Parents and Grandparents Program: Citizens and permanent residents of Canada can help their parents and grandparents move to Canada by sponsoring them. Parents and grandparents who are accepted into this program get lifelong residency in Canada and may be able to apply for citizenship in the future.
What are the advantages of the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)?
Your parents and grandparents can work in Canada, get health care, be fully protected by Canadian law and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and apply to become Canadian citizens once they meet the requirements.
What do we know about the Parents and Grandparents Program 2023?
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may be able to help your parent or grandparent come to Canada. Through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), your parent or grandparent can get legal residency in Canada and may be able to apply for Canadian citizenship in the future.
Sponsors must meet the following standards to be eligible for the PGP:
- Be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a recognized Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a home in Canada
- Meet the minimum necessary income level (MNI) for this program and show proof of income to IRCC.
- Sign a promise to help the sponsored person financially for 20 years and to pay back any social assistance benefits paid to sponsored family members during that time.
Information about the PGP for 2023 has not been made public yet. Since 2020, information about the PGP for that year has been made public in September or October.
In 2022, the IRCC asked 23,100 possible sponsors to apply to sponsor their parents and grandparents. The goal was to get 15,000 full applications.
Plan for Immigration Levels
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) puts out an Immigration Levels Plan every year. This plan tells them how to run their business.
Canada’s goal for new permanent residents in 2023 is 465,000. In 2024, Canada wants to get 485 000 new legal residents, and in 2025, they want to get another 500 000.
The plan lists the goals for each type and class of immigrant. Under the PGP, IRCC wants to welcome 28,500 newcomers in 2023, 34,000 in 2024, and 36,000 in 2025.
What is a “Super Visa”?
The Super Visa is a short visa that Canadian citizens and permanent residents often use to bring their parents and grandparents from outside of Canada to live with them. There is no lottery for the Super Visa, and it is available all year long. This gives families who want to sponsor someone more security.
With the Super Visa, parents and grandparents can visit their children and grandchildren for up to five years in a row without having to change their visitor status. People with a Super Visa can go to Canada more than once for up to 10 years. People who already have a Super Visa will be able to apply for an extension that could let them stay in Canada as a tourist for up to seven years.
The Super Visa is a great choice for parents and grandparents who live in countries that require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to enter Canada. If a parent or grandparent gets a Super Visa, they will be able to move freely between Canada and their home country without having to reapply for a TRV.
To be able to apply for the Super Visa, a person must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident’s parent or grandparent
- Not be unable to enter Canada because of a crime or health issue
- Show that they can make enough money to meet the Low-Income Cut Off (LICO) standards.
- Provide a signed letter from their child or grandchild asking them to Canada, as well as a promise to pay for their stay and a list of everyone who lives with this person and how many of them there are.
- Show proof that you have been covered by a Canadian insurance company for at least a year.
Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) FAQs:
What is the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)?
The PGP is a Canadian immigration program that allows citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents to move to Canada.
What are the benefits of the PGP?
PGP sponsors enable their parents and grandparents to gain lifelong residency, access healthcare, work, and potentially apply for Canadian citizenship.
Who can sponsor parents and grandparents through the PGP?
Sponsors must be at least 18 years old, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or recognized under the Canadian Indian Act.
What are the eligibility criteria for sponsors?
Sponsors must have a Canadian home, meet minimum income levels, pledge 20 years of financial support, and repay social assistance benefits.
How does the sponsorship process work?
Sponsors apply to sponsor their parents or grandparents, and once approved, the sponsored individuals can apply for Canadian permanent residency.
What is a Super Visa?
The Super Visa is a short-term visa that Canadian citizens and permanent residents can use to bring parents and grandparents to Canada for extended stays.
What’s the advantage of the Super Visa compared to other visas?
The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years without needing to change their visitor status.
Can individuals with Super Visas travel back and forth?
Yes, Super Visa holders can travel between Canada and their home country multiple times within a 10-year period.
Who is eligible for a Super Visa?
Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents can apply for a Super Visa. They must meet financial requirements, provide a letter of invitation, and have Canadian insurance coverage.
How long can a Super Visa holder stay in Canada?
Initially, Super Visa holders can stay in Canada for up to two years per visit. They can later apply for an extension for up to seven years.
Summary:
- Eligibility minimum 18 years
- Have Canadian PR or Citizenship
- Have Financial stability
- Demonstrate your relationship
- IRCC Aiming to welcome 28,500 newcomers
- Super Visa is an alternative option
Check out our Web Story at Know about the Parents and Grandparents Program
