Canada Family Sponsorship: parents and grandparents Visa
Ready to Welcome Your Parents to Canada Permanently?
Family reunification has always been at the heart of Canada’s immigration policy. The Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program (PGP) is a unique pathway that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada permanently. As we step into 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced updated guidelines and quotas for the PGP, aiming to streamline the process and continue strengthening family bonds. The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their biological or adopted parents and grandparents to become permanent residents of Canada.
In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the PGP 2025, including the latest policy updates, eligibility criteria, income requirements, the application process, and the alternative Super Visa route.
Who Can Sponsor?
Not everyone residing in Canada can sponsor parents or grandparents. The sponsor must meet specific eligibility criteria to ensure they are financially stable and can support their family members without relying on social assistance.
Age Eligibility : 18 years of age or older
Invitation to Apply: You have received an invitation to apply from IRCC.
Residency: You live in Canada. Your primary residential address must be in Canada when you submit your application and until a decision is made on your application.
Financial Eligible: You have sufficient income to support the people you want to sponsor. This includes providing proof of income, and you may have a spouse or common-law partner co-sign the application to combine your incomes.
Legal Requirements: You meet all other requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Undertaking Agreement: You commit to financially support the people you’re sponsoring by signing a sponsorship agreement called an undertaking.
Submit the Interest to Sponsor Form when the PGP opens, submit an Interest to Sponsor form on the IRCC website.
You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and meet minimum income requirements.
IRCC randomly selects sponsors from the pool and sends Invitation to Apply (ITA) emails.
If you receive an ITA, you must submit two applications together within the deadline: Sponsorship Application (to prove you can support your parents/grandparents) & Permanent Residence Application (for the applicants themselves)
Pay the Fees like Sponsorship fee, Processing fee, Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) and Biometrics fee (if applicable)
Your parents/grandparents may be asked to visit a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to submit biometrics (fingerprints and a photo).
IRCC will review the application, request any additional documents if needed, and make a decision. Processing times may vary but typically take 24 to 48 months, depending on the case and location.
If approved, your parents or grandparents will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a PR visa (if outside Canada).
⚠️ Note: For recent years, IRCC has only accepted applications from the 2020 pool. If you already submitted in 2020, you may still receive an invitation.
If You Were Invited to Apply, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will send an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to the email address you provided in your Interest to Sponsor form. If you receive this email, you are eligible to submit a sponsorship application for your parents or grandparents under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). Be sure to check your inbox, including your spam or junk folder, carefully.
If You Were Not Invited to Apply, If you did not receive an invitation, you can still bring your parents or grandparents to Canada through the Super Visa program
The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time.
They can also apply to extend their stay by up to 2 more years while in Canada.
List of Required Documents for Submission
Proof of Status in Canada Canadian Passport, PR card, Citizenship certificate, Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of PR (IMM 5292/5688)
The undertaking period begins when the person you sponsor becomes a permanent resident of Canada. An undertaking is a legal promise you make to the Canadian government, committing to:
Financial Support: Providing for the basic needs of the person you’re sponsoring, including food, clothing, shelter, and other essentials.
Repayment Obligation: If the person you sponsor receives social assistance during the undertaking period, you must repay the amount received.
Undertaking Duration : If you live in any Canadian province or territory other than Quebec, you’ll need to commit to financially supporting your sponsored parents or grandparents for 20 years starting from the day they become permanent residents. If you live in Quebec, the rules are a bit different. The required financial commitment, or “undertaking,” lasts 10 years from the date your parents or grandparents become permanent residents.
Income Requirements for Sponsoring Parents and Grandparents
Not everyone qualifies,. IRCC has clear rules about who can’t sponsor family members under this program. You may be ineligible if:
Proof of Income Over 3 Years : To sponsor your parents or grandparents, you must demonstrate that you meet the income requirements for each of the three tax years preceding your application. For the 2025 intake, this means providing proof for the 2022, 2023, and 2024 tax years.
Calculating Family Size : Your required income level depends on your family size, which includes: yourself; your spouse or common-law partner (if applicable); your dependent children; any other individuals you are financially responsible for; and the parents or grandparents you wish to sponsor.
You’re Receiving Social Assistance (Non-Disability) : If you’re currently getting social assistance from the government for reasons other than a disability, you aren’t eligible to sponsor under the Parents and Grandparents Program.
You Have a Serious Criminal Record : Anyone convicted of a violent or sexual offense, or a crime against a family member, or currently serving a prison sentence or on parole, won’t qualify as a sponsor.
You’ve Been Ordered to Leave Canada : If you’ve been issued a removal order and are required to leave Canada, you cannot sponsor until that order is lifted and your status is regularized.
What is Super Visa ?
The Super Visa is a special type of visa that allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to visit Canada for extended periods. Unlike a regular visitor visa, a Super Visa lets them stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time without needing to renew their status.
Key features of the Super Visa :
Valid for up to 10 years (multiple entries)
Allows stays of up to 5 years per visit
Applicants must have medical insurance from a Canadian company valid for at least one year
Requires a letter of invitation from their child or grandchild in Canada
The visitor must undergo an immigration medical exam
