Canada's family class is narrowly defined — in general, only spouses/partners, dependent children, and parents/grandparents can be sponsored. There is no pathway to sponsor a sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, cousin, or other extended family member under the normal family class. However, a narrow exception exists: a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who has no living close relatives who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or registered Indians — and no relatives who could be sponsored under the normal provisions — can sponsor one relative of any degree of relationship. This is sometimes called the "last remaining relative" provision. This page explains the strict eligibility conditions for both the sponsor and the person being sponsored, the separate orphaned relative provision, and how the application works.

For current information on sponsoring other relatives, refer to the IRCC sponsor your relatives page.

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), s 117(1)(h) — the family class member definition includes a relative of any degree if the sponsor meets the conditions
• IRPR, s 117(1)(g) — orphaned relatives under 18 who are related by blood or adoption (sibling, niece, nephew, grandchild) and have no parents
• IRPR, s 133(1) — sponsorship eligibility requirements including the conditions required for sponsoring under the other relatives provision
• IRCC: Sponsor your relatives — who you can sponsor — canada.ca/sponsor-relatives-who
• IRCC: Sponsor your relatives — eligibility — canada.ca/sponsor-relatives-eligibility

The general rule — limited family class

Canada's family reunification program allows sponsorship of only the following family class members:

• Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner
• Dependent children (including adopted children)
• Parents and grandparents (through the PGP program)
• Orphaned relatives under 18 (separate provision, discussed below)

Siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and more distant relatives cannot normally be sponsored — Canada does not have a sibling sponsorship category like some other countries. This is a firm rule with a narrow exception.

The exception — the four conditions for the sponsor

A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian can sponsor one relative of any degree if ALL four of the following conditions are met:

1. The sponsor is at least 18 years old
2. The sponsor is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or registered Indian
3. The sponsor lives in Canada at the time of the application — Canadian citizens living abroad do not qualify for this provision
4. The sponsor has no living relative from the following list who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian — AND has no living relative who the sponsor could otherwise sponsor under the family class:
   — Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner
   — Son or daughter
   — Parent or grandparent
   — Brother or sister (including half-sibling, step-sibling, or adopted sibling)
   — Uncle or aunt (parent's sibling)
   — Niece or nephew (sibling's child)
   

The fourth condition is the most demanding — if the sponsor has any living relative in the above list (regardless of where they live or their immigration status), the exception does not apply. A sponsor who has a sibling living in another country who is not a Canadian citizen or PR still has a living relative in the list — they do not qualify. The provision is specifically for people who are genuinely alone in terms of close family connections.

Who can be sponsored under the exception

If the sponsor meets the four conditions, they can sponsor one relative of any degree of kinship — a sibling, a cousin, a great-aunt, a distant relation, or any other person to whom the sponsor is related by blood, marriage, or adoption. The relative does not need to be in a close relationship; any kinship connection qualifies once the sponsor's four conditions are met.

The sponsored relative must also meet standard admissibility requirements: health, character, and any other applicable requirements for the family class.

One relative only — not multiple

The provision allows the sponsor to bring one relative to Canada — not multiple relatives. The sponsor cannot use the exception to sponsor several siblings or other extended family members at the same time. If the sponsor has already used the exception (sponsored one relative under this provision) and then wants to sponsor another, that second person generally would not qualify under this provision (as the sponsor now has a relative — the previously sponsored person — who is in Canada).

Orphaned relatives — separate provision

A separate provision in the IRPR allows a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor an orphaned relative who is under 18 years of age and is related by blood or adoption, where both of the child's parents are deceased. The child must be a sibling, niece or nephew (sibling's child), or grandchild of the sponsor. This provision does not require the sponsor to have "no close relatives" — it stands alone. The child must be genuinely orphaned (both parents deceased) and must be under 18.

Sponsorship requirements

The sponsor must meet the standard sponsorship eligibility requirements for the family class — including being free of any sponsorship bars and meeting the minimum income requirements. For the other relatives provision, the standard undertaking (financial support commitment) also applies. For information on sponsorship requirements, see the sponsorship undertaking page and the sponsorship bars page.

How to apply

The sponsorship application for other relatives follows a similar process to other family class sponsorships:

1. The sponsor completes the sponsorship application (IMM 1344) and the relative completes the permanent residence application
2. Both applications are submitted to IRCC together
3. The sponsor must demonstrate compliance with the four conditions (evidence that they have no close relatives in Canada)
4. For current application forms, processing times, and fees, refer to the IRCC sponsor your relatives — how to apply page

The fourth condition — having no living close relative anywhere in the world who is a Canadian citizen, PR, or registered Indian — is interpreted broadly by IRCC. A sponsor who has a living sibling in another country (not a Canadian citizen or PR) still has a living sibling: the condition is not "no close relative who is in Canada" but "no close relative" who is a Canadian citizen, PR, or registered Indian. This means the provision applies only to those who are genuinely isolated from close family, not simply those whose family members are not yet Canadian. Applicants who believe they qualify should carefully document their family situation — IRCC may request evidence that no listed relatives exist or are living. The provision is used infrequently because the conditions are so strict; most applicants who want to bring extended family members to Canada explore the Super Visa (for parents/grandparents), or other pathways, rather than the other relatives provision. For current eligibility requirements and the application package, refer to the IRCC sponsor your relatives page.