OTTAWA – In an effort to crackdown on marriage fraud, Ottawa has toughened its rules on foreigners sponsored to enter Canada as spouses.

The regulation applies to Canadians or permanent residents who bring their spouse to Canada from overseas.

They will have to live together in what the government considers a “legitimate relationship” for two years. If not, the sponsored spouse could lose permanent resident status.

The rule will only affect those who have been married less than two years and have no children together during the time of their application.

Sometimes the sponsor in Canada is being deceived and other times, the marriage is a commercial transaction, according to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. He said the two-year conditional permanent residence period will help prevent fraud and the duping of Canadians.

The status will not apply to those in marriages where there is evidence of abuse or neglect or where the spouse already in Canada passes away.

The new regulation follows measures introduced earlier this year that require a sponsored spouse to be a permanent resident for five years before they can bring a partner or spouse to Canada.