Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is a unique Immigration program allowing both Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their own parents and grandparents for Canadian permanent residence.
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is part of the family reunification efforts of the Canadian government, aiming to bring families together. Under the Parents and Grandparents Program, eligible sponsors can submit an interest-to-sponsor form during specified intake periods. Potential sponsors are then selected through a random draw, and those selected are invited to submit a complete sponsorship application. The sponsors must meet certain eligibility criteria and agree to financially support their parents or grandparents for a specific period after they become permanent residents.
The sponsored parents or grandparents, in turn, must meet certain eligibility requirements, including undergoing medical examinations and security checks. If the sponsorship application is approved, the sponsored individual can become a permanent resident of Canada and eventually apply for Canadian citizenship.
Who Can Sponsor Their Parents or Grandparents in Canada?
An eligible sponsor is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who meets certain criteria. These criteria may include:
- Age and Residency:
- The sponsor must be at least 18 years old.
- If the sponsor is a permanent resident, they must reside in Canada.
- Financial Eligibility:
- The sponsor must meet the minimum necessary income requirement to demonstrate their ability to financially support their parents or grandparents.
- Income requirements are set by the Canadian government and are updated annually.
- Agreement to Support:
- Sponsors must sign a sponsorship agreement with the Canadian government, committing to providing financial support to their parents or grandparents for a specific period.
- The sponsorship agreement also includes a commitment to repay any social assistance benefits received by the sponsored family members during the sponsorship period.
What are my ongoing obligations if I sponsor my parents or grandparents under the PGP?
Those wishing to sponsor their parents or grandparents under the PGP will need to sign an undertaking with IRCC. For sponsors residing outside the province of Quebec, this undertaking commits you to providing financial support for your sponsored family members for 20 years from the date they become permanent residents of Canada. In addition to this, you will need to repay any provincial social assistance your sponsored family member receives during these 20 years.
The undertaking also requires you to provide for the basic needs of your sponsored family members, including food, clothing utilities etc.
For sponsors residing in the province of Quebec, the undertaking is for 10 years from the date your sponsored family members become permanent residents of Canada.
How much income do I need to show to sponsor my parents and grandparents under the PGP?
All sponsors must make enough money to support their parents and grandparents in Canada. If invited to apply, the sponsor must show that they have met the income requirement for the last 3 tax years. If your spouse or common-law partner is acting as a co-signer on the application, you can use their income from the last 3 tax years towards meeting the minimum income cut-off. For 2021 submissions, IRCC will assess the income from tax years 2020, 2019 and 2018.
The total income you are required to demonstrate depends on the size of your family, the number of people you are sponsoring under the PGP and whether you are residing in Quebec. Minimum income requirements can be found here.
Do I need to meet the financial requirement throughout the entire processing of the PGP application?
For the 2021 intake, your 2020, 2019 and 2018 income will be assessed to make sure you reach the minimum income cut-off. IRCC has not commented on whether they will request updated proof of income before an application is finalized.
Can my spouse or common-law partner support my PGP sponsorship application?
Yes, your spouse or common-law partner can act as a co-signer on your PGP application. If your spouse or common-law partner acts as a co-signer on your application, you can use their income to meet the minimum income cut-off. Your spouse or common-law partner must also sign an undertaking to provide financial support for your parent or grandparents.
Can I sponsor my parents or grandparents under the PGP if I am currently outside of Canada?
To sponsor your parents or grandparents under the PGP, the sponsor must reside in Canada. This means that your primary residential address must be in Canada at the time the application is submitted.
Can I leave Canada during the processing of my sponsorship application under the PGP?
Your primary residential address must be in Canada at the time the application is submitted and until a decision is made on the application.
What Is the Process for Applying for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship?
The process to apply for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in Canada typically involves several steps:
- Expressing Interest:
- The first step involves expressing your interest in sponsoring your parents or grandparents by submitting an “Interest to Sponsor” form.
- The form is usually available online, and there is a specific period during which you can submit your interest. This period is announced by IRCC.
- Random Selection:
- After the expression of interest period closes, IRCC conducts a random selection process to choose potential sponsors from the pool of submissions.
- Those selected are then invited to submit a complete application.
- Invitation to Apply:
- If you are selected, you will receive an invitation to apply. This invitation will include instructions on how to submit a complete sponsorship application.
- Submitting Application:
- Complete the sponsorship application forms and gather all required documents, including proof of income and relationship documentation.
- Pay the required application fees.
- Approval Process:
- IRCC reviews the sponsorship application to ensure it meets all requirements.
- If the application is approved, your parents or grandparents will be issued permanent residence status.
- Medical Examinations and Security Checks:
- Sponsored individuals are required to undergo medical examinations and security checks.
- Arrival in Canada:
- Once the application is approved, and all checks are completed, the sponsored individuals can travel to Canada as permanent residents.
Navigating the process of applying for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in Canada involves several steps. It’s important to keep in mind that immigration rules can change, so stay updated by checking the official Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website or consulting with an immigration professional.
The general steps mentioned earlier provide an overview, but the process can be different for each person. To make things smoother, some applicants find it helpful to get advice from an immigration lawyer who knows the ins and outs of the system.
Do you need assistance with your sponsorship application for parents and grandparents? Look no further! Canadim is here to help. Reach out to us, and let’s navigate the sponsorship process together.
Start my free sponsorship assessment today!How do I receive an Invitation to Apply under the PGP?
To receive an invitation to apply, the sponsor must first submit an interest to sponsor form to the IRCC PGP portal. The PGP portal accepts new interest to sponsor forms periodically throughout the year.
How are interest to sponsor forms selected from the PGP portal?
Interest to sponsor forms are selected randomly from the PGP portal. If selected, the applicant will receive an email with a confirmation number. This confirmation number must be quoted when submitting the full application to sponsor your parent or grandparent
What documents do I need to submit an interest to sponsor form to the PGP pool?
You do not need to submit documents when submitting an interest to sponsor form to the PGP portal. Instead, you will need to provide information to show you meet the eligibility requirements of the PGP program. This includes information on you as the sponsor, your family and the parents or grandparents you wish to sponsor. You should also be prepared to declare your income for the last 3 tax years.
Which documents do I need to submit an application for permanent residence under the PGP?
If you have received an invitation to apply for the PGP, you must submit an application to sponsor your parents and grandparents. As part of this application, you can expect to submit the following:
- Proof of physical presence in Canada;
- Civil status documents;
- Proof you meet the minimum income cut-off for the 3 tax years prior to submitting the application;
- Police Certificate and Clearances from all countries your parent or grandparent has lived in for six months or longer past the age of 18;
- Medical certificate for your parent and grandparent;
- Digital photo.
How do I submit an application to the PGP?
All applications must be submitted online via IRCC’s new permanent residence application portal. Only those suffering from a disability which prevents them from applying online can request an exemption to submit a paper-based application. This exemption is applied for via email and must be made as soon as possible after receiving the invitation to apply.
How long do I have to apply after receiving an invitation to apply under the PGP?
A full PGP sponsorship application must be submitted within 60 days of receiving the invitation to apply. The deadline to submit will be indicated on the invitation to apply letter you received from IRCC.
Requirements for the Sponsored Parents and Grandparents
In order to be sponsored, parents or grandparents must be related to the sponsor by blood or adoption. In addition to this, they will need to pass a medical examination, be criminally admissible and provide biometrics.
Do my parents or grandparents need a job offer to be sponsored under the PGP?
No job offer is required for each sponsored person. Additionally, there is no obligation for them to work in Canada after becoming a permanent resident through the PGP.
Do my parents or grandparents need to demonstrate English or French language proficiency?
No, your parents or grandparents do not need to demonstrate English or French language proficiency.
My parent or grandparent has a serious medical condition, can I still sponsor them?
To be eligible to be sponsored, your parent or grandparent must undergo a medical examination to show that they do not have any medical issues which could make them medically inadmissible.
Can my parents or grandparents travel to Canada while they are waiting for their PGP application to be processed?
Yes, your parents and grandparents can travel to Canada while they are waiting for their PGP application to be processed. IRCC’s super visa program is designed to allow eligible parents and grandparents to visit Canada for up to 2 years at a time.
What are the processing fees for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship?
There are no processing fees to submit an interest to sponsor form to the PGP portal. However, if you have received an invitation to apply, you must remit application processing fees as part of the application.
For 2024 the processing fees are $1080 per adult to be sponsored and $155 for any dependent child included in the application. In addition to this, there is a biometrics fee of $85 for one person or $170 for 2 or more people.
PGP Yearly Application Targets
| Year | Target |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 36,000 |
| 2024 | 34,000 |
| 2023 | 28,500 |
| 2022 | 25,000 |
| 2021 | 23,000 |
| 2020 | 10,000 |
| 2019 | 20,000 |
| 2018 | 17,000 |
| 2017 | 10,000 |
| 2016 | 10,000 |
| 2015 | 5,000 |
| 2014 | 5,000 |
FAQs about Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship
How long will my PGP application take to be processed?
Current estimated processing times as per IRCC for PGP applications range between 20 to 24 months.
Is there a limit to the number of applications accepted under the PGP?
Is there a limit to the number of applications accepted under the PGP?
Yes, there is a limit to the number of applications accepted under the PGP. This limit is seen in the number of invitations to apply that are issued. For 2021, IRCC has stated it will accept up to 30,000 applications under the PGP.
When will IRCC invite more PGP sponsors to apply?
IRCC has a quota of 28,500,000 PGP applications for 2023. To date, all PGP invitations were issued between September and October , 2023. IRCC has not yet released information on the 2024 quote or intake period.
Can I include my brothers and sisters in a PGP application?
You can include eligible brothers and sisters in a PGP application. To be eligible, your brothers and sisters must be under the age of 22 at the time the application is submitted or be financially dependent on your parents or grandparents due to a mental or physical condition.
Can I sponsor my in-laws under the PGP?
No, you cannot sponsor your in-laws under the PGP. You can however act as a co-signer on your spouse’s PGP sponsorship application so long as your spouse meets the eligibility criteria as a sponsor.
What If I didn’t receive an invite to sponsor my parents or grandparents?
If you did not receive an invitation to apply from the last round of invitations, you can still invite your parents and grandparents to visit for up to 2 years at a time through the super visa program.
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