Sponsoring Other Relatives in Canada: Orphaned Relatives and the "Lonely Canadian" Rule

Usually not. Canada's family sponsorship focuses on spouses and partners, dependent children, and parents and grandparents (currently paused). Adult siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins cannot normally be sponsored.

IRCC allows two exceptions, explained below. They are narrow, and most people do not qualify. If your relative does not fit either one, they will need their own route, such as Express Entry or a provincial program. Having a sibling in Canada can add 15 points to their Express Entry score.

You can sponsor a brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild if all of these are true:

• They are related to you by blood or adoption.
• Both of their parents have died.
• They are under 18.
• They are not married or in a common-law or conjugal relationship.

You cannot use this rule if a parent is alive but cannot care for the child, if a parent's whereabouts are unknown, or if the child is in the care of another family member while a parent is alive. In those situations, get advice; adoption or a humanitarian and compassionate application may be options.

You can sponsor one relative of any age, related by blood or adoption, if you meet both conditions:

1. You do not have a living spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, son or daughter, parent, grandparent, or orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild whom you could sponsor instead.
2. You do not have any relative (aunt, uncle, or any of the relatives listed above) who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian.

If your relative qualifies, their spouse or partner and dependent children can be included in the same application.

This rule is meant for people who are truly alone in Canada. If you have a living parent or child anywhere in the world, you almost certainly do not qualify.

You must be at least 18, live in Canada, and be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian. You cannot sponsor if you are in default on a previous undertaking, support payments, or an immigration loan, are receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability, or have certain criminal convictions.

Unlike spousal and child sponsorship, sponsoring other relatives requires you to meet the minimum necessary income for your family size (including the people you sponsor). IRCC publishes the income table in its application guide.

You also sign an undertaking to support the relative and repay any social assistance they receive. It can last up to 10 years, depending on the relative's age and relationship; IRCC's guide lists the exact length. In Quebec, you also sign an undertaking with the Quebec government.

Processing times for relative sponsorships are often long and depend on the relative's country. Check the IRCC processing times tool. IRCC charges different fees for relatives under 22 and relatives 22 or older; check current amounts on the IRCC fee list or the IRCC relatives page.

• Express Entry: your sibling can earn 15 extra CRS points for having a brother or sister in Canada. See Express Entry and the CRS calculator.
• Provincial programs: some PNP streams value family ties in the province. See PNP.
• Study or work permits: your relative can come on a study permit or a work permit and build Canadian experience.
• Visits: a visitor visa or eTA for family visits.