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Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Canada

How To Sponsor Your Parents And Grandparents In Canada Through PGP

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The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is part of Canada’s Family Class sponsorship category and allows eligible Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence in Canada. To qualify, the sponsor must meet IRCC’s eligibility requirements, including minimum necessary income requirements, and the parent or grandparent being sponsored must be admissible to Canada. Because the program is invitation-based, interested sponsors must first submit an Interest to Sponsor form and wait to receive an invitation before applying. A strong application also requires the correct forms, financial documents, and proof of relationship.

Because the program is competitive and subject to annual PGP intake limits, it is important to understand the requirements and the PGP process before applying. Missing documents, weak supporting evidence, or avoidable mistakes can lead to delays or refusal. Many families choose to work with experienced parents and grandparents sponsorship consultants to confirm eligibility, prepare the required documents, and submit a complete and well-supported application.

Family representing parents and grandparents sponsorship in Canada through the PGP program

Eligibility, Income, and Intake

Sponsor Eligibility Requirements

To sponsor a parent or grandparent for permanent residence under Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), you must meet IRCC’s legal requirements to be a sponsor. You can only submit a PGP application if IRCC invites you to apply.

To qualify, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Live in Canada
  • Have your primary residential address in Canada when you submit your application and until IRCC makes a decision
  • Be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada under the Indian Act
  • Meet the applicable financial requirements for the Parents and Grandparents Program

You may be ineligible to sponsor if any of the following apply:

  • You’re in jail, prison, or a penitentiary
  • You defaulted on a previous sponsorship undertaking
  • You owe money for an immigration loan, a performance bond, or court-ordered support payments
  • You’re an undischarged bankrupt
  • You receive social assistance for a reason other than disability
  • You have certain criminal convictions, including some violent, sexual, or family-related offences
  • You’re under a removal order or are otherwise not legally allowed to remain in Canada

Applicant Eligibility Requirements

For a Parents and Grandparents Program application to succeed, the parent or grandparent being sponsored must be eligible to apply for permanent residence and admissible to Canada. The principal applicant must be the sponsor’s parent or grandparent by blood or adoption, and the relationship must be supported by the required documents.

A parent or grandparent may be included as the principal applicant if they are the sponsor’s:

  • Parent by blood or adoption, or
  • Grandparent by blood or adoption

Eligible accompanying family members may include:

  • The principal applicant’s spouse or common-law partner
  • In some situations, the principal applicant’s conjugal partner
  • The dependent children of the parent or grandparent being sponsored
  • The dependent children of those dependent children, if they also meet IRCC’s requirements

You may also include the dependent children of your parents or grandparents, such as a qualifying sibling, half-sibling, or step-sibling, if they meet IRCC’s definition of a dependent child. Their dependent children may also be included if eligible.

Applicants inside or outside Canada

Parents and grandparents can be sponsored whether they are living in Canada or outside Canada when the application is submitted. Although the Parents and Grandparents Program is not typically divided into inland and outland streams, the applicant’s location may still affect certain parts of the PGP process, including biometrics, medical exams, travel requirements, and communication with IRCC. Regardless of where the applicant is living, all eligibility, admissibility, and supporting document requirements must still be met.

Important clarifications:

  • In case of divorce or separation, you may also be able to sponsor the parent’s or grandparent’s spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner if they are eligible
  • The principal applicant and all accompanying family members must meet medical, criminal, and security admissibility requirements
  • Anyone who is inadmissible to Canada cannot be approved under this program

income requirements

To sponsor parents or grandparents under Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program, the sponsor must meet IRCC’s minimum necessary income for each of the three tax years immediately before the application is received. For the 2025 intake, those years are 2024, 2023 and 2022. The required income depends on family size and must be met in every required year. If income falls below the threshold in even one of those years, the sponsor may not qualify. A spouse or common-law partner may co-sign so income can be combined, but no other relative can co-sign.

Family size is calculated separately for each required year and can include the sponsor, spouse or partner, dependent children, the parents or grandparents being sponsored, and certain family members, even if they are not immigrating. IRCC generally uses CRA Notices of Assessment and line 15000 income, while excluding categories such as social assistance, regular Employment Insurance, certain training allowances, resettlement assistance, Old Age Security, and Guaranteed Income Supplement payments.

Learn more about income requirements for Parents and Grandparents sponsorship.

When will the Parents and Grandparents Program open?

The Parents and Grandparents Program is not currently open for a new intake, and IRCC has not confirmed a reopening date for 2026. Under current ministerial instructions, no new sponsorship or related permanent residence applications are to be received for processing until further instructions are issued. The most recent round was the 2025 intake, when IRCC began sending 17,860 invitations on July 28, 2025, aiming to receive 10,000 complete applications, with a deadline of October 9, 2025.

PGP is not first come, first served and does not stay open year-round. Recent intakes have continued drawing from the 2020 Interest to Sponsor pool instead of opening a new public form, so another intake would not necessarily create a new chance to apply. A 2026 intake remains possible, but both the timing and the format are still unknown.

Learn more about when the Parents and Grandparents Program may open again.

Interest to sponsor form

The Interest to Sponsor form is the first step in the Parents and Grandparents Program. It must be submitted online during an official intake period to enter IRCC’s pool for possible selection. A confirmation number only confirms successful submission and does not guarantee an invitation. After the form closes, IRCC removes duplicate submissions, randomizes the pool, and invites only a limited number of potential sponsors, so the process is not first come, first served.

Only invited applicants can submit a full sponsorship application, and applications submitted without an invitation are returned. Invitations are sent using the contact details from the original form, so applicants should keep that information accurate and monitor email, junk folders, mail, and the invitation status tool. If invited, they must submit a complete online application by the deadline. If not selected, they must wait for a future intake or consider the Super Visa.

Learn more about the Interest to Sponsor form for parents and grandparents sponsorship.

Application Requirements, Fees and Processing

Required Documents, Forms and Supporting Evidence

The Parents and Grandparents Program checklist requires both the sponsor and the parent or grandparent to provide complete, consistent documents and IRCC forms to confirm identity, legal status, family relationships, and eligibility. Sponsors generally need proof of status in Canada, identity, civil status records, and any prior immigration or sponsorship records. Co-signers must provide comparable documents, while applicants and any accompanying dependents may need passports, birth certificates, civil status records, identity documents, and proof of relationship.

The required forms depend on the case, but a typical application includes the sponsorship forms, financial evaluation, permanent residence forms, family information, background declarations, and travel history. Some forms apply only in specific situations, such as co-signers, representatives, common-law relationships, military or police service, government employment, or adult dependents.

Additional requirements may include compliant photos, police certificates, medical exams, and proper signatures. Missing signatures, incomplete uploads, poor translations, or unclear copies can delay processing or lead to the application being returned. Quebec cases also involve separate provincial steps and forms.

Undertaking Rules and Financial Responsibility

When sponsoring a parent or grandparent under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), the sponsor must sign an undertaking. This is a legally binding commitment to financially support the sponsored person after they become a permanent resident. IRCC states that the purpose of the undertaking is to make sure the people you sponsor do not need to ask the government for social assistance.

Length of the undertaking

The undertaking period for parents and grandparents is:

  • 20 years for sponsors living outside Quebec
  • 10 years for sponsors living in Quebec

The undertaking period begins on the day the sponsored parent or grandparent becomes a permanent resident.

Financial responsibility

By signing the undertaking, the sponsor agrees to provide for the basic needs of the sponsored person. This includes essential living needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and other everyday necessities, as well as health needs not covered by public health care.

Shared responsibility

If there is a co-signer, both the sponsor and co-signer are responsible for meeting the terms of the undertaking. In practice, this means the financial obligation is shared for the full undertaking period.

Obligation to repay social assistance

If the sponsored parent or grandparent receives social assistance during the undertaking period, the sponsor will have to repay that amount. IRCC also states that a sponsor who has not repaid this debt will not be able to sponsor anyone else until the amount has been repaid.

Important considerations

  • The undertaking remains in effect for the full period once the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident
  • It is not cancelled because of separation, divorce, financial hardship, or other personal changes
  • The sponsor remains financially responsible even if the sponsored person later becomes a Canadian citizen
  • Once permanent residence begins, there is no way to cancel or shorten the undertaking period

Application Fees and Payment Requirements

Application fees for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) are set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and are subject to change at any time. Applicants are strongly advised to verify the most up-to-date fees on the official Government of Canada website before submitting an application.

What fees to expect

Fees for a PGP application typically include:

  • Sponsorship fee
  • Processing fee for the principal applicant (parent or grandparent)
  • Right of permanent residence fee (RPRF)
  • Additional processing fees for accompanying family members (if applicable)
  • Biometrics fee, if required

Each fee must be paid in full and in accordance with IRCC requirements at the time of application submission.

Important notes

  • Fees vary depending on the number of applicants included in the application (for example, if a spouse, partner, or dependent children are accompanying the principal applicant).
  • The right of permanent residence fee can be paid upfront or later in the process; however, paying it in advance may help avoid processing delays.
  • Biometrics fees may apply per person or per family, depending on the application.
  • If the sponsor resides in Quebec, additional provincial fees may apply and are paid separately to Quebec’s immigration authority.

How to pay

All fees must be paid online through IRCC’s official payment system. Proof of payment must be included with the application, or the application may be returned as incomplete.

Processing Times, Key Stages and Possible Delays

Processing times for parent and grandparent sponsorship vary based on application volume, individual circumstances, and whether the case involves Quebec, which includes an additional provincial step. Current estimates are about 30–36 months outside Quebec and 40–48 months in Quebec, but these are not guaranteed. Processing covers the period from submission of a complete application to final decision and excludes time spent waiting for an invitation or preparing documents.

The process includes stages such as invitation, application submission, completeness check, sponsor eligibility review, and permanent residence processing with biometrics, medical exams, and background checks. Quebec cases require a separate undertaking approval. Delays may result from incomplete applications, slow responses to IRCC requests, complex background checks, medical or biometrics issues, high application volumes, or case complexity. Applicants can track progress through online accounts and status tools, and should respond promptly to requests and keep contact information updated to avoid further delays.

Refusal Reasons and Appeal Options

Applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) are assessed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) based on eligibility requirements, admissibility, and the completeness and accuracy of the information provided. If an application does not meet the applicable requirements, it may be refused.

Reasons an application may be refused

A refusal may occur for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to:

  • The sponsor does not meet eligibility requirements, such as minimum income requirements for PGP or prior sponsorship obligations
  • Required documents for PGP are incomplete, missing, or inconsistent
  • The applicant does not meet admissibility requirements, including medical, criminal, or security grounds
  • Incorrect, misleading, or false information is provided
  • IRCC requests are not answered within the required deadlines

IRCC will issue a written decision explaining the reasons for the refusal.

What happens after a refusal

If an application is refused, the refusal letter will outline the reasons for the decision and indicate what steps, if any, may be available. It is important to review this letter carefully, as the next course of action depends on the specific circumstances of the case.

Possible next steps

Depending on the reason for refusal, applicants may consider:

  • Reviewing the refusal letter in detail
  • Correcting any deficiencies or missing information
  • Seeking professional advice to assess available options
  • Preparing to submit a new application in a future PGP intake, if eligible

Appeals

In some cases, a sponsor may have the right to appeal a refusal decision to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

Important points regarding appeals:

  • Appeal rights depend on the nature of the refusal and the applicable law
  • Appeals must be filed within the deadline set out in the refusal letter
  • The IAD may consider the legal merits of the decision and, where permitted, humanitarian and compassionate factors
  • Not all refusals are eligible for appeal, and some inadmissibility findings may limit appeal rights

Frequently Asked Questions

The main benefit of sponsoring parents or grandparents through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is that they can become permanent residents of Canada. This gives them long-term status in Canada instead of relying on temporary visitor status. As permanent residents, they may be eligible to live in Canada indefinitely, and once they meet the requirements, they may also be able to work, study, and access benefits and services available to permanent residents. In addition to helping families spend more time together, PGP provides a more secure and lasting way for parents or grandparents to stay in Canada.

No. An international student cannot sponsor their parents or grandparents through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) based on student status alone. To sponsor under this program, a person must be at least 18 years old, reside in Canada, and be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a person registered under the Indian Act. A study permit does not meet these requirements. In most cases, an international student would need to become a permanent resident or Canadian citizen before they could sponsor their parents or grandparents under the PGP.

There is no set number of years you must live in Canada as a permanent resident before you can sponsor your parents. Under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), there is no rule requiring you to hold permanent resident status for a certain number of years first. What matters is that you meet the sponsor eligibility requirements at the time of application, including your status in Canada, residence in Canada, and the required income levels. In practice, the main issue is usually not how long you have been a permanent resident, but whether you meet the income and other eligibility requirements when you apply.

Yes. To sponsor parents or grandparents, you must be at least 18 years old. Under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), IRCC requires sponsors to be 18 or older. There is no special upper age limit, but meeting the minimum age alone is not enough. You must also meet the other sponsor requirements, including having eligible status in Canada, residing in Canada, and meeting the income requirements.

Yes, you can sponsor one parent under the Parents and Grandparents Program. One parent or grandparent must be listed as the principal applicant. However, in a single-parent or separated-parent situation, the other parent may still need to be declared in the application, depending on their legal relationship to the parent being sponsored. IRCC states that if the principal applicant has a separated spouse, that spouse must still be included in the forms, even if they are not coming to Canada. In general, if the parents are separated but not divorced, IRCC says one application should usually be submitted for both parents because they are still legally married. So the key issue is not just whether you can sponsor one parent, but whether the other parent must still be listed or included based on the family relationship rules.

Yes, but only in a limited way. Under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), the only person who can co-sign your sponsorship application is your spouse or common-law partner. A co-signer can help you meet the income requirement by allowing your incomes to be combined. If the co-signer is your common-law partner, you must also provide proof of common-law status. As a co-signer, your spouse or partner does not become a separate sponsor of your parent; instead, they co-sign the undertaking and are equally responsible for meeting the sponsorship obligations.

If the parent is your spouse’s parent, the rule is different. You cannot use your own PGP invitation to sponsor your in-laws, and you also cannot use your invitation to be the co-signer on your in-law’s application. If your spouse wants to sponsor their own parent, your spouse must be the person who received the invitation to apply.

No, in most cases an adopted child cannot sponsor their biological parents. IRCC says that, for an adoption to be valid for immigration purposes, it must permanently end the child’s legal relationship with the biological parents and create a new legal parent-child relationship with the adoptive parents. As a result, the child cannot later sponsor their biological relatives to come to Canada. This means that under the Parents and Grandparents Program, the child’s legal parents are usually the adoptive parents, not the biological parents. Learn more about PGP Document Checklist.

Yes, you may still be able to sponsor your parents even if you are unemployed. Being unemployed does not automatically disqualify you from the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). What matters is whether you meet the required income threshold for the relevant tax years, based on the Canada Revenue Agency information IRCC uses, not simply whether you have a job at the time you apply. IRCC generally looks at your income for the 3 tax years before the date of application and calculates it using line 15000 of your Notice of Assessment, minus any income that must be excluded, such as regular Employment Insurance earnings.

One important exception is social assistance. If you receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability, you may not be eligible to sponsor. So in practice, unemployment by itself is not the issue; the key question is whether you still meet the financial and other eligibility requirements.

No, you do not normally need to show proof of funds in the form of bank balances or settlement funds to sponsor your parents or grandparents. Under the Parents and Grandparents Program, the key financial requirement is proof that you meet the required income threshold for the relevant tax years. IRCC says you must show this using Canada Revenue Agency information for the 3 taxation years immediately before you apply, either by authorizing IRCC on IMM 5768 to obtain your tax information directly from CRA or by submitting your Notices of Assessment.

In practical terms, PGP is about proving sufficient income, not showing extra money in a bank account. If you do not provide the required CRA-based income proof, you will not meet the sponsorship requirements.

Family size for parent and grandparent sponsorship is calculated by counting everyone you will be financially responsible for under the sponsorship rules, not just the parent or grandparent you want to sponsor. This usually includes you, your spouse or common-law partner if applicable, your dependent children, anyone still covered by a current or previous sponsorship undertaking, and the parent or grandparent you are sponsoring along with their family members. IRCC uses this family size to determine the minimum income you must meet for each of the 3 tax years immediately before you apply. Information about future PGP intakes may change, and future intakes may use different years and different income thresholds.

Family size is assessed carefully across those tax years, but it is not always a different number each year. IRCC notes that increases such as marriage, a new common-law relationship, or the birth of a child can affect the calculation. However, if someone is no longer part of your family when you apply—for example because of death, legal divorce, or an expired undertaking—you do not include them in your family size for any of the 3 tax years.

You should report any change in family size or family composition to IRCC as soon as possible after you submit the application. During PGP processing, IRCC requires you to keep your application information up to date. Changes such as marriage, divorce, the start or end of a common-law relationship, the birth or adoption of a child, or the death of an applicant or family member should be reported through IRCC’s web form, and IRCC may ask for updated forms, a letter of explanation, or supporting PGP documents.

These changes can affect both the application details and your eligibility as a sponsor. In the Parents and Grandparents Program, a change in family size may change who must be included in the application and may also affect the income threshold you must meet. IRCC’s guide states that the sponsor and any co-signer must continue to meet the income requirement from the date the application is received until the sponsored family members become permanent residents.

Usually, no. For a standard Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) application, IRCC does not normally require a separate invitation letter, and the main focus is on submitting the required forms and supporting documents listed in the application guide and PGP document checklist.

A letter of explanation may still be needed in certain situations. For example, IRCC says you must include a letter explaining why you are applying for a parent or grandparent who was not listed on your original PGP Interest to Sponsor form. You should also include a letter explaining any changes if the information in your application no longer matches what you submitted earlier, along with proof of those changes. If a required document is missing, the checklist also allows you to submit a written explanation as a “Letter of explanation.”

An invitation letter is different. It is generally used for temporary entry applications such as a visitor visa or super visa, not for a PGP permanent residence application. In the super visa process, IRCC specifically requires a signed letter of invitation from the child or grandchild in Canada.

One exception about a cover letter: if IRCC approved you to apply in an alternate format, you must include the cover letter IRCC sent you with that approval.

If you do not have a birth certificate, that does not automatically prevent you from sponsoring your parents or grandparents. IRCC says sponsors normally use a birth certificate to prove the relationship, and if you do not have one, you should first try to obtain a certified copy. If you cannot get a birth certificate from your birth country, you can provide an equivalent document from that country together with a letter of explanation. What matters most is that the documents clearly prove your relationship to the parent or grandparent you want to sponsor. If names or other details differ across documents, you should also explain the difference and include supporting evidence where possible.

No. Health insurance is not normally a required part of a Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) sponsorship or permanent residence application. The PGP process focuses on sponsor eligibility, relationship documents, required forms, income requirements, and immigration processing requirements such as medical exams. Private health insurance is generally not listed as a standard PGP requirement. Health insurance is required in a different process: the super visa. Under the parent and grandparent super visa rules, applicants must provide proof of private medical insurance, which is why the two processes are often confused.

In practical terms, if your parents or grandparents are applying for permanent residence through PGP, private health insurance is usually not the issue. If they are applying for a super visa to visit Canada while waiting, health insurance is a required part of that application.

In most cases, the undertaking lasts 20 years. For parent and grandparent sponsorship, the undertaking begins on the day your parents or grandparents become permanent residents, and in most provinces and territories you remain financially responsible for them for 20 years. For sponsors in Quebec, the undertaking period is 10 years under Quebec’s rules.

The undertaking does not end early if your circumstances change. You remain responsible for the full period even if your relationship changes, your financial situation worsens, your parents or grandparents become Canadian citizens, or you move. If they receive social assistance during the undertaking period, you may have to repay that amount.

Yes, but only if they qualify as dependent children. Under the Parents and Grandparents Program, your siblings, half-siblings, or step-siblings can be included only if they meet IRCC’s definition of a dependent child as part of your parent’s or grandparent’s application. If they do not qualify as dependents, they cannot be added just because they are your parent’s children.

This means your parents cannot include all of their children automatically through your PGP application. They can include only those children who qualify as accompanying dependent children on the application. Children who do not meet the dependent-child rules cannot be included and would need their own immigration pathway.

Yes, usually. You can withdraw a Parents and Grandparents Program application after it has been submitted, as long as IRCC receives your withdrawal request before the parent or grandparent you are sponsoring becomes a permanent resident. If IRCC receives the request too late and the person has already become a permanent resident, the application cannot be withdrawn and your sponsorship obligations will still apply.

Refunds depend on how far the application has gone. If IRCC has not started processing the PGP sponsorship application, you can generally get all fees back. If processing has already started, you usually will not get the sponsorship fee back, and if the permanent residence application has already started, IRCC may refund only certain fees, such as the Right of Permanent Residence Fee, if it was paid.

To withdraw, use IRCC’s web form. In the request, include identifying details such as your name, date of birth, address, the date the application was sent, your client ID number if available, the type of application, the reason for withdrawal, and a copy of the payment receipt.

No, not usually. A humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) application is generally not a standard alternative to sponsoring parents or grandparents through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). IRCC says H&C applications are meant for exceptional cases and are assessed case by case when a person is asking for an exemption from certain immigration requirements.

PGP and H&C are different processes with different legal tests. An H&C application is not simply another way to apply because PGP is closed, you were not invited, or regular sponsorship is difficult. In an ordinary family reunification case, H&C is generally not treated as a substitute for the Parents and Grandparents Program.

Yes, they can, but it can have serious consequences for the sponsor. When you sponsor your parents or grandparents, you sign an undertaking promising to support them financially for the full undertaking period. If they receive provincial social assistance during that period, you may have to repay the amount, and you can be found in default of your undertaking. That can make you ineligible to sponsor another person until the default is resolved.

In practical terms, the sponsor remains financially responsible for the sponsored parents or grandparents throughout the undertaking period, even if circumstances change later.

They may qualify later, but not automatically and usually not right away. After becoming permanent residents, your parents or grandparents may become eligible for Old Age Security (OAS) if they meet the age and residence requirements. OAS is generally available starting at age 65, and if they are living in Canada, they generally need at least 10 years of residence in Canada after age 18. If they have lived in Canada for less than 40 years after age 18, they may qualify only for a partial OAS pension.

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) works differently. CPP is not based mainly on permanent resident status. It is based on contributions, and a person can qualify for a CPP retirement pension only if they are at least 60 years old and have made at least one valid CPP contribution. Permanent residence by itself does not create an immediate right to either OAS or CPP. Eligibility depends on age, residence history in Canada, and, for CPP, contribution history.

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