Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship (PGP)

The Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship (PGP) program is a pathway for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their foreign parents and grandparents to Canada as permanent residents. Unlike temporary visas, this program grants the sponsored relatives the right to live, work, and stay in Canada indefinitely.

It is important to distinguish this from the Super Visa. While the Super Visa allows for long-term visits (up to five years at a time), the PGP program provides full permanent residency. However, the PGP is highly competitive and operates on a lottery-based invitation system rather than an open application process.

Important Notice for 2026: As of January 1, 2026, the PGP program is closed and paused for new intakes. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is not accepting new "Interest to Sponsor" forms or new applications during the 2026 calendar year to manage a backlog of existing files and align with lower immigration targets.

The PGP program has undergone significant shifts that potential sponsors must understand:

• The 2020 Pool: Since 2020, IRCC has not accepted new entries into the "Interest to Sponsor" pool. Recent invitation rounds (2021–2025) only invited people who had already submitted their forms during the brief 2020 window.
• 2026 Suspension: The program is currently not accepting any new files. This pause is intended to clear a backlog of approximately 10,000 applications and to meet the 2026 immigration cap of 380,000 total admissions across all categories.
• Quebec Residents: If you live in Quebec, you must meet provincial sponsorship requirements after IRCC approves your eligibility. Quebec imposes its own caps, which often results in significantly longer wait times for final approval compared to the rest of Canada.

Once your parents or grandparents arrive in Canada through this sponsorship, they hold Permanent Resident (PR) status and enjoy the following rights:

• Right to Reside: They can live and stay in Canada indefinitely.
• Work and Study: They have the right to work for any employer or enroll in educational institutions without a separate permit.
• Social Services: Access to most social benefits that Canadian citizens receive, including universal healthcare (after any provincial waiting periods).
• Travel: The right to travel outside Canada and re-enter using a PR card, provided they meet residency obligations (living in Canada for at least two years out of every five).
• Path to Citizenship: After living in Canada for at least three out of five years, they may be eligible to apply for Canadian Citizenship.
• Legal Protection: Protection under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Canadian law.