What is the 'Lonely Canadian' or 'Other Relative' rule in Canadian immigration?

Codified under Section 117(1)(h) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), this provision allows an eligible Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada who has no other close living family members anywhere in the world (no spouse, partner, child, parent, grandparent, or orphaned minor relative) and no relative who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor any one relative of any age related by blood or adoption.

Can I sponsor an adult cousin or adult sibling under the Lonely Canadian rule?

Yes. If the sponsor passes the strict negative family test, they may sponsor an adult sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or first cousin of any age. Furthermore, that relative's legally married spouse or common-law partner and dependent children are included as accompanying dependants on the same application.

Does the sponsor need to meet a minimum income requirement (LICO)?

Yes. Unlike spousal or dependent child sponsorship, the Lonely Canadian category requires the sponsor to demonstrate a minimum income meeting the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) for their total family size (including the sponsored relative and any accompanying spouse or children) for the 12-month period preceding the application.

What if my parent is alive overseas but we are estranged or they do not want to come to Canada?

The rule strictly evaluates the biological existence of listed relatives, not the quality of the relationship or willingness to immigrate. If you have a living parent, child, or grandparent anywhere in the world, you are legally barred from using Section 117(1)(h), even if you have not spoken to them for decades. In such cases, discretionary Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) relief is the only potential alternative.

Canada Lonely Canadian & Other Relative Sponsorship (PR) 2026 – Mansory Consultants Islamabad

Canada Family Class Immigration • Section 117(1)(h) IRPR Desk

Canada Lonely Canadian Sponsorship
Permanent Residence for Adult Siblings, Cousins, Aunts & Extended Kin

Sponsor any one relative of any age to Canada under Section 117(1)(h) of the IRPR. Mansory Consultants (Meezan Bank Plaza, G-11 Markaz, Islamabad) provides rigorous legal case structuring: conducting strict worldwide family exclusion audits, establishing certified blood kinship, auditing 12-month LICO income compliance via CRA Notices of Assessment, and processing permanent residence dossiers for the relative and their accompanying family.

Evaluate Lonely Canadian Eligibility Book Office Consultation

Statutory Principles & Legal Thresholds

Key Section 117(1)(h) Program Mechanics

The Lonely Canadian rule is not about who you want to bring; it is a strict legal test proving the complete absence of closer family members.

Worldwide Family Test

You must have NO living spouse, partner, child, parent, grandparent, or orphaned minor relative anywhere in the world whom you could sponsor instead.

No Family in Canada

The sponsor cannot have any spouse, child, parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt, uncle, nephew, or niece who is a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident living in Canada.

Any Relative of Any Age

Once qualified, you may sponsor any single relative related by blood or adoption: an adult sibling, cousin, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew.

Accompanying Family

The sponsored relative’s legally married spouse or common-law partner and dependent children under 22 can be included as accompanying dependants for Canadian PR.

The Dual Evidentiary Test

The Two Tests You Must Satisfy to Qualify

Federal Court jurisprudence (Bousaleh, Sendwa) establishes that biological existence—not estrangement or willingness—is the sole benchmark.

Negative Test 1

No Living Relative Sponsorable Worldwide

You cannot use this category if you have any living relative anywhere on Earth belonging to the standard sponsorable family classes:

A living spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner
A living biological or adopted child (under 22 or over 22)
A living parent (mother or father)
A living grandparent (maternal or paternal)
An orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild under 18

The Estrangement Rule: Even if you have not spoken to your parent in 20 years, do not know their location, or they refuse to move to Canada, their mere biological existence permanently closes this category.

Negative Test 2

No Family Relative in Canada as Citizen / PR

You cannot use this category if you have any of the following relatives who is a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, or registered Indian:

Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner in Canada
Child, grandchild, parent, or grandparent in Canada
Brother or sister (sibling) in Canada
Aunt or uncle by blood or adoption in Canada
Niece or nephew by blood or adoption in Canada

The Single Exception: Having a cousin who is a Canadian citizen or PR in Canada does not disqualify you under Test 2, because cousins are not listed among the disqualifying relatives in Canada.

Financial Responsibility & Statutory Costs

LICO Income Benchmarks & Undertaking Length

Unlike spousal sponsorship, the Lonely Canadian category mandates proving minimum income (LICO) for your total household size for the preceding 12 months.

Sponsored Relative Profile	Federal Undertaking Duration	Government Fee Structure
Adult Relative (22 Years of Age or Older, e.g. adult sibling, cousin, aunt, uncle)	3 Years from the day permanent resident status is granted	$1,260 CAD ($75 sponsorship + $585 processing + $600 RPRF) + $85 biometrics
Minor Relative (Under 22 Years of Age)	10 Years or until the relative turns 25 (whichever comes first)	$150 CAD ($75 sponsorship + $75 processing fee) + $85 biometrics if age 14 or older
Accompanying Spouse / Partner of Relative	3 Years from landing	$1,185 CAD ($585 processing + $600 RPRF) + $85 biometrics
Accompanying Dependent Child of Relative	10 years or until age 25	$175 CAD per dependent child + $85 biometrics if age 14 or older

Income Proof (LICO Mandate): You must show sufficient income for the 12-month period preceding application submission, verified through your CRA Notice of Assessment (Line 15000). Total family size equals: yourself + the sponsored relative + their accompanying spouse and dependent children + any person you currently support under an active undertaking.

Automated Legal Assessment

Lonely Canadian Rule Eligibility Evaluator

Assess your worldwide family tree, Canadian relative status, LICO financial capacity, and chosen relative. Your full diagnostic report routes directly to our WhatsApp immigration desk (+92 331 0001991).

1. Contact & Personal Credentials

Sponsor Full Legal Name *

WhatsApp Mobile Number *

Email Address *

2. Sponsor Legal Standing & Worldwide Family Test

Sponsor Legal Status & Residence *

Do You Have a Living Spouse, Partner, or Child Worldwide? *

3. Parents, Grandparents & Relatives in Canada

Do You Have a Living Parent or Grandparent Worldwide? *

Do You Have Relatives in Canada Who Are Citizens / PRs? *

4. Relative to Sponsor & LICO Income Audit

Relative You Wish to Sponsor *

Accompanying Dependants of Relative *

12-Month LICO Income Compliance (NOA) *

Step-By-Step Journey

Section 117(1)(h) Application Lifecycle

Procedural journey from family tree exclusion proof to Canadian Permanent Residence landing.

Family Tree Audit

Document death certificates for all parents and grandparents, proving the complete absence of closer sponsorable relatives worldwide.

Kinship & LICO Audit

Authenticate blood kinship with the chosen relative via official birth registries (NADRA/MOFA) and verify CRA Notice of Assessment meets LICO.

Undertaking Execution

Execute Form IMM 1344 committing to the binding statutory financial undertaking (3 years if relative is 22+; 10 years if under 22).

PR Portal Lodgement

Submit the completed digital sponsorship dossier via the IRCC Permanent Residence Portal and pay all federal processing and RPRF fees.

COPR & PR Landing

Complete panel medical examinations, security checks, and obtain Confirmation of Permanent Residence for the relative and family.

Verified Guidance

Frequently Asked Questions

Authoritative legal answers regarding the Lonely Canadian rule, cousin sponsorship, and estrangement bars.

Why is the Lonely Canadian rule so difficult to qualify for?

The category is designed as an exceptional measure of last resort for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who truly have no close family anywhere on Earth. Most people who apply are disqualified because they have a living parent, grandparent, or child overseas. Even if you are estranged from that relative or have no contact with them, federal courts (Bousaleh v. Canada; Sendwa v. Canada) have ruled that biological existence alone closes the door to Section 117(1)(h).

Can I sponsor an adult cousin under the Lonely Canadian rule?

Yes. Sponsoring a first cousin is one of the most underutilized applications of Section 117(1)(h). If the sponsor has no living spouse, partner, child, parent, or grandparent anywhere in the world and no qualifying relatives in Canada, they are permitted to sponsor any blood relative of any age, which legally includes first cousins. The cousin’s spouse and dependent children under 22 can be included as accompanying dependants on the same application.

Does having a cousin living in Canada disqualify me?

No. The statutory list of disqualifying relatives living in Canada as citizens or PRs includes spouses, common-law partners, children, parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. First cousins are noticeably omitted from this disqualifying list. Therefore, having a cousin who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada does not prevent you from using the Lonely Canadian rule.

Can in-laws (such as a brother-in-law or mother-in-law) be sponsored?

No. Under Section 117(1)(h), the person sponsored must be related to the Canadian sponsor by blood or legal adoption. Relatives by marriage (in-laws, step-relatives without legal adoption) do not qualify as the principal sponsored applicant.

How does Mansory Consultants assist from Islamabad?

Operating from our corporate office at Meezan Bank Plaza, G-11 Markaz, Islamabad, our immigration legal team conducts an exhaustive audit of your worldwide family tree, gathers and authenticates certified NADRA death certificates and Family Registration Certificates (FRC) to legally prove the negative family test, audits your CRA Notice of Assessment against LICO guidelines, and manages your complete digital submission through the IRCC PR Portal.

Direct Extended Family Reunification Management

Sponsor Your Extended Relative to Canada

Connect directly with our senior Canadian immigration specialists. Visit our Islamabad headquarters at Meezan Bank Plaza, G-11 Markaz, or initiate your case evaluation on WhatsApp.

Call: +92 331 000 1991 WhatsApp Direct

LONELY CANADIAN AND OTHER RELATIVE STREAM (PERMANENT RESIDENCE)