Family Sponsorship
Canada has Experienced a Notable Rise in Parent and Grandparent Immigration Number
The number of permanent residents who entered Canada through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) jumped by about 60% in January 2023. In January 2023, the PGP received 2,065 new permanent residents, an increase from 1,300 in January 2022.
According to the Immigration Levels Plan, Canada plans to use the PGP to bring in 28,500 permanent residents by 2023. To see its effect, permanent residents who entered Canada through the PGP in 2022 are about 132% more than that who entered in 2021. The goal of the country is to accept 465,000 permanent immigrants in 2023. Out of the total target, a total number of 106,500 permanent residents already fall under the family sponsorship category of the immigration target for 2023.
Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) and Super Visa
Canadian citizens and permanent residents are able to sponsor their parents and grandparents to immigrate to Canada. If approved under this program, a parent or grandparent will be granted Canadian permanent residence and may eventually be able to apply for Canadian citizenship. In order to be eligible for the PGP in the past, sponsors must have met the following criteria:
The ability to sponsor one’s parents or grandparents to Canada is available through a program Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). A parent or grandparent who is accepted under this program will be given permanent residency in Canada and might eventually be allowed to seek Canadian citizenship.
Previously, sponsors are required to meet the following requirements in order to be eligible for the PGP:
- Between November 3, 2020 (12:00 PM EST) and October 13, 2020 (12:00 PM EDT), you must have filled out an Interest to Sponsor form on the IRCC website.
- Must be a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act, a citizen of Canada, or a permanent resident of Canada;
- Be at least 18 years old;
- Live in Canada;
- Earn more than the minimum required for this program (if married or in a common-law relationship, both the sponsor’s and spouse’s income may be included); and present IRCC with proof of income.
- Sign a commitment promising to provide financial support for the sponsored for a period of 20 years and to reimburse any benefits received from social assistance for the sponsored family members (if applicable) during that time.
Previous years’ prospective sponsors who received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through the PGP were chosen at random by IRCC. This was done through a lottery system. Since 2020, every ITA for the PGP has gone to applicants who indicated a desire to sponsor through the PGP between October and November 2020. In October 2022, Canada held its last PGP lottery.
The Super Visa is an alternative to the PGP and enables grandparents and parents of Canadian citizens to enter the country as guests for up to five years. Additionally, the visa allows candidates to submit a request for a seven-year extension. They can also enter Canada several times for a period of up to ten years. The application procedure is comparable to the TRV procedure, but additional proof of support for parents and grandparents throughout their stay in Canada is needed.
These consist of a few requirements:
- Proof of parental relationship with child or grandchild (birth certificate)
- Proof of medical insurance coverage for at least one year with a Canadian insurance company;
- A letter of invitation from the child or grandchild residing in Canada;
- Show documents proving the child and parents’ meeting the Low-Income Cut-Off
