Canada invites thousands of immigrants through the Family Sponsorship program. This can also be seen in Canada's new Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026. In 2024, 114,000 immigrants are targets under the family class, and this will rise to 118,000 immigrants by 2026.
Under the family sponsorship, permanent residents and citizens of Canada (also people who registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act) can sponsor their immediate family members as permanent resident Canada. As for siblings, they cannot be sponsored under this program - except in certain conditions.
What are these conditions? Let’s find out.
Conditions to Sponsor Siblings to Canada
Generally, Canada does not allow PR holders and Canadian citizens to sponsor their brothers, sisters, nephews, and nieces to Canada. However, there are exceptions and this is referred to as the "lonely Canadian rule."
You can bring your orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild to Canada only if:
- They’re related to you by blood or adoption
- Both their mother and father have died
- They are under the age of 18
- They are non-married or in a common-law or conjugal relationship
You cannot sponsor your siblings to Canada if:
- One of their parents is alive
- No one has any information about the location of their parents
- Their parents have abandoned them
- Someone else - other than their parents - is supporting them while one of both of their parents is alive
- Their parents are in prison or otherwise detained
Requirements to Become a Sponsor
If they meet the conditions listed above, here are the requirements you must meet in order to sponsor them:
- Your are must be at least 18
- You must be a PR holder or a Canadian citizen
- You must have enough balance in your account to provide basic amenities to the sponsored individual
- You must not be getting any help from the government, except if disabled.
- You must have a low-income threshold.
- You should be able to prove the real relationship between you and your sister with proper documentation
- Your current place of residence must be in Canada
- You should follow all the rules of Quebec (if living there)
Other Pathways to Bring Your Siblings to Canada
If your siblings are unable to meet the sponsorship requirements, there are other economic immigration programs that answer your “how to go to Canada from India?’ question.
Option 1: Study Permit
One of the easiest ways to move to Canada is through a study permit. You can help your sibling look for a course or program from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Also, DLIs are the only educational institutions in Canada which accept international students.
Studying at DLI makes international students eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after completing graduation. While they are studying, they can look for on and off-campus jobs and gain Canadian work experience. This can later be used to apply for Express Entry managed streams or through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) and become a permanent resident in Canada.
Option 2: LMIA-Approved Work Permits
If not study, your sibling can also obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-approved job offer in Canada. By this route, Canadian employers hire foreign workers to meet the labour gaps in the Canadian market. The employer has to get this LMIA from the government providing proof that there were no citizens or permanent residents who were eligible to fill the job role and that hiring a foreign worker will - in no way - affect Canada’s economy negatively.
If the application is approved, your sibling gets a job in Canada. After gaining work experience, they can build their eligibility for permanent residency and apply through one of the economic immigration programs in Canada.
If you are having trouble understanding the complexity of bringing your siblings to Canada, connect with the best immigration consultants in Ludhiana, Nationwide Visas. With their experience of more than 17 years, they are equipped with in-depth knowledge about Canadian laws and regulations and can guide you to make well-informed decisions.
Good Luck!
Comments