Sponsoring other relatives

Sponsoring other relatives to Canada is available for certain family situations that meet IRCC's specific criteria. The program continues to accept applications, but a family relationship or strong financial capacity does not automatically create a right to sponsor.

1. Orphaned relatives under 18

You may sponsor a sibling, nephew/niece, or grandchild if they are related to you by blood or adoption, are under 18 years of age, both parents are deceased, and they are unmarried or in a common-law relationship.

Cases where a parent is living, missing, has abandoned the child, or is incarcerated do not qualify under this orphan category.

2. One other relative of any age

In exceptional cases, you may sponsor one relative related by blood or adoption if you also meet these conditions:

• You have no living relatives you could sponsor instead: spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, child, parent, grandparent, or orphaned sibling/nephew/niece/grandchild who is eligible.
• You have no relatives who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons registered under the Indian Act who are in the categories IRCC defines (including aunts, uncles, etc.).

Simply being single or living alone in Canada is not enough. Having living parents abroad may also disqualify you under this category. Any spouse, partner, or dependent child accompanying the sponsored relative must be included in the same application.

Sponsor requirements

• Must be 18 or older, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act; must reside in Canada during the processing of the application.
• Must meet the income requirements applicable to the application and sign an undertaking to provide financial support. The duration of the undertaking depends on the age and relationship of the sponsored person and can last up to 20 years.
• Must not be barred from sponsoring, such as being in prison, an undischarged bankrupt, receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability, or having defaulted on a previous sponsorship obligation.

The sponsored person must meet immigration requirements; IRCC may request medical exams, police certificates, and biometrics.

If residing in Québec

Québec reviews sponsorship undertakings through its own procedure. Await confirmation from IRCC before submitting to the MIFI. The period from July 2, 2026, to June 30, 2028, has intake caps for the parent, grandparent, and other relative categories; submission timing depends on the MIFI reception schedule. Minor orphaned relative categories are exempt from this cap.

Preparing and submitting the application

Sponsorship and permanent residence applications are submitted together via the online permanent residence portal. You must check the IMM 5196 guide and current document checklist, providing proof of relationship, family information, income, and civil status documents. Orphan applications require death certificates for both parents; the "one other relative" category requires an assessment of the sponsor's entire family situation.

How does KeyApply support you?

KeyApply assesses your relationship and sponsorship eligibility, guides you through evidence, and prepares and monitors your application. Select Register for profile assessment to determine the appropriate category before proceeding. Service fees and government fees are confirmed separately after the assessment; there is no guarantee of approval.

Official sources

• IRCC: Who you can sponsor
• IRCC: Sponsor eligibility
• IRCC: How to apply
• Québec: Intake caps and schedule

Updated October 8, 2026. Conditions and intake schedules are subject to change; verify with official sources when applying.