Parents And Grandparents Sponsorship
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is an uncommon Immigration stream providing both Canadian nationals and permanent residents to support their parents and grandparents for permanent residency in Canada.
The Parents and Grandparents stream starts once a year. It allows citizens and permanent nationals of Canada to support their parents and grandparents to arrive in Canada.
What is the Parents and Grandparents Program?
The Parents and Grandparents Program is an initiative, by the government that enables citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for immigration to Canada. Successful applicants under this program can obtain resident status, in Canada. In certain cases may later apply for Canadian citizenship.
Obligations
Those wishing to support their parents or grandparents under this program will need to confirm an undertaking with IRCC. For supporters living outside the province of Quebec, this trial charges you to give financial assistance to your family members for 20 years. In addition, you will have to pay for any provincial cultural assistance for your sponsored family experiences during the 20-year time.
The undertaking also needs you to provide for your supported family members’ essential needs, including food, clothing, utilities, etc.
Find out if you are eligible to get in Canada →
Eligibility Requirements for the 2024 Parents and Grandparents Program
Here are the basic eligibility requirements to sponsor a parent or grandparents under the 2024 PGP:
Submission of Interest to Sponsor Form
They submitted an Interest to Sponsor form which was obtained from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website in 2020 without receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the same year, the following year, the year after the next, or the year after next year.
Citizenship or Permanent Residency Status
Only Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, or islands registered under the Canadian Indian Act.
Age Requirement
Be at least 18 years old or older.
Residency in Canada
Living in Canada, providing status proof necessary during the desire to sponsor stage.
Minimum Income Level
Meet the minimum necessary income level for the program. If married or in a common-law relationship, the combined income of the sponsor and spouse is considered. Proof of income is sent to IRCC.
Undertaking
Signed an undertaking that ensures providing financial support to the person or persons being sponsored for 20 years (30 years if they reside in Quebec), and to repay any social assistance benefits received by the sponsored family members for said amount of time.
Additional Requirements if Residing in Quebec
- If residing in Quebec, an additional undertaking with the province of Quebec must be signed.
- The PGP applicants have to prove their income eligibility by attaching notices of assessment given by the Canadian Revenue Agency to support the application.
Income requirements for sponsoring parents and grandparents to immigrate to Canada
If you want your parents and grandparents to come to live in Canada, you must make more money than what is determined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) during the last tax season for three consecutive years. The MNI is evaluated based on your Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment.
The Minimum Necessary Income requirements for the 2023 Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) outside of Quebec are as follows:
Family Unit Size:
- 2 persons:
- 2022 MNI: $43,082
- 2021 MNI: $32,898
- 2020 MNI: $32,270
- 3 persons:
- 2022 MNI: $52,965
- 2021 MNI: $40,444
- 2020 MNI: $39,672
- 4 persons:
- 2022 MNI: $64,306
- 2021 MNI: $49,106
- 2020 MNI: $48,167
- 5 persons:
- 2022 MNI: $72,935
- 2021 MNI: $55,694
- 2020 MNI: $54,630
- 6 persons:
- 2022 MNI: $82,259
- 2021 MNI: $62,814
- 2020 MNI: $61,613
- 7 persons:
- 2022 MNI: $91,582
- 2021 MNI: $69,934
- 2020 MNI: $68,598
- Each additional person:
- 2022 MNI: $9,324
- 2021 MNI: $7,120
- 2020 MNI: $6,985
Therefore, ensure your income levels meet or exceed the required MNI for your family size as stipulated in the preceding table for the relevant taxation years.
Advantages of the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
With the PGP your parents and grandparents can enjoy the benefits of residency including the ability to work and access healthcare services in the country. They also receive rights according to laws and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Additionally, they have the option to apply for citizenship when they fulfill the requirements.
How to sponsor parents and grandparents for immigration to Canada in 2024?
Here is the step-by-step process on how to support your parents and grandparents in immigrating to Canada in 2024:
Step 1: Qualifications
You have to meet the criteria that govern sponsorship for parents or grandparents.
Step 2: Interest to Sponsor Form
You will have to file your Interest to Sponsor form on the IRCC website.
Step 3: Email Notifications
Starting May 21st, 2024, continue to monitor the email address you included in your 2020 Interest to Sponsor form for the Invitation to Apply with further instructions. IRCC will issue ITAs for two weeks following the program opening.
Step 4: Application Submission
If you get ITA in email, contact us before it expires through the Permanent Residence Portal to apply for a permanent visa. Help yourself with the documents required and information.
Who is not eligible to sponsor a parent or grandparent?
People who are unable to sponsor parents or grandparents:
Age Requirement
Must be 18 years old or older.
Residency Status
Must be residing in Canada during the sponsorship process and upon approval of the sponsored parent or grandparent’s permanent residency.
Citizenship or Residency Status
- You are eligible for the grant if you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a registered Indian in Canada.
- It does not cover temporary residents, which include visitors, students, or workers with visas or permits.
- Before you sponsor your permanent residence application, you should have completed any other outstanding ones.
Financial Eligibility
Must provide proof that income meets the required MNI.
Legal Status
- Can never be detained.
- Cannot have outstanding immigration-related debts or unpaid court-ordered family support.
- Must meet previous sponsorship obligations.
- Must not be bankrupt; the individual must be discharged.
- Must not depend solely on social assistance but may exclude any disability assistance.
- Must not have violent, familial, or sexual convictions.
- Must not be under any Removal Order stipulating they must leave Canada.
Other criteria may apply according to the IRCC for eligibility to sponsor.
Period of sponsorship commitment for the Parents and Grandparents Program
For most sponsors, the length of undertaking of the Parents and Grandparents Program is 20 years in all parts of Canada. This commitment will start the moment the sponsored person(s) and any accompanying dependents become permanent residents of Canada.
However, for the sponsors residing in Quebec, the duration of the undertaking is 10 years.
Adding a co-signer on your Parents and Grandparents Program application
You can add a co-signer on your Parents and Grandparents Program application to contribute to the Minimum Income Requirement. Your co-signer can be your spouse or common-law partner. Income proof for the last three taxation years from the date of your application needs to be shown by your co-signer.
Your co-signer will also have to meet the same admissibility as you and must accept to be bound by the same sponsorship undertaking period as you, which in most cases is 20 years, except in the case of sponsors who live in Quebec: 10 years.
Sponsoring more than one parent or grandparent in your PGP application
You can sponsor more than one parent or one grandparent in your Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) application. Each person (or a couple) you sponsor will need a different application.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will process these applications independently. Note that when sponsoring several individuals, you are required to meet the income requirement applying to the total number of people being sponsored.
