Parents and Grandparents Program Reopens

After a temporary pause, Canada’s Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship (PGP) program is set to reopen on July 28, 2025, according to a recent announcement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Over a two-week period starting that date, IRCC will send out up to 10,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) to individuals who previously submitted an Interest to Sponsor form back in 2020, before the program was paused. These invitations will be randomly selected from the existing pool of candidates.

The intake process remains closed to new applicants, so no new interest forms are being accepted at this time as the IRCC is currently drawing sponsors from the last intake period which was in 2020.

Who Will Receive an Invitation?

Due to high demand for the program and limited spots, Canada uses a lottery system to randomly select sponsors from the pool of candidates. Only those who receive an invitation (ITA) are able to them submit an application under the PGP.

What if You Don’t Get an Invitation?

If you or someone you know doesn’t receive an invitation, there’s still hope. You can still bring your parents or grandparents to Canada through the super visa program, which is a good alternative a great alternative to the PGP.

Those who did not receive an invitation, can consider having their parents or grandparents apply for a super visa, which is a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 10 years. This type of visa is designed specifically for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Unlike a regular visitor visa, it allows your loved ones to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time without needing to leave or apply for an extension. For families looking for a longer-term visit option, the super visa is often the better choice.