Sponsor an orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild, or one other relative
Official name: Family Class: orphaned relatives (IRPR s.117(1)(f)) and other relative (IRPR s.117(1)(h))
A Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian living in Canada can sponsor certain relatives for permanent residence in narrow cases: an orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild under 18, or, if the sponsor has no close relative they could sponsor and no relative in Canada with status, one relative of any age related by blood or adoption.
3 entry rules for Canada based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Entry refused after a stay in DR Congo in the last 21 days
If you're not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and you've been in DR Congo in the last 21 days, you can't enter Canada, board a flight to Canada or connect through a Canadian airport, unless you fall under an exemption.
In force until November 27, 2026
Ebola disease: Border measures for travellers entering Canada (PHAC, page date 2026-10-08) New Temporary Border Measures in Response to the Ebola Disease Outbreak (PHAC, 19 Jul 2026) Government of Canada extends temporary border measures in response to Ebola disease outbreak (PHAC, Aug 2026) Checked October 19, 2026
Quarantine after a stay in DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan in the last 21 days
If you're allowed into Canada after being in DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the last 21 days, you'll get a health check on arrival and must quarantine for 21 days, report to public health within 48 hours and check your temperature every day.
In force until November 27, 2026
Ebola disease: Border measures for travellers entering Canada (PHAC) Government of Canada introduces temporary border measures in response to the Ebola disease outbreak (PHAC, 26 May 2026) Checked October 19, 2026
Visa applications paused after a stay in DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan
If the last country you lived in, as stated on your application, is DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan, Canada has suspended visitor visas, eTAs and permanent resident visas and paused new decisions. This depends on where you live, not your nationality.
In force until November 27, 2026
Ebola disease: Temporary measures (IRCC, page date 2026-09-28) Government of Canada introduces temporary border measures (PHAC, 26 May 2026) Checked October 19, 2026
Life in Canada
Finance
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Currency
Canadian Dollar
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Canadian Dollar
Cost of living
90
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
14–33%
Income tax (national)
Federal top rate applies above CAD 258,482 (2026); provinces/territories add their own income tax (roughly 4% to 21% at the top), giving combined top rates of about 44% to 54%.
Living
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Who it’s for
Orphaned children related to the sponsor, and relatives of sponsors who have no close family to sponsor and no relatives in Canada.
Eligibility
Orphaned relativeOrphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild
Sign in to check this route against your profileThe relative must be your brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild, under 18, single, with both parents deceased.
- Relationship can be by blood or adoption
- Must be single: not married or common-law
- A parent who is absent, missing, detained or has abandoned the child does not count
- Care by someone else does not replace both parents having died
Official wording
Must be the sponsor's brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild by blood or adoption, under 18, single (not married or common-law), and both parents must have passed away. It is not enough that a parent is alive but absent, whereabouts unknown, has abandoned the child, is detained, or that someone else cares for the child.
Other relative (one only)Other relative
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou may sponsor 1 relative of any age, by blood or adoption, only if you have no one closer to sponsor and no qualifying relatives in Canada.
- Limit of 1 relative
- No living spouse, partner, child, parent, grandparent or orphaned sibling, nephew, niece or grandchild you could sponsor
- No relative, including aunt or uncle, who is a citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian
- An aunt or cousin can count; an uncle's spouse not related by blood or adoption cannot
Official wording
The sponsor may sponsor 1 relative of any age related by blood or adoption only if the sponsor has no living spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, son or daughter, parent, grandparent, orphaned sibling, orphaned nephew or niece, or orphaned grandchild they could sponsor instead, and has no relative (including aunt or uncle) who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian. IRCC's examples: an aunt or a cousin can qualify; an uncle's spouse (not related by blood or adoption) cannot.
SponsorSponsor
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou must be at least 18, a citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian, live in Canada, and meet income guidelines.
- Primary home address in Canada from submission until decision
Official wording
At least 18; Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person registered under the Indian Act; living in Canada (primary residential address in Canada from submission until decision); meets set income guidelines.
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