Family Sponsorship – Parents

Bring your parents and grandparents to Canada permanently with Canada Central

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) allows eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence in Canada. It is one of Canada’s most important family-reunification programs, enabling older family members to live permanently with their children or grandchildren and enjoy long-term security in Canada.

Because demand for PGP is extremely high, the program operates with limited annual intake and a structured Interest to Sponsor and invitation system, rather than continuous applications. Sponsors must meet strict income and long-term financial commitment requirements, reflecting the seriousness of the responsibility.

With Canada Central, families receive clear guidance, careful planning, and professional preparation – critical factors for success in one of Canada’s most competitive sponsorship programs.

Who Can Be a Sponsor Under PGP

To sponsor parents or grandparents, you must meet both invitation and eligibility requirements.

A sponsor must:

• Be at least 18 years old
  
  
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
  
  
• Live in Canada at the time of application and until a decision is made
  
  
• Meet or exceed the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the last three tax years, based on family size
  
  
• Sign a long-term financial undertaking
  
  
  • 20 years outside Quebec
    
    
  • 10 years in Quebec
    
    

Sponsors must not be ineligible due to factors such as bankruptcy, serious criminal offences, removal orders, or unpaid sponsorship debts. A spouse or common-law partner may co-sign to combine income and share responsibility.

Canada Central reviews income history and sponsor eligibility before you submit an Interest to Sponsor form – avoiding wasted invitations.

Who Can Be Sponsored

Only specific relatives qualify under the Parents and Grandparents Program.

Eligible sponsored persons include:

• Biological or adoptive parents
  
  
• Biological or adoptive grandparents
  
  

In most cases, the application may also include:

• The sponsored parent’s or grandparent’s spouse or partner
  
  
• Dependent children of the parents or grandparents, in limited situations
  
  

All sponsored persons must pass medical, criminal, and security checks and provide clear documentation proving their relationship to the sponsor.

Canada Central ensures family relationships are properly documented and presented to avoid delays or refusals.

Income Requirements & Financial Undertaking

PGP has some of the strictest financial rules in Canadian immigration.

Key financial obligations include:

• Meeting or exceeding the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for each of the last three tax years
  
  
• Income verification through CRA Notices of Assessment
  
  
• Accepting responsibility to:
  
  
  • Financially support parents or grandparents for 20 years (10 in Quebec)
    
    
  • Repay any social assistance received by the sponsored relatives during this period
    
    

This long-term commitment requires careful planning and financial stability.

Canada Central helps sponsors assess readiness and plan years in advance if necessary.

Interest to Sponsor & Invitation System

Due to limited intake, PGP follows a controlled selection process.

The system typically includes:

1. Interest to Sponsor form
   Submitted online during announced intake periods.
   
   
2. Random selection
   Forms are placed in a pool and randomly selected.
   
   
3. Invitation to Apply
   Selected sponsors receive an email invitation and usually have about 60 days to submit a complete application.
   
   

There is no fee to submit the Interest to Sponsor form, but full government fees apply once an invitation is received.

Canada Central monitors intake announcements and prepares clients in advance so applications are ready immediately after invitation.

Step-by-Step PGP Process with Canada Central

1. Invitation confirmation & eligibility review
   Verify invitation validity and reconfirm income eligibility.
   
   
2. Application preparation
   Complete sponsorship forms and permanent residence forms.
   
   
3. Document collection
   Gather relationship proofs, CRA income documents, identity records, and civil status documents.
   
   
4. Application submission
   Submit sponsorship and PR applications together before the deadline.
   
   
5. Sponsor assessment
   Authorities first assess sponsor eligibility, especially income and admissibility.
   
   
6. Parents/grandparents PR assessment
   Medical exams, police certificates, biometrics, and background checks.
   
   
7. Approval & landing
   Parents or grandparents become permanent residents and settle in Canada.
   
   

Required Documents

For the sponsor:

• Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residence
  
  
• CRA Notices of Assessment for the last three tax years
  
  
• Signed sponsorship agreement and undertaking forms
  
  

For parents or grandparents:

• Passports and civil status documents
  
  
• Birth or adoption records proving the relationship
  
  
• Police certificates
  
  
• Medical exam results
  
  

Additional documents may include marriage certificates, name-change records, or custody documents where applicable.

Canada Central ensures document consistency across sponsorship and PR stages.

Processing Times & Alternative: Super Visa

PGP processing times can be long, sometimes extending over several years due to demand and security/medical checks.

A key alternative or complementary option is the Super Visa, which allows:

• Multiple entries for up to 10 years
  
  
• Extended stays of several years at a time
  
  
• Faster access to Canada while waiting for PGP opportunities
  
  

The Super Visa does not grant permanent residence, but it is often used while waiting for a PGP invitation.

Canada Central helps families choose the best short- and long-term strategy.

Benefits & Practical Tips

Key benefits of PGP:

• Permanent residence for parents and grandparents
  
  
• Full access to life in Canada with family
  
  
• Long-term stability and reunification
  
  

Practical tips:

• Monitor official intake announcements closely
  
  
• Keep tax filings current and income above MNI
  
  
• Consider the Super Visa if PGP intake is closed
  
  

Why Choose Canada Central for PGP Sponsorship

PGP is highly competitive, financially strict, and time-sensitive.

Canada Central helps you:

• Assess eligibility years in advance
  
  
• Prepare income documentation correctly
  
  
• Avoid missed deadlines after invitation
  
  
• Reduce refusal risk due to technical errors
  
  
• Build a long-term family reunification strategy
  
  

With Canada Central, the Parents and Grandparents Program becomes a structured, realistic, and professionally managed pathway to reuniting your family in Canada.