Sponsoring your parents or grand parents

Reuniting Generations with PGP Visa

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is a program established by the Canadian government that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents to come and live in Canada permanently. The program has been revamped several times to make it more accessible and efficient.

The PGP is a part of Canada’s Family Class sponsorship program, which allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their relatives to come and live in Canada. The PGP is aimed at reuniting families and keeping them together by allowing parents and grandparents to join their loved ones who have settled in Canada.

Eligibility Requirements

To sponsor your parents and grandparents to Canada you must be:

• Invited to apply
• At least 18 years old
• living in Canada
• A Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered under the Indian Act as an Indian in Canada
• Able to show that you have enough funds by proof of income or by a spouse or partner co-signing to support your application.
• Able to fulfill all other requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations

Can you sponsor your in-laws (spouse’s parents and grandparents)?

No. You cannot sponsor your spouse’s or partner’s parents or grandparents under this program. However, you can co-sign to financially support their application.

• Must be your own parents or grandparents.
• If your parents or grandparents are divorced;
  • Their applications have to be submitted separately.
  • If either of them is re-married or in a common law relationship with another party that party can be added as a dependent in the application and come to Canada with your parent or grandparent.
• Your siblings can be added to the application if they qualify as dependent children.
• You must be able to financially support all applicants.

The sponsored person must also meet certain eligibility criteria, including medical and security checks, and must provide proof of their relationship with the sponsor.

The PGP is a popular program, and demand often exceeds the number of available spots. As a result, the Canadian government uses a lottery system to select potential sponsors.

Application process

The application process for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) consists of several steps, as outlined below:

1. Interest to Sponsor: The first step in the process is for the sponsor to submit an online “Interest to Sponsor” form during a specific time period, usually in January. This form is only available for a limited time and is used to indicate the sponsor’s interest in sponsoring their parent or grandparent.
2. Invitation to Apply: If the sponsor is selected from the pool of potential sponsors, they will receive an invitation to apply to sponsor their parent or grandparent. This invitation is sent out by the Canadian government and includes instructions on how to complete the application process.
3. Invitation to Apply: If the sponsor is selected from the pool of potential sponsors, they will receive an invitation to apply to sponsor their parent or grandparent. This invitation is sent out by the Canadian government and includes instructions on how to complete the application process.
4. Processing of Application: After the application is submitted, it is reviewed by the Canadian government to ensure that all eligibility criteria have been met and that all required documents have been submitted.
5. Medical and Security Checks: Once the application has been reviewed, the sponsored person must undergo medical and security checks to ensure that they are admissible to Canada.
6. Visa Issuance: If the application is approved and the sponsored person passes the medical and security checks, they will be issued a visa to come to Canada.
7. Arrival in Canada: Once the sponsored person arrives in Canada, they will need to present their visa and any other required documents to a border services officer. The officer will then verify that the sponsored person meets all the requirements for entry into Canada and allow them to enter Canada as a permanent resident and start the process to mail their permanent resident card.