IRCC Now Issuing Invitations for Parents and Grandparents Program
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is now issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to sponsors who submitted “Interest to Sponsor” forms through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
Starting from May 21, IRCC will send out 35,700 invitations over a two-week period, aiming to approve 20,500 complete applications for permanent residence (PR). ITAs will be sent to the email provided by sponsors during their initial “Interest to Sponsor” submission.
Eligibility for the 2024 PGP
To receive an invitation under the PGP this year, sponsors must meet the following criteria:
- Submitted an Interest to Sponsor form on IRCC’s website in 2020;
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act;
- Be 18 years of age or older;
- Reside in Canada (proof of status required during the Interest to Sponsor phase);
- Exceed the minimum necessary income level for this program (combined income with spouse or common-law partner is acceptable) and provide proof of income to IRCC; and
- Sign an undertaking to:
- Financially support the sponsored individuals for 20 years (10 years for applicants in Quebec) starting from the time they become permanent residents; and
- Repay any social assistance benefits received by the sponsored family members for a period of 20 years.
Steps to Take After Receiving an ITA from the PGP
Upon receiving an ITA, sponsors must respond with a complete application by the deadline stated in the invitation email. Application fees, starting at $1,205 CAD, must be paid at this stage.
Sponsors are advised to thoroughly read the instruction guide and complete the application package. A complete application must be submitted to IRCC before the deadline. Incomplete, late, or incorrectly completed applications may lead to complications or outright refusal.
Applications will be returned if they:
- Are incomplete;
- Have missing fees;
- Are submitted after the deadline stated in the ITA email;
- Were submitted without an ITA; and/or
- Contain information that does not match the “Interest to Sponsor” form.
Applications must be submitted through the Permanent Residence portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal if using a representative.
What If You Don’t Receive an ITA This Year?
This year, IRCC will only consider PGP candidates from the 2020 intake. However, there is an alternative route: the Super Visa.
The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit and live in Canada temporarily. As of June 2022, the Super Visa allows family members to visit Canada for up to five years without renewing their status. Extensions of up to two years are also possible, allowing a stay of up to seven years at a time.
While the Super Visa only confers temporary resident status, it is an accessible pathway to bring family members to Canada, available year-round with no limit on the number of applications processed by IRCC.