Parents and Grandparents Program Set to Reopen in May 2024

The Parents and Grandparents program (PGP), the program designed for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents apply for permanent residence, is scheduled to reopen this month, as Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) gets ready to send out invitations to potential sponsors. The department confirmed that starting May 21st, 2024, it will send out 35,700 invitations with the hope of approving 20,500 complete applications.

Who is eligible for the next round of the PGP?

IRCC has announced that it intends to invite candidates from the 2020 intake of the PGP. This means that the individuals receiving invitations in the upcoming round will have submitted their applications in 2020. Under the PGP system, applicants will be invited at random through a lottery system. These invitations will be delivered to sponsors through the email provided on their interest to sponsor form. Sponsors are advised to check their emails starting May 21st, with all invitations being delivered within roughly two weeks of this date.

What is the process to receive permanent residence through the PGP?

To receive permanent residence (PR) through the Parents and Grandparents program, applicants must make sure they meet all relevant eligibility criteria, complete an interest to sponsor form on IRCC’s website, and not have received an invitation to apply (ITA) in 2021, 2022, or 2023. Once the PGP lottery reopens, sponsors must check the email provided on the interest to sponsor form for an invitation and submit their application through the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Residence Portal by the stated deadline.

About the PGP:

The program allows Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for Canadian PR. It is part of IRCC’s family reunification initiatives. Parents and grandparents who arrive in Canada through the program receive PR upon landing in Canada. Sponsors must sign an undertaking, stating that they will provide for their parents and grandparents while in Canada, for 20 years. The PGP invites applicants on a lottery basis and only opens for application intake once a year.

What if you are not selected?

Similar to the PGP, IRCC also runs the Super-Visa pathway, which allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents to come and visit Canada on an extended visitor visa. Approved applicants under the program can stay in Canada for five years at a time, with the ability to extend this stay for two years. Unlike the PGP, IRCC runs the Super Visa program throughout the year, with sponsors able to apply year-round.

The Parents and Grandparents program is an important part of IRCC’s family reunification initiatives, allowing Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for Canadian PR. The upcoming reopening of the program presents a great opportunity for potential sponsors to bring their loved ones to Canada. It’s crucial for interested sponsors to stay updated on the process and ensure they meet all the necessary eligibility criteria.