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Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Canada
Licensed RCIC guidance for Canadian citizens and permanent residents planning parent or grandparent sponsorship, PGP eligibility, income review, and Super Visa options.
Written and reviewed by Omer Khalil, RCIC (R710149), a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant and member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). Last reviewed: June 2026.
The Parents and Grandparents Program allows eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence in Canada.
This program is not always open. It usually depends on IRCC intake instructions, interest-to-sponsor rules, random invitations, complete applications, income requirements, and strict deadlines. Families who are not invited or who cannot apply under the current PGP intake may need to consider a Super Visa as a temporary option.
Table of Contents
MAK Canadian Immigration Services assists sponsors in Mississauga, Toronto, the GTA, across Canada, and online. We help families review sponsor eligibility, income requirements, family size, co-signer issues, invitation rules, document strategy, PGP risks, and Super Visa options. No consultant can guarantee an invitation or approval, but proper review can reduce avoidable mistakes and help clients understand their realistic options.
1. What Is Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship in Canada?
Parents and grandparents sponsorship is part of Canada’s family sponsorship system. It can allow an eligible Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor their parent or grandparent for permanent residence in Canada. It works alongside other family sponsorship options, such as spousal sponsorship and dependent child sponsorship.
This pathway is different from a Super Visa. Sponsorship is for permanent residence. A Super Visa is a temporary resident visa option that may allow parents or grandparents to visit Canada for extended stays.
The Parents and Grandparents Program is highly controlled by IRCC. Families should not assume they can submit a sponsorship application at any time. Intake windows, invitations, income requirements, and deadlines are central to this program.
A strong PGP strategy should answer three questions clearly: Is the sponsor eligible? Is the family member eligible to be sponsored? Is the sponsor able to meet the income and undertaking requirements?
2. Current PGP Status and Invitation Rules
The Parents and Grandparents Program is not an open filing system where every family can apply whenever they want.
IRCC uses intake instructions and invitation rules. Potential sponsors may need to submit an interest-to-sponsor form during an intake period. IRCC may then invite selected potential sponsors to apply.
As of the most recent Canada.ca update for this program, the 2025 intake is closed and is by invitation only. The last day to apply was October 9, 2025, and IRCC is no longer accepting applications for that intake. New Ministerial Instructions for the Parents and Grandparents Program took effect on January 1, 2026 to allow IRCC to keep processing existing applications, and Canada.ca says details on the next intake will be shared on its website and social media channels when they are available.
Do not start a PGP application unless IRCC has invited the sponsor to apply. If an application is submitted without an invitation, IRCC may return it.
This page therefore helps families understand both PGP sponsorship and the Super Visa alternative.
3. Who Can Sponsor Parents or Grandparents?
A person may be able to sponsor a parent or grandparent if they are invited to apply, are at least 18 years old, live in Canada, and are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
For this program, the sponsor must live in Canada. The sponsor’s primary residential address must be in Canada when the application is submitted and must remain in Canada until IRCC makes a decision.
The sponsor must also have enough money to support the people they want to sponsor and must meet the applicable income requirements.
A spouse or common-law partner may be able to co-sign the application to combine income, but the co-signer also takes on legal financial responsibility.
Some sponsors may be ineligible because of issues such as being in prison, failing to repay certain debts, failing to pay court-ordered support, defaulting on a previous sponsorship undertaking, being in an undischarged bankruptcy, receiving social assistance for a reason other than disability, certain criminal history, or other legal restrictions.
4. Who Can Be Sponsored Under the PGP?
A sponsor may be able to sponsor their own biological or adopted parents and grandparents.
Depending on the family situation, the application may also include the dependent children of the parent or grandparent, such as eligible siblings, half-siblings, or step-siblings, if they meet the dependent-child definition.
If parents or grandparents are divorced, their current spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner may be relevant. Separate applications may be needed for divorced parents.
If parents or grandparents are separated but not divorced, IRCC may treat them differently because they are still legally married. The correct principal applicant and dependant structure should be reviewed carefully.
A sponsor cannot sponsor their spouse or partner’s parents and grandparents through their own invitation. Those are in-laws. The spouse or partner would need their own invitation to apply, although the sponsor may be able to co-sign that application.
Someone who is inadmissible to Canada cannot be sponsored.
5. Income Requirements for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship
Parents and grandparents sponsorship has a strict income requirement.
To show enough income, the sponsor must usually prove that they meet the income requirement for each of the three tax years before the date they apply. IRCC may use CRA Notice of Assessment information and family size to assess this requirement.
For sponsors outside Quebec, IRCC uses total income from line 15000 of the Notice of Assessment and subtracts income that must be excluded. Excluded income can include certain social assistance, some training allowances, resettlement assistance payments, regular Employment Insurance earnings, Old Age Security, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
The income table changes by intake year and family size. We do not rely on old income numbers. The current figures should be confirmed on the official IRCC income table before filing, which you can reach through the income requirements link in the Official IRCC Links section below.
Income weakness is one of the biggest reasons a family should book a consultation before relying on PGP sponsorship.
6. Family Size and Co-Signer Issues
Family size is one of the most important parts of the PGP income calculation.
Family size can include the sponsor, the sponsor’s spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, people still covered by previous undertakings, the parent or grandparent being sponsored, and the sponsored person’s eligible family members.
Some family members may need to be counted even if they are not coming to Canada. This can include a parent’s spouse or dependent child, depending on the facts.
A spouse or common-law partner may co-sign the sponsorship application to combine income. This can help meet the income requirement, but it also means the co-signer accepts financial responsibility under the undertaking.
Family size should be reviewed year by year for the required tax years, because changes such as marriage, separation, divorce, birth of a child, death, or expired undertakings can affect the calculation.
7. Undertaking and 20-Year Financial Responsibility
Parents and grandparents sponsorship creates a long financial undertaking.
For sponsors outside Quebec, the undertaking period for a sponsored parent or grandparent is 20 years from the day the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident. For sponsors in Quebec, the undertaking period is generally 10 years.
During the undertaking period, the sponsor is responsible for the sponsored person’s basic needs. If the sponsored parent or grandparent receives social assistance during the undertaking period, the sponsor may have to repay it.
The undertaking cannot be cancelled or shortened after the sponsored parent or grandparent becomes a permanent resident. The sponsor remains responsible even if the relationship changes, the sponsor has financial problems, the sponsored person becomes a Canadian citizen, or the family moves.
This is why PGP sponsorship should be treated as a serious long-term financial commitment, not just a form-filling exercise.
8. Quebec Sponsors
Quebec has a separate sponsorship process and separate undertaking rules.
If the sponsor lives in Quebec, IRCC may first assess the federal sponsorship side. After that, Quebec may require a separate undertaking application through the Quebec immigration ministry.
Quebec income rules and undertaking periods can differ from the federal process outside Quebec. Quebec also has intake and cap rules that can change.
We do not apply Quebec rules to non-Quebec sponsors, and we do not apply non-Quebec rules to Quebec sponsors, without checking the current Quebec instructions.
9. Documents and Evidence for PGP Sponsorship
Parents and grandparents sponsorship applications can be document-heavy. Common document categories may include:
- Proof of sponsor status in Canada
- Proof the sponsor lives in Canada
- Invitation to apply letter
- Interest-to-sponsor confirmation where relevant
- Sponsor identity documents
- Parent or grandparent identity documents
- Proof of relationship, such as birth certificates
- Marriage, divorce, separation, or death documents where relevant
- Proof of income and CRA Notices of Assessment
- Financial evaluation forms
- Co-signer documents where applicable
- Police certificates where required
- Medical exam information where required
- Biometrics where required
- Passports and civil status documents
- Translations where required
- Explanation letters for name differences, missing documents, family changes, or complex family history
The goal is not to upload random documents. The goal is to present a complete, consistent, and legally accurate file that matches IRCC’s checklist and the family’s real situation.
10. Common Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Problems
PGP sponsorship can be delayed, returned, or refused if the application does not clearly meet IRCC’s requirements. Common problems include:
- Applying without an invitation
- Missing the invitation deadline
- Weak or incorrect income calculation
- Wrong family size calculation
- Misunderstanding co-signer responsibility
- Ignoring previous undertakings
- Sponsor not living in Canada
- Permanent resident sponsor living outside Canada
- Trying to sponsor in-laws with the wrong invitation
- Confusion about divorced or separated parents
- Choosing the wrong principal applicant
- Missing birth certificates or relationship proof
- Name or date inconsistencies
- Missing police certificates or medical information
- Missing translations
- Unresolved sponsor ineligibility
- Admissibility concerns for the parent or grandparent
- Assuming a Super Visa and PGP are the same
A PGP case does not become strong only because the family relationship is genuine. The sponsor must also meet the intake, eligibility, income, document, and undertaking requirements.
11. How the PGP Sponsorship Process Works
The PGP process usually begins with IRCC’s intake instructions.
When an intake is open, potential sponsors may need to submit an interest-to-sponsor form. IRCC may then issue invitations to selected potential sponsors.
An invited sponsor must submit the sponsorship application and the parent or grandparent’s permanent residence application together before the deadline in the invitation letter.
After submission, IRCC may review sponsor eligibility, income, family size, relationship documents, medical admissibility, criminality, biometrics, police certificates, and other required evidence.
If approved, the sponsored parent or grandparent may become a permanent resident of Canada.
12. Processing Times and Government Fees
PGP processing times can vary. Processing can depend on the intake year, application completeness, country-specific document issues, medical or police certificate requirements, background checks, and whether IRCC requests more information.
We do not rely on old processing-time numbers copied from blogs. The current timeline should be checked with the IRCC processing-time tool before giving a client an estimate.
Government fees can also change. The total cost may include sponsorship fees, processing fees, the right of permanent residence fee, biometrics, medical exams, police certificates, translations, courier or document costs, and professional fees if a representative is retained.
Use the official IRCC fee list for current government fee amounts. You can find both links in the Official IRCC Links section below.
13. Super Visa as an Alternative
The Super Visa is an important alternative for families who cannot apply under the PGP or who were not invited.
A Super Visa is not permanent residence. It is a temporary resident visa option for eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or registered Indians.
Canada.ca says a Super Visa can allow parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time. Parents and grandparents visiting on a Super Visa may also be able to apply for extensions of up to 2 years while they are in Canada.
A Super Visa can be useful when PGP sponsorship is closed, when the sponsor has not received an invitation, or when the family wants the parent or grandparent to visit Canada temporarily.
We do not present a Super Visa as a replacement for permanent residence. It is a temporary option that should be assessed separately.
14. How MAK Canadian Immigration Services Can Help
MAK Canadian Immigration Services assists with parents and grandparents sponsorship consultations, Super Visa strategy, and document review. Our licensed RCICs can help with:
- PGP eligibility review
- Current intake and invitation review
- Sponsor eligibility review
- Income requirement review
- Family size calculation review
- Co-signer issue review
- Undertaking responsibility review
- Parent or grandparent eligibility review
- Document checklist planning
- Forms review and preparation
- Organization of supporting documents
- Explanation letters
- Super Visa option review
- Review of previous refusals or returned applications where applicable
- Response strategy for document requests or procedural fairness concerns where applicable
We do not guarantee invitations, processing speed, or approval. We focus on honest assessment, careful document strategy, and clear communication so clients understand the strengths and weaknesses of their family sponsorship options. You can also review our professional fees and meet the MAK team before you book.
15. Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Help in Mississauga, Toronto, and Online
MAK Canadian Immigration Services is based in Mississauga and serves clients in Toronto, the GTA, across Canada, and internationally through secure online consultations.
This is useful for sponsors in Canada who need help reviewing PGP eligibility, income requirements, family size, co-signer options, undertaking obligations, Super Visa alternatives, or document concerns.
Clients can book a consultation to review their family’s situation, current PGP status, possible Super Visa strategy, and practical next steps.
16. Official IRCC Links
17. Frequently Asked Questions
You may be able to sponsor your parents or grandparents if you are invited to apply, live in Canada, meet the sponsor eligibility rules, meet the income requirement, and your parents or grandparents are eligible and not inadmissible to Canada.
The Parents and Grandparents Program is controlled by IRCC intake instructions. As of the most recent Canada.ca update, the 2025 intake is closed and by invitation only. Before applying, check the current Canada.ca status, and do not submit a PGP application unless IRCC has invited the sponsor to apply.
Yes. PGP sponsorship is invitation based. If you submit an application without being invited, IRCC may return it.
No. For the Parents and Grandparents Program, the sponsor must live in Canada. The sponsor's primary residential address must be in Canada when the application is submitted and until IRCC makes a decision.
The income requirement depends on family size and the relevant tax years for the intake. Sponsors outside Quebec usually need to meet the income requirement for each of the three tax years before the date they apply. The official IRCC income table should be checked before filing.
Yes. A spouse or common-law partner may be able to co-sign the PGP application so their income can be combined with the sponsor's income. A co-signer also accepts financial responsibility under the undertaking.
For sponsors outside Quebec, the undertaking period for a parent or grandparent is 20 years from the day they become a permanent resident. For sponsors in Quebec, the undertaking period is generally 10 years.
No. You cannot use your own invitation to sponsor your spouse or partner's parents or grandparents. Your spouse or partner would need their own invitation to apply, although you may be able to co-sign their application.
Divorce, separation, remarriage, common-law relationships, and dependent children can affect how the application should be structured. Separate applications or specific principal applicant choices may be required depending on the facts.
A Super Visa may be an option for eligible parents or grandparents who want to visit Canada temporarily. A Super Visa is not permanent residence, but it may allow extended stays if the eligibility requirements are met.
No. Parents and grandparents sponsorship is a permanent residence pathway. A Super Visa is a temporary resident visa option for extended visits.
Yes. MAK Canadian Immigration Services can assist with PGP eligibility review, income and family size review, co-signer issues, undertaking responsibility, document strategy, Super Visa options, and consultation planning.
18. Book a Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Consultation
Book a consultation with MAK Canadian Immigration Services to review sponsor eligibility, current PGP status, income requirements, family size, co-signer options, undertaking obligations, Super Visa alternatives, document strategy, and possible risks before submission.
Ready for case-specific RCIC advice on Parents and Grandparents sponsorship eligibility and documents? Book a paid consultation. Not sure where you stand, or sponsoring from outside Canada? Start with the free assessment.
Book a ConsultationStart Free AssessmentImportant note
This page provides general information about Canadian parents and grandparents sponsorship, the Parents and Grandparents Program, and Super Visa options. It is not case-specific immigration advice. For advice based on your personal situation, book a consultation with a licensed immigration professional.
