Parent and Grandparent
Sponsorship in Canada

Where does the program stand right now?

According to IRCC, the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is paused: since July 15, 2026, IRCC no longer receives new interest-to-sponsor submissions and no longer invites potential sponsors to apply, until further notice.

• it is therefore not possible today to submit a new application to sponsor parents or grandparents;
• applications already received by IRCC continue to be processed;
• in this program, an application can only be filed by invitation from IRCC, after an interest-to-sponsor submission;
• an admissions target announced by IRCC is not a reopening of the program.

This situation may change: we check the official status at the time of your appointment.

Who can sponsor?

According to IRCC, the sponsor must, in particular:

• be at least 18 years old;
• be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or a person registered under the Indian Act;
• have their main address in Canada when applying and until the decision;
• have sufficient income (see below); their spouse or common-law partner can co-sign the application to combine incomes;
• not be excluded: for example, having a previous sponsorship undertaking that was not respected, an immigration debt or unpaid alimony, an undischarged bankruptcy, receiving social assistance (except for disability), having been convicted of certain offences or being subject to a removal order.

Who can be sponsored?

• your parents and grandparents, biological or adoptive;
• the family members who accompany them, such as their spouse or partner, and their dependent children.

Special cases (adoption, blended families, dependent children travelling with their parents) require a review of the file.

Financial requirements

• Income: the sponsor must show that they reach the minimum income required by IRCC for each of the three tax years before the application, with Canada Revenue Agency notices of assessment;
• Family size: it counts the sponsor, their spouse, their dependent children, as well as the sponsored parents or grandparents and their family, even if some of them are not immigrating;
• Amounts: they change from one intake period to the next. We therefore do not reproduce a table: we check the applicable amounts with you;
• Undertaking: the sponsor commits to supporting the basic needs of the sponsored persons for 20 years from their permanent residence (10 years in Québec). This undertaking cannot be cancelled once permanent residence is obtained.

In Québec

• IRCC: the sponsorship and permanent residence application is submitted first to IRCC, under the program's rules;
• MIFI: the sponsor who lives in Québec then submits an undertaking application to the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration, after IRCC's letter confirming their eligibility;
• Québec adds its own requirements: income according to Québec's conditions, a 10-year undertaking, and a welcome and integration plan for sponsored persons aged 18 to 55;
• the MIFI applies special rules for receiving undertaking applications: we check the situation in force before any step.

How does the process work?

When the program is open, the process generally follows these steps:

• Interest-to-sponsor submission to IRCC — step currently closed;
• Invitation to apply, sent by IRCC to selected people — currently paused;
• Sponsorship and permanent residence application, with the forms, proof of income and supporting documents, within the period stated in the invitation;
• In Québec: undertaking application to the MIFI after IRCC's letter;
• Processing of the file by IRCC, which may ask for additional documents or information.

As long as the first two steps are closed, there is no point preparing a filing: we help you prepare and review your options instead.

Documents to prepare

• identity documents and documents proving the family relationship (birth certificates, adoption documents where applicable);
• proof of the sponsor's status in Canada;
• Canada Revenue Agency notices of assessment for the three applicable tax years, and the co-signer's income documents if there is one;
• IRCC forms, including the sponsorship undertaking and the financial evaluation, signed by the people concerned;
• in Québec: the documents for the undertaking application to the MIFI.

The exact requirements depend on your file and on the IRCC guide in force. Careful preparation helps avoid delays or the return of the application.

Super Visa for parents and grandparents

The Super Visa is not permanent residence. It is a temporary authorization, separate from sponsorship, that lets a parent or grandparent visit their child or grandchild:

• stay of up to 5 years at each entry, with multiple entries over a period of up to 10 years;
• the child or grandchild must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or a person registered under the Indian Act;
• main requirements: invitation letter, minimum host income, private medical insurance of at least one year, medical exam;
• no dependants can be included in the application.

A Super Visa is not a sponsorship undertaking: being eligible for one does not mean being eligible for the other. For a shorter stay, a visitor visa may be enough. See our page on the Super Visa for parents and grandparents.

How we can help

Pro Immigration can help you:

• review your family situation and that of your parents or grandparents;
• check your eligibility as a sponsor;
• review the financial requirements: income, family size, undertaking;
• explain the options available while the program is not accepting new applications, including the Super Visa;
• prepare the application when the program allows it, and the MIFI undertaking in Québec;
• check the forms and supporting documents, then follow the file and respond to IRCC's requests.

We cannot guarantee that the application will be approved, or a processing time. The decision rests with IRCC.