The Government of Canada has announced the launch of a new stage in the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). Starting on July 28, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will issue 17,860 invitations to potential sponsors to submit full sponsorship applications.
It is important to note that this intake applies only to those individuals who submitted an Interest to Sponsor form back in 2020. No new Interest to Sponsor forms will be accepted in 2025, and new applicants will not be eligible to participate in this round.
Legal Nature of the PGP
The Parents and Grandparents Program is one of the key instruments of family reunification within Canadian immigration policy. It allows Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians to sponsor their parents or grandparents to obtain permanent resident status in Canada.
Due to extremely high demand and limited intake quotas, the government applies a lottery system to select potential sponsors. Only those who receive an official invitation from IRCC are authorized to submit a complete sponsorship application. For 2025, the government has set a cap of up to 10,000 complete applications.
Invitations will be sent by email within two weeks following July 28. Potential sponsors are strongly advised to check not only their main inbox but also their spam and junk mail folders to ensure that no invitation is missed.
It must also be emphasized that since the closure of the Interest to Sponsor form in 2020, IRCC has not reopened this option. Therefore, participation in 2025 is strictly limited to those who registered four years ago.
The Super Visa as an Alternative
For individuals who do not receive an invitation under the PGP, an alternative remains available in the form of the Super Visa. This is a long-term multiple-entry visa that allows parents and grandparents to visit Canada for up to five years per stay, with the possibility of an additional two-year extension. In total, a Super Visa may remain valid for up to ten years.
Unlike a standard visitor status, which normally authorizes stays of up to six months, the Super Visa provides significantly broader opportunities for extended family visits. To qualify, applicants must:
- be admissible to Canada (i.e., not have grounds for refusal of entry),
- provide proof of valid medical insurance purchased from a Canadian insurance provider with coverage of at least CAD 100,000,
- be sponsored by a Canadian relative (citizen or permanent resident) who meets the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) threshold and submits a written undertaking to support the invited relative throughout their stay.
Legal and Practical Implications
The decision to resume processing old PGP applications demonstrates the government’s effort to balance immigration policy: on the one hand, limiting overall immigration flows in light of economic and demographic pressures, while on the other hand, reaffirming the centrality of family reunification as a policy priority.
For those who receive invitations, it is essential to prepare and submit the required documentation promptly and in full, as any errors or delays may result in refusal. For those who do not receive an invitation, the Super Visa remains a realistic and effective alternative, providing long-term family presence in Canada, though without granting permanent resident status.
Conclusion
In 2025, the PGP will provide 17,860 potential sponsors with the opportunity to exercise their right to reunite with parents and grandparents. This reaffirms that even amid broader restrictions on immigration streams, family immigration continues to remain one of the pillars of Canada’s immigration framework.
At the same time, all applicants must recognize that the sponsorship process is strictly regulated, requires mandatory financial eligibility verification, and demands strict compliance with IRCC requirements. For those not selected, the Super Visa serves as a practical and effective alternative for family reunification, ensuring long-term residence of close relatives in Canada without conferring permanent resident status.
