Family Sponsorship Eligibility Update
In our previous blog about family sponsorship, we described what types of family members are eligible to be sponsored under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). To review, the more common types of family members sponsored through these applications are spouses, common-law or conjugal partners, dependent children, parents, and grandparents. Other types of relatives such as aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters usually are not eligible. This update will cover other types of family members who are eligible to be sponsored through the family class.
There is a clause that would allow you to sponsor a brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild. The following conditions must be met:
- The parents are deceased
- The person is not married or in a common-law relationship
- The person is either:
- A child of the sponsor’s mother or father
- A child of a child of the sponsor’s mother or father
- A child of the sponsor’s child
Adoption under family sponsorship
You can also sponsor a person under 18 years old if you plan to adopt them. However, the adoption cannot take place solely for the purpose of a family sponsorship application. As well, the adoption must satisfy international law.
Lonely Canadian rule
Lastly, if a person does not have any relatives in Canada, or any relatives living elsewhere who are eligible to be sponsored, then they would be allowed to sponsor a relative they normally would not be allowed to sponsor for whatever reason. For example, under this clause, a person might be able to sponsor their brother who is over the age of 18 under the family class. This clause is known as the ‘Lonely Canadian’ rule.
In our future updates, we will elaborate on rules and provide clarification on specific situations related to sponsoring an adopted child.
If you would like to learn more about sponsoring your family members to come to Canada, please contact us.
