Canada is updating the financial requirements for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), with new minimum income levels set for those planning to sponsor family members in 2025, Maple News reports.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canadian citizens and permanent residents who wish to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence next year must demonstrate a minimum income of $47,549 for the 2024 tax year. This represents an increase of over $3,000 from last year’s threshold, reflecting rising costs of living and standard adjustments.
To qualify under the PGP, sponsors must prove they meet the income criteria for the last three tax years prior to applying. For the 2025 intake, this includes the tax years 2024, 2023, and 2022. The required income also varies depending on the sponsor’s family size, which includes all individuals for whom the sponsor is financially responsible — not just those being sponsored.
For example, a family of two must show income of at least $47,549 for 2024, $44,530 for 2023, and $43,082 for 2022. For larger households, such as a family of five, the minimum income rises to $80,496 for 2024. Families with more than seven members must add an additional $10,291 for each extra person for the 2024 requirement.
Applicants may combine their income with that of a spouse or common-law partner as co-sponsor, allowing for more flexibility in meeting the income criteria. However, both individuals are jointly responsible for supporting the sponsored relatives for the duration of the undertaking period, which typically lasts 20 years.
Income is verified using official Notices of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). It’s crucial for applicants to be accurate when estimating family size, as underestimating the number of dependents can lead to application refusals.
The PGP remains one of the most popular family reunification programs in Canada, but it’s highly competitive due to the limited number of applications accepted each year. While the intake process for 2025 has not been officially opened, IRCC typically uses a lottery system to invite potential sponsors to submit a formal application.
This update aligns with Canada’s broader immigration goals to support family reunification while ensuring that sponsors can provide financial stability for newcomers.
Maple News will continue to follow developments on the 2025 PGP intake process and provide guidance once IRCC announces key dates and procedures.