The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is a popular immigration program that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency in Canada. The program is designed to reunite families and provide economic benefits to Canada.
The PGP will reopen in the fall of 2023, and IRCC will be accepting up to 15,000 complete applications for sponsorship. Invitations to apply will be sent to randomly selected potential sponsors from the pool of submissions from 2020. The invitations will be sent over the course of 2 weeks, starting on October 10, 2023.
To be eligible to sponsor under the PGP, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Meet the minimum income requirements.
- Have a valid Canadian address.
- Be able to provide for the basic needs of the person you are sponsoring.
The minimum income requirement for sponsors is as follows:
- Single sponsor: \$35,000 per year
- Married couple or common-law partners: \$52,800 per year
- Sponsor with dependent children: \$41,200 per year
Sponsors can count regular Employment Insurance benefits and temporary COVID-19 benefits, such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, towards their income.
The application process for the PGP is as follows:
- Submit an interest to sponsor form. This form is available on the IRCC website.
- If you are invited to apply, you must submit a complete application package. The application package includes the following:
- The sponsorship application form
- The financial evaluation form
- Proof of income
- Proof of relationship to the person being sponsored
- Other supporting documents
The application processing time for the PGP is typically 20-24 months.
The PGP is a great way to bring your parents or grandparents to Canada. If you are interested in sponsoring, I recommend that you start planning early. You can learn more about the PGP on the IRCC website.
Here are some additional things to keep in mind if you are considering sponsoring your parents or grandparents under the PGP:
- You are legally responsible for the person you are sponsoring for a period of 20 years. This means that you must provide them with financial support and ensure that they have access to healthcare and other essential services.
- The person you are sponsoring must meet the admissibility requirements for Canada. This includes passing a medical exam and criminal background check.
- The PGP is a competitive program, and not all applications are successful. If you are not invited to apply, you can try again in the next intake.