spouse

Canada’s immigration laws say that your spouse is someone who you’re legally married to. They don’t have to be the same sex as you.

Even if your marriage is legal where it took place, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada won’t recognize it unless you were both physically present at the wedding. This means that they won’t recognize what’s called a “proxy” marriage, where one spouse is not physically present. 

This rule about proxy marriages does not apply in certain situations for members of the Armed Forces or if you applied to sponsor your spouse before June 10, 2015.