If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may be able to sponsor your parent or grandparent to come to Canada. Through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), your parent or grandparent will receive Canadian permanent residence and may eventually be able to apply for Canadian citizenship.
In order to be eligible for the PGP, sponsors must meet the following requirements:
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be residing in Canada
- Exceed the minimum necessary income level (MNI) for this program and provide proof of income to IRCC
- Sign an undertaking to financially support the sponsored person for 20 years and to repay any social assistance benefits paid to the sponsored family members for a period of 20 years
The information for the 2023 PGP has not been released yet. Since 2020, details for that years PGP have been released in September or October.
In 2022, IRCC invited 23,100 potential sponsors to apply to sponsor their parents and grandparents, with the goal of receiving 15,000 complete applications.
Immigration Levels Plan
Each year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) releases an Immigration Levels Plan to which it uses to guide its operations.
In 2023, Canada’s newcomer target is 465,000 new permanent residents. In 2024, Canada will aim to welcome 485,000 immigrants and in 2025, the target is another 500,000 new permanent residents.
The plan lays out the targets by immigration class and category. Under the PGP, IRCC aims to welcome 28,500 newcomers in 2023, 34,000 newcomers in 2024 and 36,000 in 2025.
What is the Super Visa?
The Super Visa is a temporary visa that is a popular option for Canadian citizens and permanent residents looking to bring their foreign parents and grandparents to Canada. There is no lottery for the Super Visa and it is offered year round, so it offers greater certainty to families hoping to sponsor.
The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents to visit their family for up to five consecutive years without renewing their visitor status. Super Visa holders can enter Canada multiple times for up to 10 years. Those with a Super Visa already will also be able to apply for an extension that may enable them to remain in Canada as a visitor for up to seven years.
The Super Visa is a great option for parents and grandparents living in countries that require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to enter Canada. By obtain a Super Visa, a parent or grandparent will be able to travel freely between Canada and their country of residence without the hassle of re-applying for a TRV.
In order to be eligible for the Super Visa, an applicant must:
- Be a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Not be inadmissible to Canada on the basis of criminality or health
- Prove that they can meet the income requirements identified by the Low-Income Cut Off (LICO)
- Provide a signed letter from their child or grandchild inviting them to Canada, and includes a promise of financial support for the length of the visit and the list and number of people in the household of this person
- Provide proof of medical insurance coverage for at least one year with a Canadian insurance company
