A Canada social media influencer has claimed that same-sex marriages are on the rise in Ontario because this is a newer strategy to get permanent residency in Canada for those who are otherwise not eligible. The man cited an IRCC letter to addressed someone with a Kaur surname issued on December 2, 2025, and said these people have same surnames — either Kaur or Singh — and their files are getting approved. “The only thing you need to do is to have the same ownership which is not that difficult. Have some utility bills like gas, electric, telephone; have a driver’s license at the same address, have your insurance at the same address and some other documentation to prove that these guys have been together for 12 months. And boom! Just like that, you get your PR approved,” the man claimed. As the video started doing the rounds, many social media users claimed that this has been going on for a long time and that some immigration experts even advice their clients to fake relationships. Some users pointed out that fraud is as rampant in gay relationships and in straight marriages and there is no need to attack gay relationships. In Canada, unmarried same-sex couples are treated the same as opposite-sex common-law couples.
Who is a common-law partner in Canada law?
A Canadian citizen can sponsor their common-law partner for residency. A common-law partner
- is not legally married to you.
- is at least 18 years old.
- can be any gender.
- is in a genuine relationship with you, not only for the purpose of getting permanent resident status.
- has lived with you for at least 12 consecutive months, meaning you’ve lived together continuously for 1 year in a conjugal relationship, without any long periods apart.
- any time spent away from each other during the 12-month period should have been short and temporary (for example, for family obligations or business travel).
- must not be inadmissible to Canada.
