Grandparent Sponsorship: Parents and Grandparents Program/Super Visa
Learn about the process of sponsoring your grandparents to Canada. If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident you may qualify for sponsoring your grandparents to live in Canada.
Canada believes in immigrants and their families to be together in Canada which is why they pride themselves on family reunification. Currently, there are two programs that allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their grandparents to live in Canada:
- the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
- and/or the Super Visa Program
Am I Eligible to Sponsor a Grandparent?
Before you apply, find out how much money you need to sponsor your parents and grandparents. You’ll have to prove you have this income in your application.
You can sponsor your own parents and grandparents if:
- you’re at least 18 years old
- you live in Canada
- you’re a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
- you have enough money to support the persons you want to sponsor
- To show that you have enough, you’ll have to provide your proof of income.
Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is a Canadian immigration program that aims to reunite Canadian citizens and permanent residents with their grandparents (and parents) who live abroad. This program is part of Canada’s family sponsorship program that is lottery based and allows those interested in petition their family to enter a pool around other candidates who are invited to apply at random!
How to Enter the PGP Lottery
- Submit an interest to sponsor form
- Wait to get an invitation to submit
- Complete application package and pay application fees
- Submit additional supporting documents
When is the Next PGP Lottery?
The IRCC opens up the PGP lottery window each year in October for a week followed by issuing thousands of invitations to those who are eligible and wanting to sponsor their grandparents. You can expect the next PGP lottery to be open in the second week of October 2023.
Related Article: Learn more about the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
Super Visa for Grandparents
The Super Visa was introduced by the Canadian government in 2011 as an alternative to the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), which has limited annual quotas and often long wait times. The Super Visa allows eligible individuals to apply for a visa outside the PGP quota, making it a faster and more convenient option for many families.
If approved, the Super Visa allows the individual to stay in Canada for up to two years at a time, with no need to renew their visa within that two-year period. They can also leave and re-enter Canada as many times as they wish within the validity of the visa, which can be up to 10 years.
Why Legal Help for Grandparent Sponsorship is Important
Although the government prioritizes the processing of sponsorship applications, being successful is by no means a given. All of the requirements must be met, and even the slightest error on an application can lead to a refusal. In order to take advantage of this great opportunity, individuals should enlist the help of a legal professional who knows how to send a package that will provide an applicant with the best chance to be sponsored.
With over 20 years of experience specializing in helping to reunite families from across the world, we know what immigration officers are looking for when reviewing a sponsorship application. We have helped thousands of individuals to successfully get Canadian permanent residence through family sponsorship, and we can help you too!