Maple News reports that Canada is reopening its Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) on October 13, allowing eligible citizens and permanent residents to express interest in sponsoring their parents or grandparents for immigration. The intake window will be open from 12:00 p.m. EDT on October 13 to 12:00 p.m. EST on November 3.
This stage involves submitting an ‘interest to sponsor’ form, which is not an actual application but a preliminary step. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will then randomly select candidates and invite them to formally apply. Invited sponsors will have 60 days to submit a full sponsorship application.
IRCC plans to approve up to 10,000 applications under the PGP in 2020. A much larger intake of 30,000 applications is scheduled to take place in 2021, signaling the government’s ongoing commitment to family reunification despite COVID-19 disruptions.
In light of the financial challenges brought on by the pandemic, IRCC has introduced a temporary public policy easing income requirements for the 2020 tax year. Sponsors will only need to meet the minimum necessary income, waiving the usual additional 30% buffer.
Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Marco Mendicino, emphasized the importance of the program, stating that family reunification remains a critical part of Canada’s immigration system. “Now more than ever, family reunification is an important component of Canada’s immigration system. It plays a key role in attracting, retaining and integrating the best and the brightest from around the world,” he said.
Originally slated for earlier in 2020, the PGP intake was postponed due to COVID-19. The pandemic led to border restrictions and a downturn in immigration levels, causing a delay in many immigration initiatives including the PGP. The IRCC had targeted 21,000 new immigrants through the program this year, as part of its broader multi-year immigration plan announced in early March before the onset of lockdowns.
The revival of the PGP offers renewed hope for families separated by borders and showcases Canada’s balanced approach to immigration—adapting policy in real-time while preserving its foundational priorities.
Maple News will continue to follow developments on the 2021 PGP intake and provide updated guidance once more details are announced by the IRCC.