Canada Introduces New Immigration Sponsorship Categories

Canada has announced two categories of relatives that Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor for immigration, as per Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The first category includes orphaned brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, and grandchildren under 18 years of age who must be single and have lost both parents.

Sponsorship is not allowed if one or both parents are alive, even if their whereabouts are unknown, or if a parent is incarcerated. The second category allows sponsorship of one relative of any age, related by blood or adoption, but the sponsor must have no living relatives they could otherwise sponsor, including spouses, children, or any orphaned siblings.

Additionally, none of the sponsor's relatives can already hold Canadian citizenship or permanent residency. If the relative being sponsored has dependents, they must be included in the same application.