Other Sponsorships
Unlike the more commonly known sponsorship categories, Canada also includes sponsorship of other types of relatives including orphaned family members or other relatives by blood or adoption.
What are the two types of Other Sponsorships?
There are two options available, and sponsorships through these categories are only available in very specific circumstances.
Orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild
Other relatives (any relative, related by blood or adoption of any age)
If you do not meet the requirements of these sponsorship categories, your family members will need to explore permanent residency through a different category, such as Express Entry.
Who can sponsor their relatives?
Similar to the other sponsor categories, sponsors must be at least 18 years of age or older and reside in Canada. Sponsors must also be a Canadian citizen, registered in Canada as an Indian Under the Canadian Indian Act or a permanent resident of Canada.
You may not be eligible to sponsor if any of the following apply to you:
You are in prison
You have not paid child support payments or alimony
You receive social assistance other than for disability
You have not paid back an immigration loan missed payments, or made late payments
You have been convicted of a violent crime against a relative or sexual offence
You have declared bankruptcy and have not yet been released
As a sponsor through the "other relative" sponsorships, you are required to meet income requirements, as well as agree to support your other relative on the date they become a permanent resident and, in some cases, for 20 years.
Can I sponsor an orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild?
Through this category, you can sponsor a sibling, niece/nephew or grandchild if all of the below conditions are met:
They are related to you by blood or adoption
Their parents have passed away (a living parent will make the relative ineligible to be sponsored under this category)
They are under 18 years of age
They are single; this includes spouse, common-law and conjugal relationships
If this category does not apply to you, you may be able to sponsor your relative through the "other relative program."
Can I sponsor a relative of any age?
This sponsorship category is often referred to as the "lonely Canadian" category and allows a permanent resident or Canadian citizen to sponsor an adult child, sibling, aunt/uncle, or niece/nephew as well as their dependent family members.
In order to meet the requirements, the sponsor must show they do not have a spouse, common-law partner, child, parent or grandparent, or orphaned family member, who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident or who can be sponsored to Canada through the other sponsorship categories. For example, if a sponsor is married with children, they are not able to sponsor their sister to immigrate.