Important update — October 2026: Canada's Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is paused for new applications. IRCC is not accepting new interest-to-sponsor forms or issuing new invitations until further notice. Applications already received continue to be processed. Do not submit a new PGP application without an invitation.
Canada's Parents and Grandparents Program is a family sponsorship pathway through which eligible Canadian citizens, permanent residents and persons registered under the Canadian Indian Act may sponsor qualifying parents or grandparents for permanent residence. Entry into the program is controlled by IRCC invitation rounds; meeting eligibility requirements alone does not permit a new application during the pause.
Peerless Immigration Services can help families review their circumstances, understand sponsorship obligations and explore available temporary visiting options while awaiting future government announcements.
PGP status
New intake paused
PR pathway
Invitation required
Alternative
Super Visa may be available
Who Can Sponsor Parents or Grandparents?
When IRCC opens an eligible intake, a prospective sponsor generally must:
Be at least 18 years old.
Live in Canada and maintain their primary residential address there through the sponsorship decision.
Be a Canadian citizen, Canadian permanent resident or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
Have received a valid invitation to apply under the relevant PGP intake.
Meet the applicable income requirements and other eligibility rules, including restrictions relating to previous sponsorship defaults and certain legal or financial circumstances.
Who Can Be Sponsored?
Eligible sponsors may sponsor their biological or adopted parents and grandparents. A sponsored parent's or grandparent's spouse or partner and eligible dependent children may need to be included or declared as required by IRCC. Family relationships and accompanying family members must be accurately documented. Separate applications may be required depending on family structure and the specific intake instructions.
Income Requirements for PGP Sponsorship
Outside Quebec: Sponsors generally must demonstrate sufficient income for each of the three tax years immediately before applying. The minimum necessary income depends on the family size, which includes the sponsor and other people for whom they are financially responsible. A qualifying spouse or common-law partner may co-sign and combine eligible income.
IRCC's published income table for the 2025 intake relates to the 2022, 2023 and 2024 tax years; it should not be treated as a confirmed table for any future intake. Income is normally evidenced through Canada Revenue Agency notices of assessment or authorized CRA verification.
Quebec: Sponsors are assessed under Quebec's separate financial and undertaking rules, alongside the applicable federal process. Provincial intake and undertaking restrictions must be checked before proceeding.
How Long Does the Sponsorship Undertaking Last?
Where the sponsor lives
PGP undertaking period
Outside Quebec
20 years
Quebec
10 years
The undertaking generally begins when the sponsored parent or grandparent becomes a permanent resident. The sponsor agrees to provide basic needs and may have to repay certain social assistance paid during the undertaking period. Divorce, separation, job loss or a change in financial circumstances does not ordinarily cancel this obligation.
Documents to Prepare for a Future Eligible Intake
The exact checklist depends on the intake and the applicants' circumstances. Common supporting records include:
Valid invitation to apply, if and when issued by IRCC.
Sponsor's proof of Canadian citizenship, permanent residence or qualifying registered status.
Passports and identity records for the applicants and applicable family members.
Birth certificates, adoption records or other evidence of the parent/grandparent relationship.
CRA notices of assessment and other required financial documents.
Marriage, divorce or other civil-status records, where applicable.
Completed forms, translations and additional medical, police or biometric documentation when requested.
How the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Process Works
Confirm whether IRCC has reopened an eligible intake or invited the sponsor to apply.
Review sponsor eligibility, family size, income history and any Quebec requirements.
Prepare sponsorship and permanent residence applications with the required documents.
Submit both applications together through the designated IRCC online process within the invitation deadline.
Complete any subsequent biometrics, medical examinations, background checks and document requests.
Await IRCC's decision and complete permanent residence formalities if approved.
Current restriction: These steps describe the application process for a valid invitation; they are not instructions to submit a new application during the present pause.
Parents and Grandparents Program vs Super Visa
Feature
Parents and Grandparents Program
Super Visa
Immigration status
Permanent residence if approved
Temporary visitor status
Availability
New applications currently paused
Applications may be made by eligible visitors
Duration
Permanent residence subject to residency obligations
Up to five years per entry, subject to admission conditions
Key conditions
Invitation, sponsor eligibility, income and admissibility
Eligibility, host income, medical insurance and admissibility
A Super Visa does not provide permanent residence or guarantee a future PGP invitation. It may nevertheless be a practical temporary family-reunification option.
How Peerless Immigration Services Can Help
Peerless Immigration Services assists with preliminary eligibility assessment, document planning, income and family-size review, application preparation when an eligible intake is available, and consideration of alternative visitor pathways. Canadian immigration advice and representation, where required, is coordinated with RCIC Shivani Hitkari (R706882). Government approval and processing times cannot be guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. IRCC has paused new applications, interest-to-sponsor forms and invitations until further notice. Previously submitted applications continue to be processed.
No. Under the invitation-based PGP process, an application submitted without a valid invitation will be returned.
An eligible sponsor must generally be at least 18, live in Canada, have qualifying Canadian citizenship, permanent residence or registered Indian status, meet income requirements and satisfy other sponsorship conditions.
Outside Quebec, sponsors generally must meet the applicable minimum necessary income for each of the three tax years before applying. The required amount depends on family size and the intake year. Quebec assesses sponsors under its own rules.
An eligible spouse or common-law partner may co-sign and combine qualifying income with the sponsor, subject to IRCC requirements.
For parents and grandparents, the undertaking is generally 20 years outside Quebec and 10 years in Quebec, starting when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.
They may be eligible for a Super Visa, which is a temporary visitor pathway, or a regular visitor visa. Neither automatically grants permanent residence.
Typical documents include the invitation, identity and status documents, proof of family relationship, income records, application forms and any requested medical, police or biometric evidence. The official checklist depends on the intake.
Processing times vary with inventory, location and case circumstances. Check the IRCC processing-time tool rather than relying on a fixed estimate.
Program information reviewed for October 2026. Immigration rules and intake availability may change; confirm current instructions before making an application.
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