Family reunification is a key objective of the Government of Canada. To support this goal, Canada offers several immigration programs that allow citizens to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence. As one of the country’s top immigration priorities, family sponsorship plays a vital role in bringing loved ones together. Unlike other immigration pathways, sponsored relatives are not required to meet standard selection criteria. The Family Sponsorship Program helps families reunite so they can live, study, and work together in Canada.
New Update on the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) Quota – 2025
The Government of Canada has
announced
that for 2025, no new applications will be accepted under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for permanent residence. The focus will be on processing up to 15,000 applications that were already submitted in 2024.
This means that if you did not apply in 2024, you will not be able to apply in 2025. However, parents and grandparents can
still visit Canada for longer stays through the Super Visa,
which allows stays of up to five years at a time and is valid for up to 10 years.
Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Process – 2023
Canadian citizens and permanent residents wishing to sponsor their parents or grandparents in 2023 must begin by submitting an online Interest to Sponsor form to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This form is available only during a specified intake period, so applicants must monitor IRCC announcements closely.
After the intake period closes, IRCC conducts a random lottery draw from the pool of submitted interest forms. Selected individuals are invited to apply for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). This lottery-based system, introduced in 2020, ensures a fair and equal selection process for all interested sponsors.
Individuals chosen through the lottery will receive an official invitation to apply. The selection results are also published on the IRCC website. Receiving an invitation does not guarantee approval; it only allows applicants to move forward with the sponsorship application.
Invited sponsors must submit a complete sponsorship application within the deadline mentioned in the invitation. The application must include required supporting documents such as proof of relationship and financial eligibility. IRCC will review the submission, and once approved, the sponsored parents or grandparents can proceed with their permanent residence application.
Who Is Eligible to Sponsor Parents and Grandparents in Canada?
To sponsor your parents or grandparents to Canada, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
Certain conditions can make a person ineligible to sponsor their parents or grandparents. Sponsors may be refused if they have not fulfilled financial responsibilities from previous sponsorships, received social assistance, defaulted on an undertaking, or have been convicted of a violent or sexual offence or declared bankrupt.
Sponsors must meet the government-defined minimum income requirements to sponsor parents or grandparents. These income thresholds are updated annually and depend on the total family size. Meeting the required income level is crucial to prevent application delays or refusals.
Application Forms
The parent and grandparent sponsorship process requires the completion of several mandatory application forms. One of the key documents is IMM 5771 – Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement, and Undertaking, which collects detailed information about both the sponsor and the parents being sponsored.
In addition, the sponsor must complete the following forms:
Accurate and thorough completion of all required forms is crucial to ensure a smooth and timely processing of the sponsorship application.
Application Processing Time
Processing times for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship applications can vary based on several factors, including the number of applications currently under review and the complexity of each case. On average, the process takes approximately 20–24 months. Applications that are incomplete may take longer than 24 months to finalize. In addition, sponsored parents or grandparents may be required to provide biometrics after submission, and the time taken to complete this step is included in the overall processing period.
Parents Sponsorship Canada – Income Requirements
To determine your eligibility to sponsor your parents or grandparents, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reviews your income for the last three taxation years. The assessment is based on your Notice of Assessment (NOA) issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
| Number of People You’ll Sponsor | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 people | $44,530 | $43,082 | $32,898 |
| 3 people | $54,743 | $52,965 | $40,444 |
| 4 people | $66,466 | $64,306 | $49,106 |
| 5 people | $75,384 | $72,935 | $55,694 |
| 6 people | $85,020 | $82,259 | $62,814 |
| 7 people | $94,658 | $91,582 | $69,934 |
| For each additional person over 7 | Add $9,636 | Add $9,324 | Add $7,120 |
Source: Government of Canada
Sponsorship Application Fees
Sponsoring parents or grandparents to Canada requires payment of certain mandatory fees by the sponsor. These typically include the sponsorship fee, the principal applicant’s processing fee, and additional costs such as medical examinations and background or security checks. Applicants are advised to refer to the most recent fee schedule issued by IRCC to ensure all fees are paid correctly throughout the sponsorship process.
Frequently Asked Questions
