Can a refugee live abroad if sponsor by a spouse?

[bm.oriol]

Hi!

I am dual citizen from Canada and Spain.
My partner is a refugee in Canada and we have been together over an year. He has the Travel Document but not passport from any country yet.
I got a job offer in Spain that I would like to take. Can he leave the country if I sponsor him in Europe without losing his status?
What do you think is best?

Thank you.

 

[jddd]

Hi!

I am dual citizen from Canada and Spain.
My partner is a refugee in Canada and we have been together over an year. He has the Travel Document but not passport from any country yet.
I got a job offer in Spain that I would like to take. Can he leave the country if I sponsor him in Europe without losing his status?
What do you think is best?

Thank you.

Is your partner a PR yet? If he is, then I believe the residency requirements can be met by him accompanying you to Spain. If he isn't PR yet, I don't know the answer. I would assume that being eligible for residence and protection from Spain will then lose his refugee status but that is only a guess.

 

[zardoz]

Hi!

I am dual citizen from Canada and Spain.
My partner is a refugee in Canada and we have been together over an year. He has the Travel Document but not passport from any country yet.
I got a job offer in Spain that I would like to take. Can he leave the country if I sponsor him in Europe without losing his status?
What do you think is best?

Thank you.

As I understand it, counter intuitively, refugee status will not be lost unless he takes up actual citizenship in Spain. Sounds ridiculous but there it is...

 

[bm.oriol]

Hi @jddd @zardoz

He got his application approved by IRB and applied for PR, he is waiting for it.
Do you think he must wait to get his PR and his sized passport before moving?
Because I guess a person needs a passport to apply for a work permit in Spain or Europe? I don't think a travel document is enough to ask for the Spanish permit.

 

[zardoz]

Hi @jddd @zardoz

He got his application approved by IRB and applied for PR, he is waiting for it.
Do you think he must wait to get his PR and his sized passport before moving?
Because I guess a person needs a passport to apply for a work permit in Spain or Europe? I don't think a travel document is enough to ask for the Spanish permit.

You will need to check that with the Spanish government. However, as you are well aware, he must not attempt to use any travel document (passport) from his own country.

 

[bm.oriol]

I guess what I need to find out is what kind of legal document he will need to prove his identity as he has no passport and can't use his old countries' passport either. Maybe the Travel Document... but I will need to ask.

 

[canuck78]

Are you common law? Not sure if he will be entitled to live in Spain for the longterm. He really ends up in a limbo position. Personally would make sure he has his PR before permanently relocating.

 

[vensak]

Attention, not all countries do recognize common law relationship at least not in sense Canada does.
For standard marriage, you need to follow process in Spain for family reunion.

 

[jddd]

Are you common law? Not sure if he will be entitled to live in Spain for the longterm. He really ends up in a limbo position. Personally would make sure he has his PR before permanently relocating.

I second this, though if you are married or common-law, there is nothing stopping you from sponsoring him in the future should you want to relocate to Canada again.