You made it to Canada. You've built a career, maybe bought a home, started raising your kids here. But there's always that ache — your parents are back home, getting older, and you can't be there for every festival, every birthday, every small moment that matters. And video calls, as helpful as they are, just aren't the same as having your mom or dad sitting across the dinner table from you.
Canada's Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program (PGP) was created to address exactly this. It allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency, so families can live together in Canada — not just visit for a few weeks at a time.
At E3 Immigration, we understand how deeply personal this process is. It's not just paperwork — it's about giving your parents the same security and quality of life that you've worked so hard to build for yourself. We treat every PGP case with the care and urgency it deserves.
Here's the thing about PGP that frustrates a lot of people: it's not a year-round, open-door program. IRCC opens a limited intake period — usually once a year — where interested sponsors can submit an Interest to Sponsor form. From these submissions, IRCC randomly selects a specific number of potential sponsors and invites them to submit a full application.
Think of it like a lottery, but with stakes that feel very personal. In recent years, IRCC has invited around 15,000-24,000 sponsors per intake — but the number of people submitting interest far exceeds that. Competition is real.
When IRCC opens the intake window (usually announced with short notice), you submit an online form expressing interest in sponsoring your parents or grandparents. Keep your email and IRCC account active — you don't want to miss the notification.
IRCC conducts a random draw from all submissions and sends Invitations to Apply (ITA) to selected sponsors. If you're selected, you'll receive instructions on how to submit your complete application. If not, you'll need to reapply in the next intake cycle.
Once invited, you typically have 60 days to submit a complete application with all supporting documents — proof of income, identity documents for your parents/grandparents, medical exams, and police clearance certificates.
IRCC processes the application and, once approved, issues a COPR to your parents or grandparents. They complete their medical exams (if not already done), receive their PR visa, and can travel to Canada to complete their landing. Processing time is currently around 20-24 months.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Status | Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old |
| Residence | Must be living in Canada at the time of sponsorship |
| Income | Must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for three consecutive tax years |
| Undertaking | 20-year financial responsibility commitment |
| Previous Defaults | Must not be in default of any previous sponsorship undertaking |
| Who Can Be Sponsored | Parents, grandparents, and their dependents |
Unlike spousal sponsorship, PGP has strict income requirements. You need to demonstrate that your household income meets or exceeds the MNI threshold for three consecutive tax years. Here's a snapshot of the 2024 LICO+ thresholds:
| Family Size (After Sponsorship) | Minimum Annual Income (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $43,082 |
| 3 persons | $52,965 |
| 4 persons | $64,306 |
| 5 persons | $72,957 |
| 6 persons | $82,285 |
| 7+ persons | $91,610 |
Didn't get selected in the PGP lottery? Or want your parents to come to Canada while your sponsorship application processes? The Super Visa is an excellent alternative.
A Super Visa allows your parents or grandparents to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time without needing to renew their status. It's a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 10 years. While it doesn't lead directly to PR, it lets your family be together while you work on the PGP application.
Requirements for a Super Visa include a letter of invitation from you, proof of your income meeting the MNI, and valid medical insurance for your parents covering at least $100,000 for the duration of their stay.
PGP is emotional, competitive, and bureaucratically complex. The lottery system means you're already at the mercy of chance — the last thing you need is for a preventable error in your application to cost you your opportunity.
We've helped families navigate the PGP process from start to finish — from making sure they submit during the narrow intake window, to preparing bulletproof applications that leave nothing to question. We also help with Super Visa applications for families who want their parents in Canada as soon as possible, regardless of the PGP timeline.
Your parents sacrificed a lot for you. Bringing them to Canada is your chance to give back — and we're here to make sure it happens.
Common Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship mistakes, weak points and planning gaps to fix before your application moves forward.
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