Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program has once again left thousands of hopeful applicants in suspense! This highly sought-after program grants Canadian citizens and permanent residents the chance to sponsor their parents and grandparents for PR status—but getting an invitation is tougher than ever!
2024 Intake CLOSED – Did You Make the Cut?
The 2024 sponsorship intake has officially closed, and only those who received one of the 35,700 exclusive invitations sent out between May 21 and early June 2024 were eligible to apply.
🔴 The deadline to submit applications was August 2, 2024. If you missed it, you’re out of luck—at least for this year.
With a cap of 20,500 completed applications, thousands of families were left disappointed, waiting for their chance in future intakes.
Each year, IRCC selects potential sponsors randomly from the pool of interest forms submitted in 2020. Many Canadians have voiced concerns about this method, as new applicants do not get an opportunity to apply, making it an unpredictable and frustrating process for those waiting to reunite with their families.
What It Means to Be a Sponsor
If you were among the lucky ones invited, congratulations! But before you celebrate, understand that sponsorship comes with serious commitments:
✔️ Financial Responsibility – Sponsors must agree to financially support their parents or grandparents for 20 years from the time they receive permanent residence. This means covering their basic needs such as housing, food, and healthcare, preventing them from needing social assistance. ✔️ Income Requirements – You must prove that you meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) based on your family size. This includes your own household and the family members you wish to sponsor. ✔️ Eligibility Rules – Only Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor, and they must be at least 18 years old and reside in Canada. ✔️ No Government Support for Newcomers – Unlike other immigration programs, parents and grandparents under this sponsorship program are not eligible for government social assistance, making financial readiness crucial for sponsors.
Who Can You Sponsor?
Under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), sponsors can bring:
- Their biological or adopted parents.
- Their biological or adopted grandparents.
Spouses or common-law partners of the parents or grandparents can be included in the same application. However, siblings, aunts, uncles, and other extended family members do not qualify under this program.
What If You Weren’t Invited in 2024?
❌ No invitation? No application. The selection process is based on random draws from the 2020 pool of interest forms, meaning if you didn’t submit back then, you’ll have to wait for future announcements.
💡 Alternative Option: If you weren’t invited but still want your parents or grandparents to come to Canada, consider applying for a Super Visa.
What is a Super Visa?
A Super Visa allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and PRs to visit Canada for up to 5 years per visit, with the possibility of extending their stay. It’s a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 10 years, providing a great alternative for families who were not selected for sponsorship.
To qualify for a Super Visa, applicants must:
- Show proof of private medical insurance from a Canadian provider.
- Undergo a medical examination.
- Provide proof of financial support from their Canadian host.
- Meet all eligibility requirements set by IRCC.
How Much Does It Cost?
Sponsoring a parent or grandparent isn’t cheap! The application fees start at $1,205 per person, and additional costs may include:
- Biometrics fees ($85 per person).
- Medical exams (costs vary depending on the country).
- Translation and document certification fees.
- Proof of financial support (bank statements, tax returns, and pay stubs).
Sponsors must be financially prepared to support their parents and grandparents without relying on government aid.
What Happens After You Apply?
Once an application is submitted, IRCC follows a multi-step process:
- Application Review – IRCC will review the submitted documents for completeness.
- Background Checks & Medical Exam – Parents and grandparents must undergo security screening and medical examinations.
- Processing & Decision – Depending on the country of origin and application backlog, processing times can take several months to years.
- Final Decision & PR Status – If approved, the sponsored individuals receive permanent residence status and can prepare for their move to Canada!
It’s essential to keep track of processing times on the IRCC website, as they can change frequently due to application volumes and government policy shifts.
The Future of Family Reunification in Canada
Many have criticized the limited number of invitations and the reliance on an old 2020 application pool, leaving thousands of families waiting indefinitely. With immigration policies shifting, there’s no guarantee on how future intakes will work.
📢 Advocacy groups and sponsors continue to push for an expansion of the program, arguing that Canada’s aging population and labor shortages require more family reunifications, not fewer. Some experts suggest increasing the annual intake quota or modernizing the selection system to allow new applicants to apply.
💬 Didn’t get selected this year? Stay prepared by keeping your finances in check and watching for future intake announcements.
Final Thoughts
The Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program remains one of the most competitive immigration pathways in Canada. While the 2024 intake is now closed, future opportunities may arise, so it’s crucial to stay informed and ready. For those left out this year, exploring Super Visa options and advocating for program changes could help bring loved ones to Canada in the near future.
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