May 15, 2024

Sponsoring Parents and Grandparents to Canada: Navigating the PGP Program

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in Canada enables sponsoring parents and grandparents for permanent residency, but sponsorship applications are only accepted upon invitation by IRCC. Both sponsor and applicant must meet eligibility criteria.

The Family Sponsorship Program allows Canadian PRs and citizens to sponsor eligible family members, such as parents, grandparents, spouses, common-law partners, children, and other relatives, to apply for residency.

Am I Eligible to Sponsor?

To sponsor your biological or adopted parents and grandparents, you must meet specific eligibility criteria:

You must be at least 18 years old.
You need to be invited to apply for sponsorship.
You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Reside in Canada.
Your parents and grandparents must also meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).
Have sufficient financial resources to support the sponsored individual.
Provide evidence of your financial means, such as proof of income.
Your spouse or partner can co-sign the application, combining both your incomes.

For those intending to reside outside Quebec:

You are required to undertake a commitment regardless of your intended location in Canada. This commitment involves pledging to provide financial support to the sponsored individual for a designated period.

Upon obtaining Canadian PR status, you are obligated to provide financial support for a period of 20 years. Additionally, the undertaking mandates reimbursement for any provincial social assistance received by the sponsored individual during this period.

In addition to the undertaking, both the sponsor and the sponsored individual must agree to fulfill certain responsibilities outlined in the sponsorship agreement.

Put plainly, you'll cover the sponsee's basic needs, while they must strive to support both themselves and their family members to the best of their ability.

The sponsorship agreement remains valid despite these circumstances:

unemployment
marital changes
family separations,
In the event of the principal applicant's death (if the sponsor is also sponsoring their family members)

Upon PR application, sponsors complete a form encompassing the undertaking and sponsorship agreement.

For individuals intending to reside in Quebec:

Meeting Quebec's sponsorship requirements is essential; otherwise, sponsorship eligibility is not granted. Quebec will evaluate your income, and if you meet the criteria, it will provide further instructions.

Despite intending to reside in Quebec, a 10-year undertaking must still be signed.

Documentation Required for Permanent Residency Application

No.	Documents for the Sponsor	Documents for the Sponsee
1.	Sponsorship Application, Sponsorship Agreement, Commitment Undertaking	Canada Generic Application Form
2.	Declaration of Common-Law Union	Background/Declaration Schedule
3.	Financial Assessment for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship	Supplementary Family Details
4.	Proof of Canadian Residency	Additional Details – Travel History
5.		Passport/Travel Documentation

Income Requirements for Sponsoring Your Parents & Grandparents

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) assess your financial capacity to support the sponsored individual.

You must provide evidence of meeting income thresholds for the last 3 tax years prior to your sponsorship application. As of 2024, specific income requirements have not been released by IRCC. Keep this page bookmarked for future updates, as we will promptly incorporate the latest information once it becomes available.

Who Can I Sponsor?

You are eligible to sponsor both your adopted and biological parents and grandparents.

When sponsoring divorced parents and grandparents, separate applications are required. However, if they have a spouse/common-law partner/conjugal partner, they may be considered dependents and can immigrate to Canada if approved by IRCC, accompanying the principal applicant (i.e., your parents and grandparents).

Additionally, dependent children such as sisters, brothers, half-sisters, half-brothers, step-sisters, and step-brothers may be included if they meet the criteria. As the sponsor, you must fulfill the income requirements for both the sponsored individual and their dependents.

Who I Cannot Sponsor?

You cannot sponsor your in-laws directly, but you can act as a co-signer on their application.
Additionally, individuals who are deemed inadmissible to Canada cannot be sponsored.

How to Apply: From Sponsorship to PR Application

To sponsor your parents and grandparents, you must initially receive an invitation to apply. Once obtained:

Apply to become a sponsor.
The parents and grandparents must apply for PR through the Family Sponsorship Program.
Once both the PR and sponsorship applications are completed, submit them simultaneously.
To become a sponsor, submit an "Interest to Sponsor" form. If eligible, IRCC will include you in the pool of potential sponsors.

Step 1:

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) randomly selects sponsors from the pool of potential sponsors. Upon selection, IRCC sends them an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to proceed with the process.

Step 2:

After receiving the invitation, the principal applicant can initiate the permanent residency application via the online PR portal. If there are multiple principal applicants, each must create individual online accounts and sign their respective applications.

Step 3:

As the sponsor, cover the processing fee, biometric fee, right of permanent residence fee, and any third-party fees associated with the application process.

Step 4:

Submit both the sponsorship and residency applications, ensuring the permanent residency application is thorough and all required documents are included.

Step 5:

During the PR application processing, IRCC may request additional information. The sponsored individual will need to provide biometric data, a police clearance certificate, and undergo medical examinations.

What happens when you arrive in Canada?

At the time the sponsored family members arrive in Canada, they need to show the border services:

valid passport/ travel document
Confirmation of Permanent Residence
PR visa (if they were issued one)
Quebec Selection Certificate (if they’re going to live in Quebec)
Any other document IRCC mentioned them to bring

If your sponsored family members are bringing any kind of funds to Canada, they need to let the border officers know. These funds include:

Stocks
Cash
Bonds
Money orders
Traveller’s cheques

Processing durations

You are the Sponsoring	You will be residing in	Processing
Parents or Grandparents	In Quebec	50 months
Parents or Grandparents	Outside Quebec	24 months

Navigating the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) Reopening: How Pelican Migration Consultants Can Help

As the Parents and Grandparents program (PGP) prepares to reopen this month, Pelican Migration Consultants stands ready to guide you through the process. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is set to issue invitations to potential sponsors, aiming to send out 35,700 invitations starting May 21st, 2024. With the goal of approving 20,500 complete applications, our team is here to support you every step of the way. With over 7 years of industry experience and recognition by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), trust us to navigate your immigration journey seamlessly.

Here's how Pelican Migration Consultants can assist you:

Expert Guidance: We offer expert guidance throughout the sponsorship process, ensuring that all steps are followed accurately and efficiently.
Application Assistance: We provide comprehensive assistance with completing and submitting sponsorship applications, minimizing errors and delays.
Document Preparation: Our team assists in preparing all necessary documents, including sponsorship forms, financial evaluations, and supporting evidence, to meet IRCC requirements.
Legal Compliance: We ensure that all sponsorship applications adhere to Canadian immigration laws and regulations, mitigating the risk of refusal or delays.
Ongoing Support: We offer ongoing support and updates throughout the sponsorship process, addressing any concerns or queries that may arise.

For any inquiries regarding the PGP or other immigration matters, reach out to us confidently!