Parents and Grandparents Program

From the remaining 155,313 potential sponsors who filled out the interest to sponsor form in 2020, Canada Invited 23,100 of them to participate in the 2022 Parents and Grandparents Program process.

What is the Parents and Grandparents Program?

Canadian family-class immigration allows Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residency in Canada through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). 

Sponsored parents and grandparents acquire permanent residency status in Canada and its advantages. This includes having access to publicly financed health care and other services, as well as the freedom to live and work anywhere in Canada, at any time, in any job, and in any industry. Sponsored grandparents and parents may eventually get Canadian citizenship.

According to the multi-year immigration strategy of the Canadian government, the PGP will accept about 25,000 new permanent residents yearly.

How Does the Parents and Grandparents Program Work?

The application for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) typically opens once a year. 

• Firstly if you are eligible to sponsor, then you need to submit an interest to sponsor form
• After submitting an interest to sponsor form, Canadian Authorities will review your submission and inform you whether you are invited.
• If you get your Invitation to apply, proceed with all your necessary documents and information by remembering the deadline that is mentioned in your invitation. 

Process for the PGP Program?

After getting your ITA for the Parents and Grandparents program you are eligible to sponsor your parents and grandparents to become a permanent resident of Canada. Here are the two distinct applications:

1. Sponsor Application
2. Permanent Residence Application

Both the sponsor and permanent application must be submitted together at the same time.

Eligibility Criteria for Parent and Grandparents Program (PGP)

You can sponsor your own parents and grandparents if

• You’re invited to apply
• You’re at least 18 years old
• You live in Canada
• You’re a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada. 
• You have enough money to support the people you want to sponsor
  • Provide your proof of income
  • You may have a spouse or common-law partner co-sign to combine your incomes
• You meet all other requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Who You Can Sponsor For Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)?

You can sponsor your parents and grandparents related by blood relative or adoption.

• In case, your parents are separated then you need to submit separate applications for both. 
• If your divorced parents have a current spouse or common-law partner then they are dependents to your parents and grandparents and can immigrate to Canada with them if approved. 
• You can add your brother and sister, half brothers and sister, step-brother and sister only if they are eligible for dependents.
• You need to meet all income requirements for all the members for whom you are a sponsor. 

The people you sponsor must also be eligible

• They need to provide all information and required documents
• Submit additional information that as medical examination, police certification, and biometrics.

Examples of who you can sponsor

• Sponsoring your mother and father, together as a couple
• Sponsoring your father, your stepmother, and their son
• Sponsoring your grandparents, your mother and your stepfather

Find out if you were invited to apply

Canada requested potential sponsors from the remaining pool of interested parties to sponsor forms filed in 2020 for the 2022 process. Canada requested prospective sponsors to submit applications between October 12 and October 20, 2022. The application deadline has already passed. Canada invited prospective sponsors with 23,100 invites in order to obtain up to 15,000 full applications.

If you’re not invited to apply

If you are not invited to apply then there is one more opportunity to get your parents and grandparents to Canada. That is the Canada Super Visa. Through a super visa, your parents and grandparents can stay in Canada for at least 5 years at a time. They can also apply for a 2-year extension while staying in Canada. 

How to Apply For PGP?

If you are invited to apply for PGP then you need to submit two applications:

1. Apply to become a sponsor
2. Parents or grandparents must apply for permanent residence

Both applications must be filled out at the same time. Canada sent invitations to those who had filed interest to sponsor forms in 2020 from the remaining pool of possible sponsors for the 2022 process.

• Step-1 Get An Invitation
• Step-2 Apply Online
• Step-3 Pay Your Application Fees
• Step-4 Submit Your Application
• Step-5 Prepare Additional Information During Process
• Step-6 Get Regular Updates About Your Application

Make sure your contact information and application data are current to prevent processing delays.

Minimum Income Requirements

Under the low-income cut-off (LICO), also known as the Super Visa eligibility requirements, the applicant’s child or grandchild must earn a certain amount.

Can parents on super visas get PR?

You can apply for permanent residency in Canada by sponsoring your parents or grandparents through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). A temporary  Canada visa is a Canada Super Visa, which has a 10-year validity period and permits stays of up to two years for each visit. However, you are still permitted to remain in Canada on a Super visa while your home country is still processing your application for permanent resident status in Canada.

IRCC announces update to Parents and Grandparents Program 2023

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) has just received an upgrade from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Up to 15,000 full applications for sponsorship under the PGP will be accepted by IRCC this year.

In an effort to obtain up to 15,000 full applications, the IRCC will start mailing invitations to apply to 24,200 potential sponsors on October 10.

Due to the number of forms still in the pool of 2020 submissions, invitations to apply will be given to a random subset of those sponsors rather than launching a fresh interest to sponsor form.

You are advised to verify the email address you supplied in 2020 when you submitted your interest to sponsor form if you submitted one in 2020 but did not receive an invitation to apply in 2021 or 2022.

IRCC will continue to use the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal, which allows applications to be filed electronically if you are asked to apply as part of the 2023 intake.