Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship

A special immigration policy called the Parents and Grandparents policy (PGP) enables Canadian citizens and permanent residents to apply for permanent residence in Canada by sponsoring their own parents and grandparents.

A component of the Canadian government’s family reunion initiatives, the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) seeks to reunite families. During designated intake periods, qualified sponsors may submit an interest-to-sponsor form under the Parents and Grandparents Program. After then, a random draw is used to choose potential sponsors, and those chosen are asked to fill out a sponsorship application. After they become permanent residents, the sponsors must agree to provide financial support for their parents or grandparents for a predetermined amount of time and fulfil specified qualifying requirements.

In turn, the sponsored parents or grandparents need to fulfil specific eligibility conditions, such as passing through security checks and medical exams. The sponsored person may apply for Canadian citizenship after becoming a permanent resident of Canada if the sponsorship application is accepted.

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:

1.     The sponsor must be at least 18 years old.

2.     If the sponsor is a permanent resident, they must reside in Canada.

Financial Eligibility:

1.     The sponsor must meet the minimum necessary income requirement to demonstrate their ability to financially support their parents or grandparents.

2.     Income requirements are set by the Canadian government and are updated annually.

Agreement to Support:

1.     Sponsors must sign a sponsorship agreement with the Canadian government, committing to providing financial support to their parents or grandparents for a specific period.

2.     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?

An undertaking with the IRCC must be signed by anyone who wants to sponsor their parents or grandparents under the PGP. This commitment binds sponsors who live outside of Quebec province to help their sponsored family members financially for 20 years after they become permanent residents of Canada. If your sponsored family member receives provincial social assistance throughout these 20 years, you will also be responsible for repaying them.

Providing for your sponsored family members’ basic necessities, such as food, clothing, utilities, etc., is another need of the project.

The commitment is valid for ten years after the day your sponsored family members become permanent residents of Canada if the sponsor lives in the province of Quebec.

How much income do I need to show to sponsor my parents and grandparents under the PGP?

In order to sustain their parents and grandparents in Canada, all sponsors must earn enough money. The sponsor must demonstrate that they have earned enough money during the previous three tax years if they are asked to apply. You can use your spouse’s or common-law partner’s income from the previous three tax years to help you reach the minimal income cut-off if they are co-signing the application. The IRCC will evaluate the income from 2020, 2019, and 2018 tax years for submissions made in 2021.

The size of your family, the number of individuals you are sponsoring under the PGP, and whether you live in Quebec all affect the total income you must prove. You may find the minimum income criteria here.

Do I need to meet the financial requirement throughout the entire processing of the PGP application?

To ensure that you meet the minimal income cut-off for the 2021 intake, your income from 2020, 2019, and 2018 will be evaluated. The IRCC has not stated if they will ask for updated evidence of income prior to approving an application.

Can my spouse or common-law partner support my PGP sponsorship application?

It is possible for your spouse or common-law partner to co-sign your PGP application. You can utilise your spouse’s or common-law partner’s salary to reach the minimum income cut-off if they co-sign your application. A commitment to support your parents or grandparents financially must also be signed by your spouse or common-law partner.

Can I sponsor my parents or grandparents under the PGP if I am currently outside of Canada?

Your parents or grandparents must live in Canada in order to be sponsored under the PGP. This implies that at the time of application submission, your principal residence address must be in Canada.

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:

·       Filling out an “Interest to Sponsor” form is the first step in indicating your want to sponsor your parents or grandparents.

·       There is a time limit on when you can submit your interest, and the form is typically accessible online. The IRCC announces this time frame.

Random Selection:

·       The IRCC selects possible sponsors at random from the pool of entries following the end of the expression of interest period.

·       Those that are chosen are then asked to fill out an 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.

There are multiple processes involved in applying for Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). Remember that immigration laws are subject to change, so stay informed by visiting the official website of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or speaking with an immigration specialist.

Although the previously described general steps offer a general outline, each person’s experience may differ. Some applicants feel that consulting with an immigration lawyer who is familiar with the system might help to streamline the process.

How do I receive an Invitation to Apply under the PGP?

The sponsor must first submit an interest to sponsor form to the IRCC PGP site in order to be invited to apply. Throughout the year, new sponsor forms are periodically accepted through the PGP site.

How are interest to sponsor forms selected from the PGP portal?

Forms expressing interest in sponsoring are chosen at random from the PGP portal. An email with a confirmation number will be sent to the applicant if they are chosen. When submitting the complete application to sponsor your parent or grandparent, you must provide this confirmation number.

What documents do I need to submit an interest to sponsor form to the PGP pool?

When submitting an interest to sponsor form through the PGP portal, no documents are required. Rather, you will have to submit documentation proving that you are eligible for the PGP program. This contains details about your family, the parents or grandparents you want to support, and yourself as the sponsor. Additionally, you should be ready to provide your income for the previous three 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?

The IRCC’s new permanent residence application portal is the only way to submit an application. The only people who can ask for an exception to submit an application on paper are those who have a disability that keeps them from applying online. Applications for this exemption must be submitted by email as soon as feasible after being invited to do so.

How long do I have to apply after receiving an invitation to apply under the PGP?

After being invited to apply, you have sixty days to submit a complete PGP sponsorship application. The invitation to apply letter you got from the IRCC will specify the submission deadline.

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

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?

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.

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.