A Canadian Letter of Intent to Marry is a formal written document in which one or both parties express their mutual intention to enter into a lawful marriage in Canada. This letter serves as a preliminary expression of commitment and outlines the basic terms, expectations, and objectives of the intended marital union. It is not a legally binding marriage contract or prenuptial agreement but rather a statement of intent that may be used for personal, family, religious, or immigration purposes.

In Canada, marriage is regulated at both the federal and provincial levels. The Civil Marriage Act (S.C. 2005, c. 33) defines marriage as the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others and establishes the legal capacity to marry across all provinces and territories. The Marriage (Prohibited Degrees) Act (S.C. 1990, c. 46) sets out the prohibited degrees of consanguinity, affinity, and adoption within which persons may not marry. While these federal statutes govern who may legally marry in Canada, the solemnization of marriage, including the issuance of marriage licences, the conduct of marriage ceremonies, and the registration of marriages, falls under provincial and territorial jurisdiction.

Each province and territory has its own Marriage Act or equivalent legislation that prescribes the requirements for obtaining a marriage licence, including age requirements, identification requirements, waiting periods, and the qualifications of persons authorized to solemnize marriages. For example, Ontario's Marriage Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. M.3) requires that a marriage licence be obtained before the ceremony, while British Columbia's Marriage Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 282) and Alberta's Marriage Act (R.S.A. 2000, c. M-5) have their own specific requirements. In Quebec, marriage is governed by the Civil Code of Quebec (C.C.Q.), which contains detailed provisions on the formation, effects, and dissolution of marriage.

A Canadian Letter of Intent to Marry is typically needed in situations where the parties wish to formally document their intention to marry before proceeding with the legal formalities of obtaining a marriage licence and solemnizing the marriage. This document may be particularly useful when one or both parties are planning a marriage that involves cross-provincial considerations, such as when the parties reside in different provinces and must determine which province's marriage licensing requirements apply.

The letter is also commonly used in immigration contexts where one party is sponsoring the other for permanent residence under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (S.C. 2001, c. 27). In spousal sponsorship applications, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires evidence of the genuineness of the relationship, and a letter of intent to marry can serve as one piece of supporting documentation that demonstrates the couple's commitment and future plans. The letter may also be relevant when applying for a fiancee visa or temporary resident visa to enter Canada for the purpose of marriage.

Additionally, couples who intend to negotiate a marriage contract (prenuptial agreement) under provincial family law legislation may use this letter to establish the framework for their discussions before engaging legal counsel. The letter provides a non-binding starting point for conversations about financial arrangements, property rights, and other matters that may later be formalized in a legally binding domestic contract under the applicable provincial Family Law Act.

An effective Canadian Letter of Intent to Marry must clearly identify both parties by their full legal names and current mailing addresses, including Canadian postal codes. The letter should specify the date it is being issued and the province or territory in which the intended marriage will take place, as provincial marriage licensing requirements vary across jurisdictions.

The purpose section should contain a clear and unequivocal expression of the parties' mutual intention to marry, referencing the Civil Marriage Act (S.C. 2005, c. 33) and any relevant provincial marriage legislation. The letter should confirm that both parties are legally eligible to marry in Canada, meaning they are of legal age, not currently married to another person, and not within the prohibited degrees of relationship set out in the Marriage (Prohibited Degrees) Act (S.C. 1990, c. 46).

The relationship details section should describe the nature and duration of the parties' relationship, including how they met, the length of their courtship, and any significant milestones such as cohabitation or the birth of children. This information is particularly important if the letter will be used as supporting evidence in an immigration application.

Optional sections may address the responsibilities and roles each party intends to undertake within the marriage, as well as any financial arrangements the parties wish to discuss. However, the letter should clearly state that it does not constitute a legally binding marriage contract or prenuptial agreement, and that any binding financial arrangements must be formalized through a separate domestic contract executed in accordance with the applicable provincial family law legislation. The letter should specify the governing province and include a response deadline. It should be signed and dated by the first party, with space for the second party's acknowledgment.