A couple planned for one partner to land in Canada first, with the spouse following a few months later. The rules members confirmed:
- The principal applicant must land first. The consistent answer: only the principal applicant (PA) can be the first to land. Dependents (spouse, children) cannot complete their landing before the PA has completed theirs.
- Dependents can follow later — within COPR validity. Once the PA has landed, the spouse and other dependents may land any time afterward, provided their landing happens before the COPR expires. Plan the gap so the dependent's travel comfortably precedes the expiry date, since COPRs are generally not extended.
- Where this is documented. The applicant couldn't find an official page; members pointed out the rule is stated in the instructions paper that accompanies the COPR itself. If your passports are still with IRCC for stamping (as here), expect those instructions when the COPR package arrives.
Practical checklist: confirm who the PA is on the application, book the PA's travel first, and calendar the COPR expiry as the hard deadline for every family member's landing.