Parents Sponsorship
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency in Canada. Due to high demand, the program operates on an invitation basis, with limited intake periods. As of 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has paused new applications for the PGP, focusing on processing existing submissions.
Understanding the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
The PGP is designed to reunite Canadian citizens and permanent residents with their parents and grandparents by granting them permanent residency. Given the program’s popularity, IRCC manages intake through a randomized invitation system. Potential sponsors express their interest by submitting an online form during designated periods. Invitations to apply are then issued based on available spots.
Key Points:
Invitation-Based System: Interested sponsors must first submit an Interest to Sponsor form. IRCC then randomly selects and invites potential sponsors to apply.
Annual Intake Limits: Due to processing capacities, IRCC sets annual limits on the number of applications accepted. For instance, in 2024, IRCC aimed to accept up to 20,500 complete applications.
Program Pause in 2025: In 2025, IRCC announced a pause on new PGP applications to focus on processing existing submissions. Sponsors are encouraged to consider alternative options during this period.
Eligibility Criteria for Sponsors
To sponsor your parents or grandparents, you must:
Be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident: Only individuals with these statuses are eligible to sponsor.
Be at Least 18 Years Old: Sponsors must be adults.
Reside in Canada: Sponsors should be living in Canada at the time of application and when the sponsored individual becomes a permanent resident.
Meet Financial Requirements: Sponsors must demonstrate sufficient income to support their family members, including the sponsored individuals, by meeting the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the past three tax years. This ensures sponsors can financially support their parents or grandparents without relying on social assistance.
Sign an Undertaking: Sponsors commit to financially supporting the sponsored individuals for 20 years, starting from the date they become permanent residents. This includes repaying any social assistance benefits claimed by the sponsored family members during this period.
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Alternative Option: The Super Visa
Given the pause in new PGP applications for 2025, the Super Visa offers an alternative for parents and grandparents to join their families in Canada. The Super Visa allows eligible parents and grandparents to visit Canada for up to five years per entry, with the possibility of extensions.
Key Features:
Extended Stay: Parents and grandparents can stay in Canada for up to five years per visit.
Multiple Entries: The Super Visa is a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 10 years.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Letter of Invitation: From the child or grandchild residing in Canada.
- Proof of Financial Support: Demonstrating that the host meets the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) minimum.
- Medical Insurance: Proof of private health insurance coverage for at least one year.
- Medical Examination: Applicants must undergo an immigration medical exam.
The Super Visa provides a viable alternative for families wishing to reunite in Canada during the pause in new PGP applications.
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I’m Rashid Ali, a Licensed Canadian Immigration Consultant, having a designation of RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) from the College of Citizenship & Immigration Consultants of Canada or CICC (Previously known as ICCRC). CICC is the official regulator of immigration consultants in Canada. I’m also a member of the Canadian Association for Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC).
