Can I show my cousin, uncle or grandfather as my sponsor?

Short answer: Possibly, and that is as far as the public documents allow me to go. V12 explains why.

Two separate bars

Relationship is only the first of them:

1. Is the relationship accepted? Unresolved for extended family (V12). Verify in writing before you build a file around it.
2. Does the sponsor's own position explain the money? This bar is identical for everyone. A sponsor's 12 month statement and proof of the source of funds are both required (Dhaka checklist). An uncle with documented business income is a stronger sponsor than a parent whose account cannot be explained.

A relative already in Italy

The July 2026 checklist explicitly accepts "a person legally residing in Italy". If that is your situation you are on the firmer of the two lists, and you will need a copy of their residence permit and ID.

What helps whoever sponsors you

A documented relationship, and a sponsor who can show income rather than only a balance. Income explains a balance. A balance explains nothing by itself.

What I do not know

Whether the embassy weighs a closer relative above a more distant one with better finances. No source says, so I am not going to invent a ranking.