It’s one of the most heartbreaking misunderstandings in Canadian immigration: you usually can’t sponsor your sibling.

Despite what people hear in their communities or assume from experience with other countries, Canada’s sponsorship program is narrow. IRCC only allows sponsorship of:

  • Spouses or common-law partners
  • Dependent children
  • Parents and grandparents

So where does that leave your brother or sister?

There is one legal exception: you may sponsor your sibling only if they’re an orphan under 18, unmarried, and have no one else to care for them. That’s it. The vast majority of adult siblings will not qualify.

That doesn’t mean you have no role to play. Many siblings succeed in coming to Canada through independent streams—with support from their relatives.

Here’s how you can help:

  • Boost their Express Entry profile: having a sibling in Canada adds CRS points
  • Assist with PNP pathways: some provinces (like Manitoba, Saskatchewan) allow family support
  • Help them apply to school or secure a job with LMIA support
  • Offer documentation or declarations that show family connection

While you can’t “sponsor” your sibling in the traditional sense, your presence in Canada still matters. At Marwah-Jad, we help families assess what is—and isn’t—possible, so no one wastes time on applications that are bound to be refused.