An eligible sponsor is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who meets certain criteria. These criteria may include:

1. Age and Residency:
   1. The sponsor must be at least 18 years old.
   2. If the sponsor is a permanent resident, they must reside in Canada.
2. Financial Eligibility:
   1. The sponsor must meet the minimum necessary income requirement to demonstrate their ability to financially support their parents or grandparents.
   2. Income requirements are set by the Canadian government and are updated annually.
3. Agreement to Support:
   1. Sponsors must sign a sponsorship agreement with the Canadian government, committing to providing financial support to their parents or grandparents for a specific period.
   2. The sponsorship agreement also includes a commitment to repay any social assistance benefits received by the sponsored family members during the sponsorship period.

What are my ongoing obligations if I sponsor my parents or grandparents under the PGP?

Those wishing to sponsor their parents or grandparents under the PGP will need to sign an undertaking with IRCC. For sponsors residing outside the province of Quebec, this undertaking commits you to providing financial support for your sponsored family members for 20 years from the date they become permanent residents of Canada. In addition to this, you will need to repay any provincial social assistance your sponsored family member receives during these 20 years.

The undertaking also requires you to provide for the basic needs of your sponsored family members, including food, clothing utilities etc.

For sponsors residing in the province of Quebec, the undertaking is for 10 years from the date your sponsored family members become permanent residents of Canada.

The process to apply for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in Canada typically involves several steps:

1. Expressing Interest:
   • The first step involves expressing your interest in sponsoring your parents or grandparents by submitting an “Interest to Sponsor” form.
   • The form is usually available online, and there is a specific period during which you can submit your interest. This period is announced by IRCC.
2. Random Selection:
   • After the expression of interest period closes, IRCC conducts a random selection process to choose potential sponsors from the pool of submissions.
   • Those selected are then invited to submit a complete application.
3. Invitation to Apply:
   • If you are selected, you will receive an invitation to apply. This invitation will include instructions on how to submit a complete sponsorship application.
4. Submitting Application:
   • Complete the sponsorship application forms and gather all required documents, including proof of income and relationship documentation.
   • Pay the required application fees.
5. Approval Process:
   • IRCC reviews the sponsorship application to ensure it meets all requirements.
   • If the application is approved, your parents or grandparents will be issued permanent residence status.
6. Medical Examinations and Security Checks:
   • Sponsored individuals are required to undergo medical examinations and security checks.
7. Arrival in Canada:
   • Once the application is approved, and all checks are completed, the sponsored individuals can travel to Canada as permanent residents.

Navigating the process of applying for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in Canada involves several steps. It’s important to keep in mind that immigration rules can change, so stay updated by checking the official Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website or consulting with an immigration professional.

The general steps mentioned earlier provide an overview, but the process can be different for each person. To make things smoother, some applicants find it helpful to get advice from an immigration lawyer who knows the ins and outs of the system.

In order to be sponsored, parents or grandparents must be related to the sponsor by blood or adoption. In addition to this, they will need to pass a medical examination, be criminally admissible and provide biometrics.

There are no processing fees to submit an interest to sponsor form to the PGP portal. However, if you have received an invitation to apply, you must remit application processing fees as part of the application.

For 2024 the processing fees are $1080 per adult to be sponsored and $155 for any dependent child included in the application. In addition to this, there is a biometrics fee of $85 for one person or $170 for 2 or more people.

Is there a limit to the number of applications accepted under the PGP?

Is there a limit to the number of applications accepted under the PGP?

Yes, there is a limit to the number of applications accepted under the PGP. This limit is seen in the number of invitations to apply that are issued. For 2021, IRCC has stated it will accept up to 30,000 applications under the PGP.

When will IRCC invite more PGP sponsors to apply?

IRCC has a quota of 28,500,000 PGP applications for 2023. To date, all PGP invitations were issued between September and October , 2023. IRCC has not yet released information on the 2024 quote or intake period.

Can I include my brothers and sisters in a PGP application?

You can include eligible brothers and sisters in a PGP application. To be eligible, your brothers and sisters must be under the age of 22 at the time the application is submitted or be financially dependent on your parents or grandparents due to a mental or physical condition.

Can I sponsor my in-laws under the PGP?

No, you cannot sponsor your in-laws under the PGP. You can however act as a co-signer on your spouse’s PGP sponsorship application so long as your spouse meets the eligibility criteria as a sponsor.

What If I didn’t receive an invite to sponsor my parents or grandparents?

If you did not receive an invitation to apply from the last round of invitations, you can still invite your parents and grandparents to visit for up to 2 years at a time through the super visa program.