I heard there used to be a conditional permanent residence rule for sponsored spouses. Does that still apply?

The conditional permanent residence requirement for sponsored spouses was abolished by the federal government. Under the old rule, sponsored spouses in relationships of two years or less at the time of landing were required to remain in a genuine relationship with their sponsor for two years after landing or risk losing their permanent residence status. This requirement was widely criticized as creating dangerous power imbalances and was removed.

Today, a sponsored spouse receives unconditional permanent residence upon landing, regardless of how long the relationship has existed. This means your spouse cannot lose their permanent resident status simply because the relationship later breaks down.

However, the change does not eliminate scrutiny of the relationship at the time of the application — IRCC still requires evidence that the relationship is genuine at the time of sponsorship. The removal of the condition also does not relieve the sponsor of their undertaking obligations: you remain legally bound to support your sponsored spouse for three years after they land, even if the relationship ends within that period. If you have questions about how current rules apply to your situation, consult an immigration lawyer.