Canada Parents & Grandparents Program (PGP)

Canada's Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence.

PGP Program Overview

Key Features:

• Permanent resident statusfor parents/grandparents
• Multi-year sponsorship commitment(20 years)
• Includes dependent children of parents/grandparents
• Alternative option: Super Visa for temporary stays

Eligibility Requirements

Sponsor Must:

• Be Canadian citizen or PR
• Be at least 18 years old
• Meet Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirements
• Sign 20-year undertaking to provide financial support
• Not be in prison, bankrupt, or under removal order

Sponsored Parents/Grandparents Must:

• Pass medical exam
• Provide police certificates
• Not be inadmissible to Canada

Financial Requirements

Sponsors must prove income meets Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) + 30% for previous 3 tax years:

Family Size	2023 Income Required	2022 Income Required	2021 Income Required
2 people	$43,082	$41,007	$32,898
4 people	$65,695	$62,814	$49,106
6 people	$86,713	$83,874	$65,423

Note: Income requirements include sponsor's family plus all sponsored persons

Application Process

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Submit Interest to Sponsor Form(when portal opens)
• Receive Invitation to Apply(via lottery system)
• Prepare Complete Application Package:
  • Forms for sponsor and applicants
  • Proof of relationship
  • Financial documents
  • Police certificates
  • Medical exam results
  • Submit Application Within 60 Daysof invitation
• Application Processing(20-24 months)
• Receive Decision

Processing Times

• Current processing:20-24 months
• Super Visa alternative:4-6 months processing

Required Documents

For Sponsor:

• Proof of Canadian status (citizenship/PR card)
• Birth certificate showing relationship
• Notice of Assessments (last 3 tax years)
• Employment letters/pay stubs

For Parents/Grandparents:

• Passports/travel documents
• Birth certificates
• Marriage/divorce certificates
• Police certificates
• Medical exam results

Super Visa Alternative

For those not ready for permanent sponsorship:

• Multiple-entry visa valid for 10 years
• Stays up to 5 years per entry
• Requires private medical insurance
• No lottery system

Processing Time:

• 4-6 months

Minimum Income Requirement:

• Same as PGP

Common Reasons for Refusal

• Insufficient income proof
• Incomplete application package
• Medical inadmissibility
• Misrepresentation of information