Maple News reports that on May 21st, Canada officially reopened the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), a pathway allowing Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residency. However, for the fourth year in a row, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will continue to invite applicants exclusively from the 2020 intake pool. This ongoing limitation has left many new potential sponsors sidelined, unable to even enter the pool for consideration.
In response to mounting delays and restricted access to the PGP, many families are exploring the Super Visa as a viable alternative. The Super Visa enables parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to stay in Canada for extended periods—up to five years at a time, with the option to apply for extensions. While it does not offer permanent residency, it remains one of the most accessible options for long-term family reunification under current conditions.
The availability of each program is a major differentiator. Whereas the PGP opens just once a year for a brief two-week expression of interest window, and uses a lottery system to randomly select invitees, the Super Visa program is open year-round. Applications are considered on a rolling basis, allowing for significantly greater flexibility and higher approval rates.
Eligibility requirements for both programs are similar in many ways. Only parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents may apply. However, while PGP applicants must be sponsored through a profile submitted by their Canadian relative, the Super Visa places the responsibility of application directly on the parents or grandparents themselves.
To qualify for the Super Visa, applicants must meet certain criteria, including purchasing valid medical insurance and undergoing an immigration medical exam. They must also show proof of financial support from their host in Canada. Despite these requirements, many find the Super Visa to be a more straightforward and timely option given the PGP’s current restrictions.
Maple News notes that while the Super Visa doesn’t offer permanent resident status, it can serve as a practical alternative or interim solution while families wait for long-term sponsorship opportunities to open.
For families eager to be reunited, understanding the strategic differences between these two immigration pathways has never been more crucial. The Super Visa may not replace the PGP in terms of residency, but it continues to serve as a welcoming bridge for loved ones to spend meaningful time together in Canada.