Maple News reports that Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is set to reopen on May 21, 2024, as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) prepares to issue invitations to prospective sponsors. A total of 35,700 invitations will be sent out in this round, with a goal of receiving and processing 20,500 completed sponsorship applications for permanent residency.
This year, IRCC will once again draw from the pool of applicants who submitted their interest to sponsor forms in 2020. It marks the fourth consecutive year that only entries from the 2020 intake will be considered, highlighting the department’s continued efforts to clear the backlog from that intake. Invitations will be issued randomly through a lottery system, and eligible sponsors should monitor their email accounts between May 21 and early June.
To be eligible, potential sponsors must have been living in Canada when they submitted their 2020 interest to sponsor form. Those selected through the lottery will need to complete and submit their sponsorship applications through IRCC’s online Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Portal, depending on whether they are using legal representation. Applicants have to meet income thresholds and other sponsorship eligibility requirements, such as committing to financially support their sponsored relatives for a period of up to 20 years (10 years in Quebec).
The PGP is one of Canada’s key immigration streams under its family reunification strategy. Through the program, Canadian citizens and permanent residents have the opportunity to reunite with their parents and grandparents by sponsoring them for permanent residence. Sponsored family members gain permanent residency status upon arrival in Canada.
For those not selected in this round, the Super Visa remains a viable and flexible alternative. Unlike the PGP, the Super Visa is available year-round and permits parents and grandparents to visit Canada for extended stays—up to five years per visit, with the option to extend by an additional two years. The application process for the Super Visa is open continuously, and IRCC aims to process most applications within 112 days. From 2022 to 2023, nearly 67% of Super Visa applications were processed within this timeline.
IRCC continues to emphasize family reunification as a priority in its annual immigration levels plan. By reopening the PGP and maintaining flexibility through the Super Visa program, Canada aims to support immigrant families and strengthen community ties across the country.
Maple News will continue to monitor and report on the latest updates to Canadian immigration programs as they develop.