The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will send out 17,860 invitations over a two-week period, with the goal of approving 10,000 complete applications this year.
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The PGP program enables eligible Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residency.
Due to high demand, IRCC uses a lottery system to select applicants.
Who is eligible?
All invitations will go to individuals who submitted an “interest to sponsor” form back in 2020. The government is not accepting new submissions for the program at this time.
Those who applied in 2020 but have not yet received an invitation are expected to receive one, so they should check their mail, including the spam folder.
If selected, applicants must submit their documents electronically through the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal.
What is the Parents and Grandparents Program (IRCC)?
The PGP is one of Canada’s most popular immigration streams for family reunification, with more applicants than spots available.
In the PGP program, eligible Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians can sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residency.
Sponsors must meet certain income requirements and agree to support their family members financially after they arrive in Canada.
Processing times for PGP applications can vary. As of February 5, 2025, it takes around 24 months for applications outside Quebec and about 48 months for those destined for Quebec, where the province has separate family sponsorship quotas.
Not received an invitation?
Those who do not receive an invitation under the PGP may consider the super visa program as an alternative. The super visa allows parents or grandparents to visit Canada for extended periods.
The visa is valid for up to 10 years, and holders can stay for five years at a time. They can also apply to extend their stay by up to two years without leaving Canada.
To be eligible, applicants must have valid health insurance, be admissible to Canada, and their Canadian host must meet income requirements and promise financial support during the visit.
The upcoming intake is an important opportunity for families who have waited since 2020 for a chance to reunite in Canada permanently.
