Clarification Needed – Dependent Outside Canada Listed in Portal 1

[samranSpec]

I am the principal applicant under a non-Express Entry PR application, and my spouse is included in the application as a dependent. I received the Portal 1 email on January 6, 2026. In my reply to that email, I included my spouse’s details as well.


However, my spouse has never been to Canada and is currently outside Canada. I’m now concerned that including her information in the Portal 1 reply may have been a mistake.


Could you please let me know:

• Was it incorrect to include her in the Portal 1 response?
• If so, what steps should I take now to correct this?

For additional context, she has recently received her passport back with a stamped M1 visa.


I would really appreciate your help in clarifying this.


Thank you very much.

 

[GetNorthPath_Team]

Yes, it was technically incorrect. The PR Confirmation Portal (Portal 1/Portal 2) is only for applicants who are physically present in Canada. Since your spouse is currently overseas, she cannot complete her landing or confirm PR status using the online portal.

What Steps You Should Take Now

Email the IRCC Portal Virtual Landing Unit immediately. Reply to the same Portal 1 email address that you received the invitation from. State clearly that you, the Principal Applicant, are in Canada, but your dependent spouse is outside Canada. Request that IRCC process your landing through the portal for you in Canada and handle your spouse's process through the Visa Application Centre (VAC) or local visa office.

Wait for Separate Landing Instructions for Your Spouse

Since she already has her M1 visa stamped in her passport, she will receive a paper Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document along with her visa and passport. She must land in Canada with her stamped passport and paper COPR before her visa or COPR expires to become a Permanent Resident. Do not try to declare her as "in Canada" when the Portal 2 credentials arrive, as misrepresenting physical presence can delay or invalidate her landing process.