Canada
Family Reunification in Canada
Sponsor Your Parents & Grandparents
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) lets eligible Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence — reuniting families for the long term. Because demand far exceeds the spaces available each year, the program runs through limited, invitation-based intakes, and the Super Visa offers a year-round route to bring loved ones to Canada for extended visits while you wait.
01 What is the Parents and Grandparents Program
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is a family-class immigration stream administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It allows eligible sponsors to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada as permanent residents, with the goal of long-term family reunification.
The PGP is the permanent residence route for parents and grandparents. It is different from the
Super Visa, which is a long-term visitor option and does not grant permanent status. The two are often used together — see sections 06 and 07.
Because the number of spaces is limited each year, the PGP does not accept applications on an ongoing basis. Instead, it opens through invitation-based intakes: IRCC announces a window, draws from a pool of interested sponsors, and invites a set number to submit a full application.
02 Who Can Sponsor
To sponsor a parent or grandparent under the PGP, you generally must:
- be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
- be at least 18 years old
- live in Canada (and intend to continue living in Canada once the sponsored person arrives)
- prove your relationship to the parent or grandparent you wish to sponsor
- meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the required tax years (see section 04)
- sign an undertaking to financially support the sponsored people for the required period (see section 05)
Certain situations can make a person ineligible to sponsor — for example, being in default of a previous undertaking, receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability, or certain past convictions. Quebec applies its own income standards and undertaking rules. Eligibility is assessed case by case.
03 Interest to Sponsor & the Invitation Lottery
When the PGP is open, it does not work on a first-come, first-served basis. It runs through a structured, invitation-based process:
IRCC opens an Interest to Sponsor window
During a short, publicly announced window, potential sponsors submit a free online Interest to Sponsor form to enter the pool. The form captures basic details that help confirm who may be eligible.
Names are drawn from the pool
IRCC randomly selects sponsors from the submitted forms and issues invitations to apply. Submitting a form does not guarantee selection — it is effectively a lottery, which is why demand so far exceeds the spaces available.
Invited sponsors submit a complete application
Only those who receive an invitation may submit a full sponsorship and permanent residence application, within the deadline stated in the invitation letter, with all required forms and documents.
IRCC assesses and decides
IRCC reviews eligibility, including income across the required tax years, the relationship, and admissibility (such as medical and security checks), before making a decision.
In recent rounds, IRCC has issued invitations from an existing pool of Interest to Sponsor forms submitted in 2020 rather than opening a brand-new pool. Whether a future intake reuses that pool or opens a new form has not been confirmed — confirm the format on the official IRCC page when an intake is announced.
04 Minimum Necessary Income (MNI)
The PGP carries one of the strictest income tests in the family class. To qualify, you must show that your income met the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) in each of the three tax years immediately before IRCC receives your application — not just the most recent year.
- The MNI is based on the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) published by Statistics Canada, plus 30%
- The threshold rises with your family size — including yourself, your spouse or partner, your dependants, the parents or grandparents you want to sponsor (and their family members), and anyone still covered by a previous undertaking
- IRCC verifies your income against your Canada Revenue Agency Notices of Assessment, so your filed taxes are what count
- A spouse or common-law partner can be a co-signer, allowing their income to be added to help meet the threshold
As of June 2026, the PGP is paused for new intake, so no income table for a new intake is in force. The exact MNI figures and which three tax years apply are set per intake by IRCC and revised yearly — confirm the current LICO + 30% table on the official IRCC page before relying on any number.
05 The Sponsorship Undertaking
Sponsoring a parent or grandparent means signing an undertaking — a legally binding promise to provide for the basic needs of the people you sponsor (and their dependants) so they don't need to rely on social assistance. This is a serious, long-term financial commitment.
- For parents and grandparents, the undertaking runs for 20 years, starting from the day they become permanent residents — far longer than the 3-year undertaking for a spouse or partner
- You agree to cover basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and other everyday necessities
- If the sponsored person receives social assistance during the undertaking, the government can require you to repay it
- The undertaking remains in force even if your circumstances change — for example, a change in income, a move, separation, or divorce
In Quebec, sponsorship is administered separately and the undertaking length differs (commonly 10 years). If you live in Quebec, confirm the current requirements with the relevant Quebec authority.
06 Current Intake Status (2026)
The PGP intake status changes from year to year, so it's essential to check IRCC's current instructions before making plans.
As of June 2026, under Ministerial Instructions (MI89), IRCC is not accepting any new PGP sponsorship or related permanent residence applications, and is not accepting new Interest to Sponsor forms, as of January 1, 2026 — until further instructions are issued. IRCC is processing up to 10,000 applications received during the 2025 intake. A future intake remains possible but no reopening date has been confirmed. (Verified on canada.ca; page last modified Dec 29, 2025 — confirm the current status before acting.)
In practical terms, this means there is currently no new way to enter the PGP pool. If you were invited in 2025 and have applied, your application continues to be processed. If you missed previous windows, the recommended approach is to prepare financially for a future intake — keeping your tax filings up to date so you can demonstrate income across the required years — and to consider the Super Visa as a way to reunite with family in the meantime.
07 The Super Visa Alternative
When the PGP is closed — or while you wait for an invitation — the Super Visa is the practical, year-round option to bring parents and grandparents to Canada for extended visits. It does not grant permanent residence, but it allows long stays with multiple entries.
Long, multiple-entry stays
A Super Visa lets eligible parents and grandparents stay for up to five years at a time, with multiple entries over a validity period of up to 10 years.
Medical insurance required
The visitor must hold valid private medical insurance — generally at least $100,000 in emergency coverage, valid for at least one year and fully paid (a quote is not enough).
Host income test
The host (the child or grandchild in Canada) must meet a minimum income requirement and provide a signed letter of invitation. The income standard is also tied to LICO.
Super Visa rules — including insurance amounts, which insurers qualify, and how host income is calculated — are set by IRCC and can change. As of June 2026, the canada.ca Super Visa page reflects these features (page last modified Apr 28, 2026). Confirm the current requirements before applying. BroadGate can advise on whether the PGP, the Super Visa, or both best fit your family's situation.
08 Frequently Asked Questions
Is the PGP accepting new applications right now?+
As of June 2026, IRCC is not accepting new PGP sponsorship applications or new Interest to Sponsor forms. Under Ministerial Instructions effective January 1, 2026, IRCC is processing applications received during the 2025 intake (up to 10,000) and has not announced a date for a new intake. Status can change at any time, so always confirm on the official IRCC page.
How does the invitation lottery work?+
When the program is open, you first submit a free Interest to Sponsor form during an announced window. IRCC then randomly selects sponsors from that pool and sends invitations to apply. Only those who receive an invitation can submit a full application. Submitting the form does not guarantee you'll be selected.
How much income do I need to sponsor my parents or grandparents?+
You must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) — based on the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30% for your family size — in each of the three tax years before you apply. The exact dollar figures and the specific years are set per intake by IRCC and change yearly, so confirm the current table on canada.ca. A spouse or common-law partner can co-sign to combine incomes.
How long is the sponsorship undertaking?+
For parents and grandparents, the undertaking is 20 years from the day they become permanent residents — one of the longest in Canadian immigration. During that time you are financially responsible for them and may have to repay any social assistance they receive. In Quebec, the undertaking length differs (commonly 10 years).
What's the difference between the PGP and the Super Visa?+
The PGP leads to permanent residence but is invitation-based and currently paused for new intake. The Super Visa is a long-term visitor option — it allows stays of up to five years at a time with multiple entries over up to 10 years, but does not grant permanent status. Many families use the Super Visa to reunite now while waiting for a PGP intake.
What should I do while the PGP is paused?+
Keep your tax filings current so you can demonstrate income across the required years if a future intake opens, gather proof of your relationship to your parents or grandparents, and consider the Super Visa for extended visits in the meantime. A licensed consultant can help you prepare so you're ready to act quickly when an intake is announced.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and no outcome is guaranteed. Immigration rules and figures change frequently — always confirm the current requirements on official IRCC pages or with a licensed professional. BroadGate's team are licensed immigration consultants (RCICs regulated by the CICC), not lawyers.
Talk to a Licensed Expert
Ready to reunite your family in Canada?
Our licensed team can help you weigh the PGP and the Super Visa, prepare for a future intake, and build a strong, well-documented application when the time comes.
