Other Close Relative Sponsorship

Sponsoring Close Relatives to Canada

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor certain close relatives to immigrate under specific family class sponsorship categories. These include orphaned brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, and grandchildren. In rare and specific circumstances, other relatives by blood or adoption may also be sponsored, subject to strict eligibility conditions.

Sponsorship Responsibilities

As a sponsor, you must:

• Meet income requirements set by the Canadian government.

• Provide financial support to your sponsored relative and their eligible accompanying family members:

  • From the day they become permanent residents.

  • For up to 20 years, depending on their age and relationship to you.

The person you sponsor must sign an agreement saying they will make the effort to support themselves.

Sponsoring orphaned relative (brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild)

Canadian citizens or permanent residents meeting general eligibility criteria can sponsor orphaned relatives if they meet the following conditions:

• They are related to the sponsor by blood or adoption.

• Both parents are deceased.

• They are under 18 years old.

• They are unmarried and not in a common-law or conjugal relationship.

Note: Sponsorship is not allowed if one or both parents are alive, even if they are missing, in jail, or have abandoned the child, or if someone else is caring for the child while the parents are alive.

Sponsoring Other Relatives

In exceptional cases where a sponsor has no other living relatives eligible for sponsorship (e.g., no spouse, partner, child, parent, grandparent, or orphaned siblings, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren), they may sponsor one relative of any age, related by blood or adoption.

If the sponsored relative has a spouse, partner, or dependent children who will accompany them, they must be included in the sponsorship application.

Ineligible for Sponsorship

You cannot sponsor individuals who are inadmissible to Canada, meaning they are legally prohibited from entering the country.

Examples of Sponsorship Scenarios

Eligible to Sponsor an Aunt:
Cindy, a permanent resident in Canada, is single with no children, spouse, or living relatives in Canada. Her parents and grandparents are deceased. She wishes to sponsor her aunt Victoria, who is married and has a daughter.  Cindy meets the eligibility requirements to sponsor Emily.

Eligible to Sponsor a Cousin:

Mark, a single permanent resident in Canada, has no living parents, grandparents, spouse, or other relatives in Canada. Raised in Mexico by his only cousin, Mark wishes to sponsor his cousin, who is single. Mark qualifies to sponsor his cousin under the family sponsorship program.