SPONSOR YOUR SIBLINGS FOR PR
Bringing your loved ones together is a cherished goal, and Canada’s family reunification programs provide a pathway to unite siblings on Canadian soil. If you’re eager to sponsor your sibling to Canada, this guide will walk you through the essential steps and requirements to make this dream a reality.
Eligibility Criteria For Sponsors:
To sponsor a sibling to Canada, individuals must meet the following criteria:
Be 18 years of age or older.
Be a Canadian citizen, a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act, or a permanent resident of Canada.
Exceptions apply for Canadian citizens living abroad who plan to return to Canada when sponsoring a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, or dependent children with no dependent children.
If residing in Quebec, additional conditions must be met, including signing an “undertaking” with the province, creating a binding sponsorship contract.
Responsibilities as a Sponsor:
Meet specified income guidelines.
Commit in writing to provide financial support to the sponsored relative and any eligible relatives for up to 20 years, depending on age and the nature of the relationship.
Ensure that the sponsored person signs an agreement to make efforts toward self-support, excluding dependent children under 19.
Ineligibility to Sponsor a Sibling:
Individuals may not be eligible to sponsor a sibling if they:
- Are incarcerated.
- Have outstanding alimony or child support payments.
- Are in the process of bankruptcy.
- Received social assistance for reasons other than disability.
- Failed to repay an immigration loan or adhered to the terms of a past sponsorship agreement inadequately.
- Were convicted of specific crimes, considering factors such as the type of offense, time passed, and record suspension status.
Restrictions on Sponsoring a Sibling:
While sponsoring a sibling is possible, there are several restrictions, including:
- Only one relative, related by blood or adoption, may be sponsored.
- Exclusion of sponsoring living relatives such as spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, children, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, orphaned brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren.
Special Considerations for Orphaned Relatives:
Sponsoring orphaned brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren is permissible under specific conditions:
- The relative is under 18 years of age.
- Both parents have passed away.
- The relative is single and not in a marriage or common-law relationship.
However, sponsorship is not allowed if one of the parents is alive, the whereabouts of the parents are unknown, or someone other than the parents is caring for the relative while one or both parents are alive