Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program (PGP): How to Bring Your Family to Canada

One of the most emotionally significant immigration pathways in Canada is the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), which allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency. The ability to reunite with aging parents and have them settle permanently in Canada is deeply valued by immigrant communities across the country.

However, the PGP is also one of the most competitive and oversubscribed immigration programs in Canada, with far more people wanting to sponsor than there are available spaces each year. This guide provides a thorough overview of the PGP, including eligibility requirements, the income threshold, the application process, the Super Visa alternative, and strategies for success.

Official information about the PGP is available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/sponsor-parents-grandparents.html.

How the PGP Works

Unlike spousal sponsorship, which is generally available to all eligible sponsors at any time, the PGP operates on a limited-intake model. Each year, IRCC opens a window during which potential sponsors can submit an Interest to Sponsor form. From the pool of interested sponsors, IRCC selects a specific number of applicants to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

The PGP intake process has changed over the years. It has alternated between a first-come-first-served system, a lottery system, and most recently an interest-to-sponsor system. The specifics of each year's intake are announced by IRCC, typically early in the calendar year.

Annual Intake Numbers

In recent years, IRCC has invited approximately 15,000 to 24,000 potential sponsors per year to submit complete applications. However, the number of interested sponsors far exceeds this capacity, often reaching hundreds of thousands. This means that being selected to apply is not guaranteed, even if you meet all eligibility requirements.

Eligibility Requirements for Sponsors

To sponsor your parents or grandparents, you must meet the following criteria:

Basic Eligibility

• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You must be living in Canada.
• Be at least 18 years old.
• Not be subject to a removal order.
• Not be in prison, charged with a serious offence, or bankrupt.
• Not be in default of any previous sponsorship undertaking, immigration loan, or performance bond.

Minimum Necessary Income (MNI)

This is the most significant eligibility requirement for the PGP. Unlike spousal sponsorship, the PGP requires sponsors to demonstrate that they meet a minimum income threshold.

Income Requirements:

• You must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for three consecutive tax years preceding the year of application
• The MNI is based on the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30%
• Your income is assessed based on your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Notice of Assessment for each of the three years
• Income from a co-signer (your spouse or common-law partner) can be included

Current MNI Thresholds (approximate, based on family size):

The MNI varies depending on the total size of the family unit, which includes:

• You (the sponsor)
• Your spouse or common-law partner
• Your dependent children
• Any persons you have previously sponsored who are still under your undertaking
• The persons you are currently applying to sponsor (parents/grandparents and their dependents)

For example, for a family unit of four persons (sponsor, spouse, and two parents being sponsored), the approximate MNI for each of the three qualifying years would be around $60,000 to $65,000 CAD, though this figure changes annually. The exact LICO+30% amounts are published by IRCC each year.

Important: For the 2020, 2021, and 2022 tax years, IRCC temporarily reduced the income requirement to LICO (without the 30% addition) due to the economic impacts of the pandemic. This special provision has since expired, and the standard LICO+30% threshold applies for current applications.

You can find the current LICO tables at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/sponsor-parents-grandparents/eligibility.html.

Undertaking Period

If you sponsor your parents or grandparents, you sign an undertaking to provide for their basic needs for 20 years from the date they become permanent residents. This means you are financially responsible for them and must ensure they do not rely on social assistance during this period.

This is a legally binding commitment. Even if your circumstances change (divorce, job loss, estrangement from the sponsored person), the undertaking remains in effect.

Who Can Be Sponsored?

You can sponsor:

• Your parents (biological or adoptive)
• Your grandparents (biological or adoptive)
• Their dependents (spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner of the parent/grandparent, and their dependent children)

The sponsored parents or grandparents must:

• Pass a medical examination
• Pass a criminal background check
• Not be inadmissible to Canada on any grounds
• Provide police clearance certificates from all countries where they have lived for six months or more since age 18

The Interest to Sponsor Process

Step 1: Submit Your Interest to Sponsor

When IRCC opens the PGP intake, submit your Interest to Sponsor form during the designated window. The form collects basic information about you and the family members you wish to sponsor.

Step 2: Wait for Selection

IRCC selects potential sponsors from the pool of interested applicants. The selection method varies by year (lottery or other method). If selected, you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) by email.

Step 3: Submit Your Complete Application

Once you receive an ITA, you have a specified period (typically 60 days) to submit your complete sponsorship application, including all supporting documents.

Step 4: Application Processing

IRCC processes your application, which includes:

• Verifying your eligibility as a sponsor
• Confirming your income meets the MNI for the required tax years
• Assessing the admissibility of the sponsored persons
• Requesting medical examinations and police clearances

Step 5: Decision

If approved, the sponsored persons receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and, if they are outside Canada, an immigrant visa to travel to Canada and complete the landing process.

Processing Times

Processing times for the PGP have historically been longer than for spousal sponsorship:

• Complete application processing: Approximately 20 to 24 months from the date IRCC receives the complete application
• Some applications may take longer depending on the complexity of the case, the need for additional documents, or the volume of applications

IRCC publishes current processing estimates at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html.

Fees

• Sponsorship fee: $75 CAD
• Principal applicant processing fee: $490 CAD per person being sponsored
• Right of Permanent Residence Fee: $515 CAD per person
• Biometrics: $85 per person
• Medical examination: $200 to $450 per person (paid directly to the panel physician)

For a typical application sponsoring two parents, the total government fees are approximately $2,245 CAD (excluding medical exams and police clearances).

The Super Visa: An Alternative to PGP

Given the competitive nature of the PGP and the uncertainty of being selected, many Canadians turn to the Super Visa as an alternative way to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada for extended visits.

What Is the Super Visa?

The Super Visa is a multi-entry visitor visa specifically for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. It allows the holder to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time (extended from the original two years).

Super Visa Requirements

• Invitation letter from the child or grandchild in Canada stating they will provide financial support during the visit
• Proof that the child or grandchild meets the LICO income threshold for their family size (only one year of income is required, compared to three years for PGP)
• Private medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company, covering at least $100,000 in coverage, valid for at least one year from the date of entry, covering health care, hospitalization, and repatriation
• Medical examination by a designated panel physician showing the applicant is in good health
• Valid passport
• Immigration medical exam

Super Visa vs. PGP Comparison

| Feature | Super Visa | PGP | |---------|-----------|-----| | Status in Canada | Temporary visitor | Permanent resident | | Healthcare coverage | Private insurance required | Eligible for provincial health insurance (after waiting period) | | Duration | Up to 5 years per stay, 10-year validity | Permanent | | Income requirement | LICO for 1 year | LICO+30% for 3 years | | Work in Canada | Not permitted | Permitted | | Selection process | Application-based (no lottery) | Interest to sponsor + selection | | Processing time | Approximately 2 to 6 months | Approximately 20 to 24 months | | Right to stay permanently | No | Yes |

When to Consider the Super Visa

• When you have been unsuccessful in the PGP lottery
• When your income does not meet the PGP's three-year MNI requirement but meets the one-year LICO threshold
• When your parents or grandparents want to visit Canada for an extended period without permanent immigration
• As a bridge while waiting for PGP processing

Super Visa information is available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/parent-grandparent-super-visa.html.

Tips for a Successful PGP Application

1. File your taxes on time and accurately. Your income is verified through CRA records for three consecutive years. Ensure your tax returns are filed and that your Notice of Assessment accurately reflects your income.

2. Include your spouse's income if applicable. If your spouse or common-law partner signs as a co-signer on the sponsorship application, their income can be counted toward the MNI threshold.

3. Calculate your family unit size carefully. Remember to include everyone in your family unit: yourself, your spouse, your dependents, anyone you have previously sponsored and who is still under your undertaking, and the persons you are sponsoring. Underestimating your family unit size leads to an incorrect income threshold and potential refusal.

4. Submit the Interest to Sponsor form as soon as it opens. While the selection process may not be strictly first-come-first-served, submitting early ensures your form is in the pool.

5. Prepare documents in advance. Once you receive an ITA, you have limited time to submit a complete application. Having your documents ready (police clearances, medical exams, income proof) will save valuable time.

6. Apply for the Super Visa in the meantime. If your parents are waiting for the PGP, a Super Visa allows them to visit and spend extended time in Canada.

7. Keep your contact information updated. IRCC communicates through email for the PGP. Make sure your email address is current and check it regularly.

8. Do not rely on a single year's intake. If you are not selected in one year, resubmit your Interest to Sponsor when the next intake opens. Many successful applicants tried multiple times before being selected.

9. Ensure your parents are medically admissible. If your parents have significant health conditions, getting a preliminary medical assessment can help you understand any potential issues before investing in the application.

10. Consider immigration counsel for complex cases. If there are complications such as criminal history, previous refusals, or medical issues, consulting an RCIC or immigration lawyer is advisable.

Common Reasons for PGP Refusal

• Insufficient income. Not meeting the MNI for all three required tax years is the most common reason for refusal.
• Incomplete application. Missing documents, forms, or fees.
• Medical inadmissibility. The sponsored person has a health condition that would cause excessive demand on Canadian health or social services.
• Criminal inadmissibility. The sponsored person has a criminal record.
• Misrepresentation. Providing false or misleading information.
• Sponsor ineligibility. The sponsor does not meet one or more of the basic eligibility criteria.

Conclusion

The Parents and Grandparents Program is one of Canada's most meaningful immigration pathways, enabling families to reunite and build their lives together. While the program's competitive nature and strict income requirements present challenges, careful preparation and persistence can lead to success. If the PGP is not immediately accessible, the Super Visa provides a valuable alternative for keeping families connected while working toward permanent reunification.