Parent and Grandparent Program: Reuniting Families in Canada

What is the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program?

​

The Parent Grandparent Program is a family sponsorship program that allows eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents to become permanent residents of Canada. The program recognizes the importance of family reunification in creating a strong and integrated society and offers a pathway for older generations to join their families in Canada.

​

The Role of the Parent Grandparent Program in Family Sponsorship

The Parent Grandparent Program is a significant part of Canada's family sponsorship initiatives. It complements other family sponsorship programs, such as spousal sponsorship and child sponsorship, by allowing extended family members to reunite with their families in Canada.

Family sponsorship, including parent grandparent sponsorship, plays a crucial role in Canada's immigration system. It not only strengthens familial bonds but also contributes to the social and economic fabric of the country. By allowing for the sponsorship of parents and grandparents, the program recognizes the value of family unity and the role of extended family in providing social support, childcare, and contributing to community life.

​

Who can you sponsor under the Parent and Grandparent Program?

​

• You can sponsor your own parents and grandparents, related by blood or adoption.

• If your parents/grandparents are divorced or separated, you can them and their spouses, or conjugal or common-law partners.

• You are only allowed to include additional applicants such as your brothers and sisters, or half brothers and sisters, if they qualify as dependent children.

• If your sponsorship application includes more than 1 person or couple, you will need to provide proof of income/funds requirements for all the people you want sponsor and their dependents (spouse, partner and children).

  • Please note:

    • All Applicants included in your sponsorship application must meet the eligibility requirements.

What is the process to apply for sponsorship under the Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP)?

This is a 2-step application:

1. Application and approval of the sponsor

2. Application and approval of the applicant(s).

You need to follow the following steps:

1. Submit a interest to sponsor form. IRCC randomly selects candidates to apply to sponsor their parents or grandparents. Think of it more as a lottery system.

2. Receive an invitation to apply. In 2020, IRCC sent ITA’s to 10000 potential sponsors.

3. Prepare the application. This step comes into effect once you receive an ITA. After securing an ITA, you need to prepare your application package for submission.

4. Pay the applicable fee. Depending on your situation, the following fees need to be paid:

   1. Application Processing fee – C$500.00

   2. Right to Permanent Residence – C$550.00

   3. Biometrics Fee (if applicable to you) – C$85.00

   4. Medical Exam – As applicable

   5. Police Certificate (PCC) – As applicable

5. Application Submission – After you receive an ITA, you will have 60 days to submit your completed application.

6. Additional information – If IRCC needs more information or further clarification, they will contact you or the same and you will need to provide the specified information.

Once IRCC approves your eligibility as a sponsor, they will then evaluate the applicant(s). If either of you are found ineligible, your application may be refused and a reason for refusal provided by the IRCC. Once your application package is received by an assessing officer, they will check for completeness of the package, appropriate fees paid, whether you were actually sent an ITA and you submitted the application before the deadline.

If for any of the above-mentioned reasons or others, the assessing officer is not satisfied, they will return it to you. But once they begin your application, they will share an application number and acknowledgment of receipt. This means that they have now begun the process of determining eligibility of the sponsor as well as the applicant(s).

​

How long does it take to process the Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) application?

​

The processing time varies between 20-24 months.

​

Who is eligible to sponsor a parent or grandparent?

As a sponsor, under this category, you can only sponsor your own parents or grand parents and need to meet the following eligibility criteria. As a sponsor you must:

• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act;

• Be 18 years of age or older;

• Be able to provide sufficient proof that you reside/live in Canada;

• Provide sufficient proof of funds to support the persons you want to sponsor.

• Sign an undertaking to financially support the sponsored for 20 years (starting when they become permanent residents); and

• to repay any social assistance benefits paid to the sponsored family members (if applicable) for a period of 20 years.

Refer to the LICO table below to ascertain proof of funds requirement.

​

Who is not eligible sponsor a parent or grandparent?

You are not eligible to sponsor your parents and grandparents if: 

• you are below the age of 18 years old

• you are not able to convince the assessing officer that you intend to live in Canada when you apply to sponsor your parents and grandparents and/or when your parents and grandparents become permanent residents

  • Your primary residential address must be in Canada when you submit your application and until a decision on your application is made.

• you are not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act

• you are in Canada as a temporary resident (visitor, student or work permit holder in Canada)

• your permanent residence application is still in process

  • You must have permanent resident status at the time you submit your sponsorship application.

• your proof of income shows you don’t have enough money to support the persons you want to sponsor

You may not be eligible to sponsor your parents and grandparents if you:

• are in jail, prison, or penitentiary

• didn’t pay back:

  • an immigration loan

  • a performance bond

  • court-ordered family support payments such as alimony or child support 

• didn’t give the financial support you agreed to when you signed a sponsorship agreement to sponsor someone else in the past

• declared bankruptcy and are not discharged 

• receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability

• were convicted of a violent criminal offence, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence inside or outside Canada

• can’t legally stay in Canada and must leave the country because you received a Removal Order