Canadian citizens and permanent residents will soon have the opportunity to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency as part of the federal government’s 2025 Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). Starting July 28, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will begin sending out 17,860 invitations to potential sponsors over a two-week period, with a target of accepting 10,000 complete applications this year.
All invitations will go to individuals who submitted an interest to sponsor form back in 2020, as no new intake has been held since that year. The PGP remains a lottery-based system due to the overwhelming demand and limited spots available. Only those who receive an official invitation can proceed with submitting a full application to sponsor their family members.
The PGP is a vital pathway for family reunification in Canada, allowing eligible sponsors — including Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians — to bring their parents or grandparents to live permanently in the country.
For those who do not receive an invitation under this program, the federal government encourages consideration of the super visa program. The super visa allows eligible parents and grandparents to visit Canada for extended stays — up to 10 years — significantly longer than the typical six-month visitor visa.
To qualify for a super visa, applicants must obtain qualifying private medical insurance and meet admissibility requirements. Sponsors must also meet minimum income thresholds and commit to supporting their relatives financially during their stay.
More information on the Parents and Grandparents Program and the super visa is available at Canada.ca.
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