For countless Canadian citizens and permanent residents, the dream of reuniting with their parents and grandparents in their new home country is one of the most powerful and persistent goals. It’s a dream of shared holidays, of children growing up with their grandparents nearby, and of providing care and support to the people who raised them. The primary pathway to making this dream a reality is the federal Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), one of the most anticipated—and competitive—immigration programs in Canada.
Recently, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made its much-awaited announcement regarding the 2025 intake, sending a wave of excitement and anxiety through communities across the country. This announcement marks the start of a short but crucial window of opportunity for thousands of families.
However, the PGP is a notoriously complex and challenging program. Its lottery system, strict financial requirements, and lengthy processing times can be daunting. This guide will break down the 2025 announcement in simple terms, provide a deep dive into every aspect of the program, and offer a clear, step-by-step roadmap for anyone hoping to sponsor their loved ones.
The Big Announcement: What to Know About the 2025 PGP Intake
The latest news from IRCC has confirmed the details for the 2025 PGP cycle. Here are the most critical points you need to know:
- Invitation Period: Starting July 28, 2025, IRCC will begin sending out invitations to apply. This process will take place over approximately two weeks.
- Number of Invitations: A total of 17,860 invitations will be issued.
- Application Target: The goal is to accept up to 10,000 complete applications for the 2025 cycle.
- The Catch: The 2020 Pool: This is the most important detail. IRCC will not be opening a new “Interest to Sponsor” form this year. Instead, all invitations will be sent to potential sponsors who are already in the pool of candidates from the 2020 submission period.
This last point is a source of both hope and frustration. For the more than 155,000 people who successfully submitted their interest form in 2020 and have been waiting patiently, this is their chance. For everyone else, it means another year of waiting for the government to clear the existing backlog before they can even express their interest. If you submitted a form in 2020, now is the time to obsessively check the email address you used (including your junk and spam folders) for an official Invitation to Apply (ITA).
What is the Parents and Grandparents Program? A Deep Dive
The PGP is a cornerstone of Canada’s commitment to family reunification. It allows eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents to come to Canada as permanent residents. As permanent residents, they gain the right to live, work, and study anywhere in Canada, access universal healthcare, and are protected under Canadian law. After meeting residency requirements, they can eventually apply to become Canadian citizens.
The program has undergone significant changes over the years. It used to operate on a first-come, first-served basis, which led to a “mad rush” that saw the annual cap fill up in minutes, crashing IRCC’s servers and disadvantaging those with slower internet connections or in different time zones.
To address this, the government switched to a lottery system. Now, potential sponsors first submit an “Interest to Sponsor” form. This places them in a large pool of candidates. Once a year, IRCC conducts a random draw from this pool and sends out a limited number of Invitations to Apply. While this is arguably a fairer system than the previous sprint, it has been heavily criticized for turning a life-changing family decision into a “lottery of a lifetime” with very low odds of success. Due to immense demand, the pool from the last intake in 2020 is still so large that it has remained the source for every lottery since.
The Sponsor’s Checklist: Are You Eligible to Apply?
Receiving an invitation is only the first hurdle. The sponsor in Canada must meet a strict set of eligibility criteria. If you are one of the lucky ones invited, you must be prepared to prove you qualify.
Basic Eligibility:
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
- You must be residing in Canada (not living abroad).
The Financial Requirement: The Minimum Necessary Income (MNI)
This is the most significant and often most difficult requirement to meet. As a sponsor, you must prove to the Canadian government that you have enough income to financially support the family members you are sponsoring, ensuring they will not need to rely on social assistance.
- Three-Year Rule: You must meet the MNI for the three consecutive taxation years immediately preceding your application. For the 2025 intake, this means you must provide your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Notices of Assessment for the tax years 2024, 2023, and 2022.
- Calculating Your Family Size: The MNI you must meet depends on the total number of people you will be financially responsible for. This includes:
- Yourself (the sponsor).
- Your spouse or common-law partner.
- Your dependent children.
- The parents or grandparents you are sponsoring.
- Any dependent children of your parents/grandparents (your siblings, if they qualify).
- Any other person you are currently sponsoring under a different undertaking.
- MNI Income Table: The MNI figure is based on the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) figures and increases each year. Below is a sample table based on the expected figures for this intake (for sponsors outside of Quebec):
- Co-Signer: Your spouse or common-law partner can co-sign the application. If they do, their income can be combined with yours to meet the MNI. They must also meet all the same eligibility requirements and agree to the same financial undertaking.
The Undertaking: A 20-Year Promise
When you sponsor your parents or grandparents, you must sign a legally binding contract called an “undertaking.” This is a promise to the government that you will be financially responsible for your sponsored family members for a period of 20 years from the day they become permanent residents. This means you must repay any provincial social assistance (welfare) they might receive during that time. This is a serious, long-term commitment that should not be taken lightly. (For sponsors in Quebec, the undertaking period is 10 years).
The Step-by-Step Journey: From Interest to Permanent Residence
The path to sponsoring a parent or grandparent is a marathon, not a sprint. Here is a simplified overview of the entire process:
- Step 1: The Interest to Sponsor Form (The Waiting Game): As of now, this step is closed. But in the future, when IRCC decides to open a new intake, potential sponsors will fill out an online form with their basic information to enter the pool.
- Step 2: The Invitation to Apply (The Golden Ticket): This is the current stage for the 2025 intake. If you are selected from the 2020 pool, you will receive an official email from IRCC. This email is your Invitation to Apply (ITA). You will have a strict deadline, usually 60 days, to submit a complete application.
- Step 3: Assembling the Application Package: This is the most intense part of the process. You must submit two applications together online:
- Your Application to Sponsor: This includes forms where you prove your eligibility and commit to the undertaking.
- Your Parents’/Grandparents’ Application for Permanent Residence: This includes their personal history, family information, and other required details.
- Supporting Documents: You will need a mountain of paperwork, including proof of your Canadian status, your Notices of Assessment for the last three years, birth certificates to prove your relationship, police clearances, and medical examinations for the people being sponsored.
- Step 4: Submission, Fees, and Waiting: The complete application is submitted digitally through the Permanent Residence Portal. You must also pay the application processing fees and biometrics fees upfront. Once submitted, the long wait begins. Processing times for the PGP can range from 20 to 24 months or longer.
- Step 5: Approval and Landing: If the application is approved, your parents or grandparents will receive their Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) documents. The final step is for them to “land” in Canada, officially activating their permanent resident status.
The Super Visa: A Crucial Alternative to the PGP
Given the low odds of the PGP lottery, many families feel hopeless. However, there is an excellent and highly popular alternative: the Super Visa.
The Super Visa is not a path to permanent residence, but it is the next best thing for many. It is a multi-entry temporary resident visa specifically for the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
- Long-Term Stays: A Super Visa is valid for up to 10 years and allows a parent or grandparent to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time, without needing to renew their status.
- No Lottery: Unlike the PGP, the Super Visa is not a lottery. If you meet the eligibility criteria, your application will be processed and likely approved.
- Lower Financial Requirement: The income requirement for the Super Visa sponsor is significantly lower than the PGP’s MNI. It is based on the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for only one year, not three.
- Key Requirement: Medical Insurance: The main additional requirement is that the parent or grandparent must have proof of having purchased at least one year of private Canadian medical insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000.
For many families, the Super Visa is the perfect solution. It allows for long, uninterrupted periods of family time in Canada without the stress, uncertainty, and high financial bar of the PGP lottery.
overview : The Ultimate 2025 Guide to Sponsoring Your Parents and Grandparents to Canada
The Parents and Grandparents Program represents one of the most heartfelt and compassionate aspects of Canada’s immigration system. The 2025 intake announcement brings renewed hope for thousands of families who have been waiting for years. If you are one of the lucky individuals who submitted an interest form in 2020, prepare yourself for a potential invitation. Gather your financial documents now. If an invitation arrives, be ready to act quickly.
For everyone else, the wait continues. In the meantime, exploring the Super Visa is a practical and highly effective way to achieve the goal of family reunification. Regardless of the path, the journey requires patience, preparation, and a clear understanding of the rules.