The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents to become Canadian permanent residents. It is one of the most in-demand and oversubscribed family reunification programs in the world — demand far exceeds available spaces each year, and IRCC manages the intake through an annual invitation system that functions as a lottery among eligible interest-to-sponsor forms. As of March 2026, IRCC has not announced PGP invitations for 2026, and processing times for already-submitted applications are approximately 34 months outside Quebec and 46 months for Quebec-destined cases.

Understanding the PGP’s income requirements, undertaking obligations, and the lottery process is essential for any Canadian PR or citizen contemplating sponsorship of a parent or grandparent. Given the oversubscription and multi-year processing times, many families also consider the Super Visa as a parallel strategy — a multi-entry temporary visa that allows parents and grandparents to visit Canada for up to five years at a time, providing a practical interim arrangement while waiting for PGP eligibility.

Eligibility Requirements

• Sponsor must be Canadian citizen or PR, 18+, living in Canada
• Must meet Minimum Necessary Income (LICO + 30%) for 3 consecutive tax years
• For a family of 2: approximately $49,000–$54,000 annual income required (2024 LICO-based)
• Must sign a 20-year undertaking (10 years in Quebec) to financially support parents/grandparents
• Sponsored persons must be parents or grandparents of the sponsor
• Program intake is by lottery/invitation; PGP not confirmed open for 2026

Program Intake — How the Lottery Works

IRCC manages PGP intake through a random selection process. When IRCC opens the interest-to-sponsor window, sponsors submit a form (not a full application) online. IRCC then randomly selects from among all submissions and invites selected sponsors to submit a complete sponsorship application. The number of invitations issued each year varies — in 2021 IRCC issued 30,000 invitations; in 2022 and 2023 the program was disrupted or reduced.

Being selected in the lottery does not guarantee PR — it only grants the right to submit a complete application. The actual PR application is then assessed on its merits, including the income threshold and other eligibility criteria. Sponsors who are not selected in a given year must re-submit their interest-to-sponsor form the next time the window opens — previous submissions do not carry forward.

PGP has not been confirmed open for 2026 as of the date of this publication. Sponsors should monitor IRCC’s announcements. The unpredictability of the lottery and the multi-year processing timeline make the PGP a long-term planning program rather than a quick solution.

Sponsor Eligibility — Income Requirements

The most significant eligibility barrier for PGP sponsors is the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirement. Sponsors must demonstrate income equal to or greater than the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30% for each of the three consecutive tax years immediately prior to submitting the sponsorship application. This is a higher standard than spousal sponsorship (which has no income requirement) and reflects the long-term financial commitment involved.

As a guide for 2024 LICO thresholds (the basis for MNI calculations):

Family Size (incl. sponsored persons)	MNI (LICO + 30%)
2 people	~$49,239
3 people	~$60,506
4 people	~$73,432
5 people	~$83,268

The MNI is assessed based on line 15000 (total income) from the sponsor’s Notice of Assessment (NOA). For a couple co-sponsoring together, combined income is considered. Sponsors must produce NOAs for all three qualifying tax years. A year with income below the threshold — even one — breaks the requirement; there is no averaging provision. Sponsors who do not meet the MNI are refused without exception.

The 20-Year Undertaking

A sponsor who successfully sponsors a parent or grandparent commits to a 20-year undertaking (10 years in Quebec). This undertaking means the sponsor is legally obligated to support the sponsored persons financially during that period. If the sponsored parents receive provincial or federal social assistance during the undertaking period, the government can recover those payments from the sponsor.

The 20-year undertaking is substantially longer than the 3-year undertaking for spousal sponsorship. Sponsors should carefully consider the long-term implications: if the sponsored parent develops health needs or requires income support beyond what the sponsor can provide, the sponsor remains legally responsible. The undertaking cannot be cancelled even if the relationship between sponsor and parent deteriorates or if the sponsor’s financial circumstances change.

The undertaking period begins from the date the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident. It does not restart if the PR card is renewed, if the sponsor becomes a citizen, or for any other reason.

Step-by-Step Process

1. Wait for IRCC to open the interest-to-sponsor window — Monitor IRCC’s announcements. When the window opens, submit the online interest-to-sponsor form as quickly as possible.
2. If selected — IRCC sends an invitation to submit a full application, usually within 60 days of selection.
3. Gather income documentation — NOAs and T4s for the three consecutive tax years immediately prior to submitting the full application.
4. Complete IRCC forms — IMM 1344 (Application to Sponsor), IMM 0008 (Generic Application for the sponsored parent/grandparent), IMM 5562 (Supplementary Information — Your travels).
5. Proof of relationship — Birth certificates establishing the parent-child relationship chain from sponsor to sponsored parent/grandparent.
6. Medical examination — The sponsored parent attends a designated panel physician.
7. Police clearance certificates — Required for the sponsored person from all countries of prior residence.
8. Biometrics — Provided by the sponsored parent at a Visa Application Centre.
9. Pay government fees — $1,205 per adult sponsored person; $175 per accompanying dependent child.
10. IRCC processing — Wait for a decision. If approved, the sponsored parent receives a PR visa and travels to Canada to land as a permanent resident.

Government Fees and Processing Time

The government fee is $1,205 per sponsored adult parent or grandparent, inclusive of the $575 Right of Permanent Residence Fee. Each accompanying dependent child costs $175. Biometrics cost $85 per person.

Processing times as of March 2026 are approximately 34 months for applications destined outside Quebec, and approximately 46 months for Quebec-destined applications. These are among the longest processing times in the Canadian immigration system and reflect the high demand relative to processing capacity. Applicants cannot expedite PGP applications, and there is no faster-track option within the program.

Alternatives While Waiting — Super Visa

Given PGP’s uncertainty and multi-year timelines, many families use the Super Visa as a practical bridging solution. The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or PRs to visit Canada for up to five years per entry on a single admission, with the visa itself valid for up to 10 years and multiple entries. Unlike the PGP, the Super Visa does not grant permanent residence — the visitor must continue to maintain their status outside Canada — but it provides extended family presence while the PGP application is pending or while the sponsor waits for a PGP lottery invitation.

Super Visa requires the parent or grandparent to hold Canadian medical insurance worth at least $100,000 from a Canadian insurance provider, valid for at least one year. The sponsor must demonstrate income meeting the LICO standard. The Super Visa can typically be processed in 8–12 weeks for most nationalities.

How VGIS Helps

PGP applications are high-stakes: a missed income document, a calculation error in family size for MNI purposes, or a procedural error in the forms can result in refusal and require reapplying from the lottery stage. VGIS, under the guidance of Dimple Verma, RCIC-IRB #R708308, provides PGP-specific service including income threshold calculations, complete form preparation, document review, and parallel Super Visa assessment where appropriate.

For families navigating the PGP lottery and wanting to understand their options — including whether the Super Visa makes sense as an interim measure — book a paid consultation with VGIS.

Fees & Costs

Fee Component	Amount (CAD)
Government Fee	$1,205 per sponsored parent/grandparent (incl. RPRF); $175 per dependent child of sponsored person
Biometrics	$85 per person

Fees current as of 2026. IRCC may update fees periodically — confirm on the official source link below before paying.

Key Documents Required

• Notice of Assessment (NOA) for 3 consecutive tax years
• T4 slips and employment confirmation
• Proof of relationship (birth certificates, sponsor’s proof of status)
• Police clearances for sponsored parents/grandparents
• Medical examinations
• Biometrics

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Parents and Grandparents Program open in 2026?

As of early 2026, IRCC has not confirmed that the PGP intake will open in 2026. The program has experienced significant variability in intake timing and volume in recent years. Sponsors should monitor IRCC’s official website and subscribe to IRCC news updates so they are notified immediately when the interest-to-sponsor window opens, as the window is typically open for only a limited period.

What income do I need to sponsor my parents?

You must meet the Minimum Necessary Income, which is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30%, for three consecutive tax years before submitting the full application. The amount depends on family size — including the sponsor, their household, and the parents being sponsored. For a family of three (sponsor, one dependent, one parent), the MNI is approximately $60,500 for each of the three qualifying tax years, based on 2024 thresholds. All three NOAs must show income at or above the threshold.

Can I sponsor my grandparents rather than my parents?

Yes. The PGP explicitly includes grandparents as eligible sponsored persons. The eligibility criteria — income requirements, undertaking, relationship documentation — are identical whether sponsoring parents or grandparents. Sponsors must provide birth certificates tracing the family relationship (e.g., sponsor’s birth certificate, parent’s birth certificate, grandparent’s documentation).

What happens if my parents develop health problems after landing?

As permanent residents, your parents have access to provincial health insurance (OHIP in Ontario, MSP in British Columbia, etc.) after meeting the provincial waiting period (typically 3 months). However, during the 20-year undertaking, if they receive any social assistance, the government can recover those costs from you as the sponsor. Long-term care and extended health costs are generally not covered by provincial health insurance and would be a private financial responsibility.

Can I sponsor my parents if I am a permanent resident (not a citizen)?

Yes. Both Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor parents and grandparents under the PGP, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements including the income threshold. PRs must be living in Canada at the time of the application. Citizens may live abroad if they can demonstrate they will return to Canada when the sponsored parent lands.

Official Government Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/relative.html

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Disclaimer: This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Immigration laws and IRCC policies change frequently. For advice specific to your case, please book a paid consultation with our licensed RCIC-IRB. VG Immigration Services Inc. — Dimple Verma, RCIC-IRB #R708308.