Can I sponsor my spouse if we have never met in person and our relationship developed entirely online?

Yes, it is possible — a relationship that developed entirely online, without the couple ever meeting in person, can still be found genuine for sponsorship purposes. IRCC applies the same basic genuineness test to every relationship: whether it is real and was not entered into primarily to gain an immigration benefit. There is no rule requiring in-person meetings, and many genuine relationships today begin and grow through long-distance, online communication before a couple is able to meet.

That said, an online-only relationship tends to invite closer scrutiny, simply because there is less of the usual evidence to draw on — no shared time together, fewer chances for family and friends to have witnessed it firsthand, and no joint life events like living together. To offset that, it generally helps to build a thorough evidence file: consistent, substantive communication over time, evidence that each partner is known to the other's family and social circle, any financial support between you, and plans or attempts to meet if circumstances have allowed. No single piece of evidence proves genuineness on its own — IRCC looks at the whole picture together. Because online-only relationships get careful review, it is worth speaking with an immigration lawyer early to plan what evidence to gather before applying.