couples from every country in the world go through it successfully every year.