Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently unveiled an update to the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). IRCC accepts a maximum of 15,000 complete sponsorship applications this year.
Starting on October 10, IRCC will send invitations to apply to 24,200 potential sponsors. Those, who have expressed interest, intending to receive up to 15,000 complete applications.
To utilize the existing pool of submissions from 2020, ITAs will be sent to randomly selected potential sponsors. Rather than initiating a new interest to sponsor form.
Suppose you submitted an interest to sponsor form in 2020 but did not receive an invitation to apply in either 2021 or 2022. In that case, we encourage you to check the email address you provided in 2020. When you initially submitted your interest to the sponsor form.
For those invited to apply as part of the 2023 intake, IRCC will continue to employ the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal. Both of which enable the electronic submission of applications.
The Super Visa
The Super Visa is a favored choice for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who wish to bring their foreign parents and grandparents to Canada.
This temporary visa allows parents and grandparents to visit their family in Canada for an uninterrupted period of up to five years. Without needing to renew their visitor status. Super Visa holders can make multiple entries into Canada within up to 10 years. Additionally, those already holding a Super Visa may have the option to apply for an extension. It permits them to remain in Canada as visitors for up to seven years.
What’s more, the Super Visa program does not rely on a lottery system and is open year-round. It’s an excellent choice for those seeking predictability when sponsoring their parents or grandparents.
To qualify for the Super Visa, an applicant must:
- Be a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Not have grounds for inadmissibility to Canada based on criminality or health.
- In addition, demonstrate the ability to meet the Low-Income Cut Off (LICO) income requirements.
- Present a signed invitation letter from their child or grandchild, affirming financial support for the duration of the visit and specifying the size and composition of the household.
- Lastly, provide proof of medical insurance coverage for at least one year through a Canadian insurance provider.
Immigration Levels Plan
In 2022, IRCC extended invitations to 23,100 potential sponsors to apply for the sponsorship of their parents and grandparents, aiming to receive 15,000 complete applications.
Each year, IRCC unveils its Immigration Levels Plan, which serves as a blueprint for its operations and outlines its objectives for welcoming newcomers to Canada.
For 2023, Canada has set a newcomer target of 465,000 new permanent residents, with a specific goal of welcoming 28,500 parents and grandparents.
Furthermore, looking ahead to 2025, Canada’s newcomer target is 500,000, with an aspiration to include 36,000 parents and grandparents among these new residents.
