You’ve made the decision: you’re going to join your partner abroad. But before you can enjoy your new life together in another country, you’ll need to complete some administrative formalities. Your marital status (married or not), the type of visa you need, the supporting documents, restrictions, and waiting periods will all play a role. Here’s what you need to keep in mind.
Your marital status—whether you’re married, in a civil union, in a common-law partnership, or in a same-sex relationship—will significantly affect whether you can obtain a visa or residence permit, regardless of its category (residence permit, work permit, dependent visa, entrepreneur visa, etc.).
If the host country recognizes your relationship, your expat partner may be able to sponsor you. If not, you’ll need to comply with any restrictions imposed by the host country. For example, some countries only allow sponsorship if you are legally married to the expat. Others require a legally recognized heterosexual marriage (e.g., the United States, Japan, and the Gulf States). Others are more flexible and grant sponsorship whether the relationship is formalized or not (e.g., Canada, Denmark, and Ghana).
Your Partner’s Immigration Status
Not all visas or residence permits allow the holder to sponsor a spouse or partner. Many countries reserve this right for “foreign talent”—permanent residents, holders of skilled or highly skilled work visas, EU Blue Card holders, Golden Visa holders, doctoral students, or workers in officially recognized scarce occupations.
Authorities will first want to confirm that your partner has the financial means and adequate accommodation to support you. In some cases, you may also be granted the same privileges as their visa, such as work authorization or the right to study.
Some countries only recognize civil marriages between a man and a woman, while others accept religious marriages, common-law marriages, or same-sex marriages. In all cases, your partner must apply for your sponsorship.
If you’re married
Civilly married spouses generally have the best chance of obtaining a visa. The chances are even higher in a legally recognized heterosexual marriage, as more countries issue visas to married heterosexual couples than to married same-sex couples.
Your expat spouse will apply for sponsorship (often called a dependent visa, spouse visa, long-stay visa, or part of a family reunification program, depending on the country). The process is not free. Your partner will need to prove they have sufficient income and adequate housing to sponsor you.
If you’re in a civil union
You can only be sponsored in countries that recognize civil unions, although the terminology varies. The United Kingdom, for example, uses the term “civil partnership.” Canada does not recognize the French Pacs (Civil Solidarity Pact) but does recognize “common-law partner” status. To sponsor you, your partner must prove they have maintained a continuous relationship for at least one year. If approved, you will receive a dependent visa.
If you’re in a common-law partnership (cohabitation)
Even fewer countries allow sponsorship for cohabiting couples. Canada recognizes the “common-law partnership” category—you must be in a “genuine relationship” of at least one year, exclusive and committed, but not married or in a civil union. Australia offers two relevant visas: the “Partner Visa” and the “Prospective Marriage Visa,” both for applicants who are not legally married and who apply from outside Australia. Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Sweden, and Norway also grant visas to unmarried couples.
If you’re both European
If both you and your partner are EU citizens, and your partner has moved to another EU or EEA country, or to Switzerland, you do not need a visa to join them. Your EU citizenship guarantees freedom of movement in these countries.
However, you will still need to register with your local municipality within three months of your arrival. Depending on local regulations, you may be asked to provide documents upon registration.
It all depends on the laws of the host country:
Some countries recognize dependent status for both married and unmarried same-sex couples.
Some only recognize it for legally married same-sex couples.
Others do not recognize any same-sex relationships.
If your relationship is not recognized, you will not be able to obtain a visa through your partner’s sponsorship. You will need to apply for your own residence permit, depending on the intended length of your stay (temporary or permanent) and the purpose (work or study).
Countries that grant dependent status to same-sex couples include Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Thailand, and several European countries (Spain, Italy, Belgium, France, Croatia, Finland, Denmark, Germany, etc.).
Can the partner obtain a work visa?
Countries that recognize unmarried same-sex couples generally have more flexible rules on labor rights. But it still depends on local regulations. In many European countries, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, and Australia, residence permits for dependents often include work rights. In Australia, dependents may be granted employment rights if the sponsoring partner is a permanent resident, a skilled self-employed person, or works in a shortage occupation. On the other hand, EU citizens living in another EU country may work without a separate work permit.
But even in “open” countries, there are restrictions. In Canada, your eligibility for a work permit depends on your partner’s immigration program (open or closed work permit). As of January 21, 2025, new rules limit open family work permits to spouses of certain foreign students and workers, including doctoral candidates and those employed in shortage occupations.
Countries where dependents cannot work
Some dependent visas do not allow work, including those for India, China, Turkey, Colombia, Kuwait, and several sub-Saharan African countries (Kenya, South Africa, Cameroon, Nigeria, etc.). In Mauritius, the dependent visa linked to an expat’s Occupation Permit does not allow the spouse to work—not even as a microentrepreneur. You will need your own work permit.
In Kuwait, you will need a Kuwaiti sponsor. There is an exception in Cameroon: if you are self-employed and your partner is a permanent resident, you can start working without applying for a work permit.
Countries with Restricted Labor Rights
Some countries impose partial restrictions, including Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Thailand. In Japan, your partner must have a Highly Skilled Professional visa, and you can only work in “highly skilled” fields (exceptions are rare and assessed on an individual basis). In the UAE, male spouses of expats face additional restrictions.
Requirements vary by country, but you will generally be asked for:
A valid passport;
Your partner’s visa/residence permit;
Your partner’s proof of income;
A recent passport-sized photo;
Visa application form (if applying on paper);
A completed questionnaire (may include marital and professional details);
A copy of your family book (if applicable);
A marriage certificate;
Application fees
Some countries require additional documents, such as proof of your own financial resources, proof of address, or a medical examination. Japan requires a questionnaire, and Thailand requires a birth certificate. In the UAE, those deemed “medically unfit” cannot be sponsored.
Dependent Visa: Application Deadlines
You should also pay attention to the deadlines. In the UAE, for example, your partner must apply for your sponsorship within 60 days of entering the country. You could obtain a five-year residence visa. In Japan, visas range from six months to five years, but applications can take several months. You will first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, which does not guarantee the visa itself.
In Canada, processing times vary from 11 to 37 months, depending on whether you live abroad or in Canada, and whether your partner lives in Quebec or another province (37 months if you are in Quebec and abroad; 11 months elsewhere; 38 months if you are in Canada and they are in Quebec; 34 months if they are outside Quebec). You can check processing times on the Canadian government website. If your partner’s status allows it (e.g., highly skilled worker), applying together is often the best way to accomplish to meet deadlines and avoid long waits.
