The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) has been a popular avenue for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to reunite with their loved ones and bring their parents or grandparents to Canada as permanent residents. After a period of uncertainty, Canada’s immigration department has announced that invitations to apply (ITAs) for the PGP will be sent to eligible sponsors in 2025. This is a significant development for many individuals looking to sponsor their family members for Canadian permanent residency.

What is the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)?

The PGP is a family reunification program designed to allow Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency in Canada. The program has been one of the most sought-after immigration pathways, given its potential to reunite families in Canada.

To participate in the PGP, individuals need to be eligible to sponsor and must meet specific income requirements. Applicants must also ensure that their family members, the parents or grandparents, meet the necessary admissibility criteria for entry into Canada.

One of the most important things to understand is that you cannot apply for the PGP directly. Instead, you must submit an Interest to Sponsor form and wait for an invitation to apply from the government. Sponsors are then randomly selected from the pool of those who submitted their forms in previous intake years.

Changes to PGP Invitations for 2025

In January 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made a significant announcement about the PGP. Initially, IRCC stated there would be no new invitations for the program in 2025. However, on March 7, 2025, the government updated the public by announcing that invitations to apply would indeed be sent out in 2025. The new ITAs will primarily go to individuals who had submitted their Interest to Sponsor forms in the 2020 intake.

This development comes after a long hiatus in which the PGP program did not accept new applications, and many hopeful sponsors were left in limbo. For those who submitted their Interest to Sponsor forms in 2020, the invitation to apply for permanent residency could be issued in 2025.

IRCC has not confirmed the exact dates when the invitations will be sent out but has assured the public that more details will be provided in the coming months. The lottery system employed by the IRCC will randomly select potential sponsors from the pool of applicants, and this process will continue for the 2020 intake.

For those wondering when the PGP will open its intake again for new applications, the program has not yet re-opened. As of now, it is still unclear when the program will start accepting new Interest to Sponsor forms.

How the PGP Lottery System Works

Canada uses a lottery system to select sponsors under the PGP. This means that even if you meet all the eligibility criteria and submit your Interest to Sponsor form, you are not guaranteed to be selected. The system randomly selects individuals from the pool of applicants, and only those selected will receive an invitation to apply (ITA).

In recent years, the demand for the PGP has far exceeded the available spots, which is why the lottery system is employed. While this system has helped manage the high number of applications, it also means that many individuals may have to wait several years before they are invited to apply.

Eligibility to Sponsor Parents and Grandparents

To sponsor a parent or grandparent through the PGP, the sponsor (the Canadian citizen or permanent resident) must meet several eligibility requirements. These include:

• Income Requirements: The sponsor must meet a minimum income level, which is usually based on the Low Income Measure After Tax (LIMAT), which varies depending on the family size. The sponsor must demonstrate that they have enough financial resources to support their sponsored relatives without relying on social assistance.

• Admissibility of the Sponsored Family Member: The parent or grandparent must be admissible to Canada, meaning they must meet health, security, and criminality requirements.

• Residence Requirement: The sponsor must be living in Canada at the time of applying. If the sponsor is living outside of Canada, they may not be eligible to apply.

Once selected, sponsors must submit their complete application package, including documents to prove their income and the relationship with the relative they wish to sponsor.

The Super Visa: An Alternative to the PGP

If you are not selected for the PGP or if the intake is closed, you may still be able to bring your parents or grandparents to Canada through the Super Visa program.

The Super Visa allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents to visit Canada for extended periods. A Super Visa is valid for up to 10 years and allows holders to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time. Additionally, a Super Visa can be extended for another two years while in Canada.

Some important things to note about the Super Visa:

• Health Insurance Requirement: Applicants for the Super Visa must purchase private health insurance from a Canadian company, covering the duration of their stay in Canada.

• Income Requirements: The sponsor must meet a minimum income level, which is similar to the PGP’s income requirements, to prove they can financially support their relatives during their stay in Canada.

• Multiple Entries: The Super Visa is issued for multiple entries, meaning that once granted, your parents or grandparents can visit Canada multiple times throughout the visa’s validity period.
  

This option is ideal for families who wish to reunite but do not immediately qualify for permanent residency through the PGP.

Why the PGP is Important

The Parents and Grandparents Program serves as a critical pathway for family reunification, allowing Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their loved ones to Canada. By sponsoring their parents or grandparents, Canadians help ensure that their families are together and that elderly relatives can enjoy their later years in a welcoming and supportive environment.

With Canada’s aging population and growing demand for family sponsorships, the PGP continues to be one of the most highly anticipated immigration pathways.

Conclusion

The Canadian government’s announcement of sending invitations to apply (ITAs) under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in 2025 provides much-needed relief for sponsors who have been waiting for years. Although the lottery system remains in place, this development is a step toward reuniting families in Canada.

For those who are not selected for the PGP, the Super Visa program offers a viable alternative for long-term visits by parents and grandparents. While the PGP remains a key element of Canadian immigration, the Super Visa can offer families an extended period of togetherness while they await their application’s progress.

As the government prepares to send out invitations in 2025, now is the time for potential sponsors to ensure they meet the eligibility requirements and prepare for the next steps in this important immigration process.