Canada to Invite Applications for Parents and Grandparents PR Pathway in 2025
Canada will soon begin sending invitations to apply (ITAs) to eligible individuals wishing to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency in 2025.
New Developments for Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
On March 7, 2025, the Canadian immigration department announced plans to invite potential sponsors to apply under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). These invitations will be sent to those who previously expressed interest in sponsoring their family members for permanent residency.
In early 2025, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had initially stated that no new invitations would be issued under the PGP this year. Instead, applications from 2024 were to be processed. However, this latest announcement reveals that individuals who submitted an interest to sponsor form in 2020 could now receive an invitation in 2025.
While the exact timeline for issuing invitations remains unclear, the government has promised further updates in the coming months.
Lottery System to Select Sponsors
As part of the process, IRCC uses a lottery system to randomly select sponsors from the PGP pool. This means that those who submitted their forms in 2020 will have a chance to be invited to apply for sponsorship of their parents or grandparents in 2025.
The intake for the PGP has not re-opened yet, and the government has not made an announcement about new intake periods for the program.
Alternative Path: Super Visa Program
For Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are not eligible to sponsor their parents and grandparents under the PGP, the Super Visa program remains an option. The Super Visa allows family members to visit Canada for extended periods, even if they are not eligible for permanent residency.
Understanding the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
The PGP is designed to facilitate family reunification by allowing Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency in Canada.
To be eligible, sponsors must meet specific income requirements and other criteria. Additionally, the family members being sponsored must be admissible to Canada. Applicants cannot directly apply for the PGP; instead, they must submit an “interest to sponsor” form and wait for an invitation to apply.
Once the form is submitted, sponsors are randomly selected from the pool of applicants, with the process starting with those who applied in 2020.
What is the Super Visa?
The Super Visa program provides a way for parents and grandparents to live with their children or grandchildren in Canada for extended periods. Super Visas can be issued for up to 10 years and generally allow multiple entries. These visas grant temporary resident status, allowing holders to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time, with the option of extending their stay for two more years.
To apply, sponsors must meet minimum income requirements, and the family members applying for the visa must have third-party health insurance for the duration of their stay in Canada.
Recently, the Canadian government relaxed some of the health insurance requirements for the Super Visa program, offering applicants more flexibility in choosing coverage options.
Conclusion
With the upcoming ITAs for the Parents and Grandparents Program in 2025, those who have patiently waited for the opportunity to sponsor their loved ones now have a new chance at family reunification. Meanwhile, the Super Visa program continues to offer a practical alternative for long-term visits. The Canadian government is expected to release more details soon, so stay tuned for further updates on these important family sponsorship pathways.
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