The Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program (PGP) allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency in Canada. This program is a great opportunity to reunite families, but it comes with specific eligibility requirements and a structured application process.
1. Eligibility Requirements
To sponsor a parent or grandparent, you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Meet minimum necessary income (MNI) requirements to demonstrate financial capability to support the sponsored individuals.
- Sign a 20-year sponsorship undertaking agreement (or 10 years in Quebec) to provide financial support and ensure they do not rely on social assistance.
- Submit an Interest to Sponsor form during the annual intake period.
2. Required Documents
Both the sponsor and the sponsored parent(s) or grandparent(s) must provide:
- Proof of status in Canada (e.g., citizenship certificate, PR card, or passport).
- Proof of relationship (e.g., birth certificate or other legal documents).
- Proof of income (e.g., Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency for the last three years).
- Medical exam results for the sponsored individuals.
- Police clearance certificates from countries where the sponsored individuals have lived for six months or more since the age of 18.
3. Application Process
Step 1: Submit Interest to Sponsor Form
- Every year, IRCC opens an intake period where sponsors submit an Interest to Sponsor form online.
- The selection is made through a lottery system, and selected applicants receive an Invitation to Apply.
Step 2: Complete and Submit Application
- Once invited, sponsors must complete the sponsorship and permanent residence application forms.
- Pay the applicable fees online, including the processing fee, right of permanent residence fee, and biometrics fee.
- Submit the completed application to IRCC within the deadline mentioned in the invitation.
Step 3: Application Processing and Decision
- IRCC reviews applications for completeness and eligibility.
- The sponsored parent(s) or grandparent(s) undergo medical exams, background checks, and biometrics submission.
- If approved, they receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and can travel to Canada to complete the landing process.
4. Processing Times and Alternative Options
- PGP applications can take 20-24 months to process.
- If not selected in the lottery, you may consider applying for a Super Visa, which allows parents and grandparents to visit Canada for up to 5 years per entry.