Canada Immigration Concerns: Rise in Same-Sex Marriages for PR Allegedly Linked to Immigration Scams

Updated on January 7, 2026, 9:49 AM EST (Toronto Time)

A Canadian influencer has raised a viral claim suggesting that an increase in same-sex marriages in Ontario is not due to greater LGBTQ+ acceptance but potentially as a strategy to obtain permanent residency in Canada.

Experts warn that these alleged scams could jeopardize the integrity of spousal sponsorship programs and affect legitimate same-sex couples seeking recognition.

The influencer’s video, widely circulated on platforms like Instagram, discusses how individuals are entering into fake same-sex marriages to exploit the immigration system.

This claim taps into broader concerns about immigration fraud, particularly within spousal immigration, and raises questions about Canada’s reputation as a welcoming nation for immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community.

The Viral Claim: Fake Gay Marriages as a New Immigration Strategy

A social media influencer’s video suggests that same-sex marriages are increasing in Ontario as a potential means for individuals ineligible for permanent residency to circumvent the system.

The alleged scam involves two individuals, one Canadian citizen or PR holder, and the other an international student or temporary worker facing deportation, entering into a fake same-sex marriage and submitting false evidence of a relationship.

Reactions on social media vary from outrage to defense of the system, with discussions highlighting warning signs of fraudulent marriages and the existence of similar claims within immigrant communities.

Individuals reportedly pay significant amounts for these arrangements, which offer a pathway to permanent residency through sponsorship.

Understanding Canada’s Immigration Framework

Canada’s spousal sponsorship program allows citizens or PR holders to sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for permanent residency without the need for points-based systems.

Since legalizing same-sex marriage in 2005, Canada treats all marriages equally under immigration law, requiring evidence of a genuine relationship for sponsorship applications.

However, concerns exist that same-sex applications might face less scrutiny in some cases, potentially impacting the credibility of genuine LGBTQ+ immigrants.

The rise in same-sex marriages for PR coincides with stricter rules on other immigration pathways, adding pressure to an already overloaded system.

IRCC guidelines emphasize equality in sponsoring same-sex partners for permanent residency, mirroring the standards applied to opposite-sex relationships.