SPONSOR YOUR SIBLINGS FOR PR

✅ Sponsor Eligibility: Who Can Apply?

To sponsor an eligible relative such as a sibling or orphaned family member to become a permanent resident of Canada, you must meet specific criteria:

• Be 18 years of age or older.

• Be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident living in Canada, or a person registered under the Canadian Indian Act.

• If living outside Canada, you must be a Canadian citizen planning to return to Canada when your relative becomes a permanent resident.

Note for Quebec residents: Additional requirements apply, including signing a binding sponsorship undertaking with the provincial government.

📝 Sponsor Responsibilities: What You’re Committing To

As a sponsor, you take on legal and financial responsibilities for your relative:

• Meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirements (if applicable).

• Sign an undertaking promising to support your sponsored relative for a specific period (up to 20 years, depending on the relationship).

• Ensure your relative does not need social assistance during this time.

• Your relative must also sign an agreement to make efforts toward becoming self-sufficient (except in the case of dependent children under 19).

❌ Who Is Not Eligible to Sponsor a Sibling?

Certain conditions can make you ineligible to act as a sponsor, such as:

• Being in jail or prison.

• Having outstanding child support or alimony payments.

• Being undischarged from bankruptcy.

• Currently receiving social assistance (unless due to a disability).

• Failing to meet the terms of a previous sponsorship.

• Having a criminal conviction related to violent or sexual offenses, especially if it involves a family member (eligibility may depend on time passed and whether a record suspension was granted).

🔒 Restrictions on Sponsoring Siblings

In most cases, Canadian immigration does not allow sponsorship of siblings, unless very specific and rare conditions are met:

• You have no other living relatives you could sponsor (spouse, child, parent, grandparent, etc.), and

• You have no other family members who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

This means the sibling sponsorship route is only open under special cases—such as for orphaned relatives.

👶 Special Cases: Sponsoring Orphaned Relatives

Canada does allow sponsorship of orphaned siblings or extended family members under the Family Class if:

• The relative is under 18 years old.

• Both parents are deceased.

• The relative is not married and not in a common-law or conjugal relationship.

Important: Sponsorship is not permitted if:

• One or both parents are alive.

• The whereabouts of the parents are unknown.

• Another person is currently caring for the child (e.g., a grandparent or guardian).

• The child is married or in a partnership.

🤝 How Choice Visa Can Help

Understanding the rules and eligibility surrounding sibling and orphaned relative sponsorships can be complex. At Choice Visa, we:

• Assess your unique family situation to determine your sponsorship eligibility.

• Guide you through every document and requirement.

• Ensure your application is complete, accurate, and submitted on time.

• Assist with Quebec-specific requirements, if applicable.

📢 Considering Other Options?

If you’re not eligible to sponsor your sibling through the Family Class, your sibling may still explore other immigration programs, such as:

• Express Entry (with points for family connections)

• Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) that allow applications with relatives in the province

• Study permits or work permits that could lead to permanent residency

Let us help you explore all available pathways to bring your loved ones closer.