The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) remains one of the most significant pathways for family reunification in Canada, allowing citizens and permanent residents to bring their loved ones to live in Canada permanently. However, due to its immense popularity, it is also one of the most complex and competitive immigration streams in the world.
As Canada moves into the 2025-2026 immigration cycle, the Parents and Grandparents Program continues to be governed by the Immigration Levels Plan, which targets approximately 34,000 to 36,000 new admissions annually under this specific category. For families, understanding the nuances of this program is essential, as a single clerical error or a failure to meet the strict income thresholds can lead to years of delay or a permanent refusal.
The Evolution of the PGP: Understanding the Lottery System
The PGP operates differently than the Express Entry system or other economic pathways. Instead of a points-based system where candidates are ranked by human capital factors like age or education, the PGP utilizes a "lottery" or "random selection" process. This system was designed to provide an equal opportunity to all eligible sponsors, regardless of when they submitted their interest or the specifics of their professional background.
In recent years, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has largely focused on clearing the backlog of "Interest to Sponsor" forms submitted during previous intake windows. For instance, in the 2023 and 2024 cycles, IRCC issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) exclusively to individuals who were already in the pool from the 2020 intake. As we look toward the 2025 and 2026 cycles, there is significant anticipation regarding whether IRCC will open a new window for "Interest to Sponsor" submissions or continue to draw from the existing pool of potential sponsors.
The Expression of Interest (EOI) Phase
The first step in the process is not the application itself, but the submission of an "Interest to Sponsor" form. This is a short online form that captures basic details about the sponsor and the person they wish to sponsor. Once the window closes, IRCC conducts a randomized draw. Only those who receive a formal Invitation to Apply (ITA) can proceed to the second stage: submitting the full, comprehensive application package for permanent residence.
Comprehensive Eligibility Requirements for Sponsors
To be a successful sponsor in 2025, you must meet several criteria that remain unchanged by the lottery status. Sponsorship is a legal contract with the Government of Canada, and the eligibility requirements are strictly enforced to ensure that the sponsor can provide for the basic needs of their parents or grandparents without relying on social assistance.
- Status: You must be a Canadian citizen, a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act, or a permanent resident of Canada.
- Age: You must be at least 18 years of age at the time you submit both the Interest to Sponsor form and the final application.
- Residency: You must reside in Canada. If you are a Canadian citizen living abroad, you cannot sponsor a parent or grandparent until you are actually residing in Canada.
- Clean Financial Record: You cannot be in default on a previous immigration sponsorship, a court-ordered support order (such as alimony or child support), or a performance bond.
- Freedom from Specific Restrictions: You are ineligible if you are currently in a penitentiary, jail, or prison; if you are an undischarged bankrupt; or if you are in receipt of social assistance for a reason other than a disability.
The Role of the Co-Signer
If a single sponsor's income does not meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirements, they may have their spouse or common-law partner act as a co-signer. When a co-signer is added, their income is combined with the sponsor's income to meet the threshold. However, the co-signer must also meet all eligibility requirements and becomes equally responsible for the 20-year financial undertaking.
The Income Requirement: LICO + 30%
The financial requirement is arguably the most difficult aspect of the PGP. Unlike the Spousal Sponsorship program, which has no minimum income requirement in most cases, the PGP requires sponsors to prove they have earned a specific amount for the three consecutive taxation years prior to the date of their application.
The government uses the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus an additional 30% as the benchmark. This "LICO + 30%" rule ensures that sponsors have a significant financial cushion to support their larger household. For applications processed in 2025, IRCC will typically look at your Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the years 2024, 2023, and 2022.
Estimated Income Thresholds for 2025-2026
The following table provides an estimate of the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) required for PGP sponsorship. Note that these figures are updated annually based on inflation and LICO adjustments. The household size must include the sponsor, their spouse/partner, their dependent children, the parents/grandparents being sponsored, and any other person currently covered by an active sponsorship undertaking.
| Family Size | 2024 MNI (Estimate) | 2023 MNI (Actual) | 2022 MNI (Actual) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 people | $44,520 | $43,150 | $33,000* |
| 3 people | $54,730 | $53,050 | $41,000* |
| 4 people | $66,450 | $64,400 | $50,000* |
| 5 people | $75,380 | $73,060 | $57,000* |
| 6 people | $85,020 | $82,400 | $64,000* |
*Note: For the 2020, 2021, and 2022 tax years, IRCC lowered the requirement to LICO (without the +30%) to account for COVID-19 related financial hardships. For 2023 tax years and onward, the +30% requirement has been reinstated.
Calculating Your Family Size Correctly
A common mistake that leads to application refusal is the incorrect calculation of family size. The family size determines which income row you must meet in the table above. To calculate your family size for the PGP, you must count:
- Yourself (the sponsor).
- Your spouse or common-law partner (even if they are not co-signing).
- Your dependent children.
- Your spouse or partner’s dependent children.
- Any other person you previously sponsored (or co-signed for) where the undertaking period is still in effect.
- The parent or grandparent you want to sponsor.
- The spouse, partner, and dependent children of that parent or grandparent (even if they are not coming to Canada with them).
If your mother is married but your father is not coming to Canada, you must still include your father in the family size calculation. This ensures the sponsor has enough income to support the entire potential family unit.
The 20-Year Undertaking: A Generational Commitment
The "Undertaking" is a formal contract between the sponsor and the Government of Canada. For the Parents and Grandparents Program, this period lasts for 20 years from the day the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident. In Quebec, the undertaking period for parents and grandparents is currently 10 years, though federal rules still apply for other eligibility factors.
During these 20 years, the sponsor is legally required to provide the basic requirements for the sponsored person, including food, clothing, shelter, and other needs for daily living. The most significant consequence of the undertaking occurs if the sponsored person receives social assistance (welfare). If your parent or grandparent collects social assistance during the 20-year period, you are legally obligated to repay every dollar to the government. This debt cannot be discharged through bankruptcy and will prevent you from sponsoring anyone else in the future until it is paid in full.
Who Can Be Sponsored?
The program is specifically designed for your own biological or adopted parents and grandparents. You can sponsor multiple parents and grandparents, provided you meet the income requirements for the total number of people involved.
You can also include the brothers and sisters of your parents or grandparents (your aunts and uncles) only if they qualify as dependent children of your parents. Generally, this means they must be under 22 years of age and not married or in a common-law relationship. If they are over 22, they must have been substantially dependent on their parents for financial support since before age 22 due to a physical or mental condition.
Medical and Criminal Inadmissibility
Even if you meet all the financial and age requirements, your parents or grandparents must still be admissible to Canada. This involves two major hurdles:
Medical Exams
All sponsored family members must undergo a medical exam by an IRCC-approved panel physician. Under the PGP, "excessive demand" rules apply. This means if the parent has a condition that would place an excessive demand on Canada's health or social services (usually defined by a cost threshold updated annually), their application could be refused. However, recent changes to the excessive demand policy have increased the threshold, making it easier for those with manageable conditions to qualify.
Police Certificates
The sponsored individuals must provide police certificates from every country where they have lived for six months or more since the age of 18. Any serious criminal record can lead to inadmissibility, though certain "rehabilitation" options may exist for older offenses.
The Super Visa: A Faster Alternative
Because the PGP is a lottery with low selection odds (often less than 10% in a given year), many families choose the Super Visa. The Super Visa is a multi-entry visitor visa specifically for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and PRs.
Unlike the PGP, the Super Visa is not a lottery. If you meet the criteria, you can generally get it within a few months. Key features include:
- Length of Stay: As of recent updates, Super Visa holders can stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time, with the possibility of extending their stay by another 2 years while remaining in the country.
- Validity: The visa itself is usually valid for up to 10 years (or until the passport expires).
- Requirements: The sponsor must meet a lower income threshold (only the base LICO, not LICO + 30%).
- Insurance: The applicant must purchase private medical insurance from a Canadian provider or an approved international provider, covering at least $100,000 in emergency care.
For many, the Super Visa provides the "reunification" they need while they wait for their name to be drawn in the PGP lottery.
Sponsorship in Quebec
If you live in Quebec, the process has an additional step. After IRCC determines that you are eligible to sponsor, you must apply to the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) for a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). Quebec has its own income requirements and, as mentioned, a shorter undertaking period of 10 years. However, Quebec also has its own quotas, which can sometimes lead to longer wait times than the federal stream.
Steps to a Successful PGP Application
Once you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), the clock starts ticking. You typically have only 60 days to submit a complete application. To be prepared, you should:
- Gather Birth Certificates: You must prove your relationship to your parents. If birth certificates are in another language, they must be translated by a certified translator.
- Validate NOAs: Ensure your income on line 15000 (formerly line 150) of your CRA Notice of Assessment meets the MNI for each of the three required years.
- Update Passports: Ensure your parents and grandparents have valid passports with at least 1-2 years of validity remaining to avoid delays during the final visa issuance.
- Prepare the Family Information Form: IRCC requires a detailed history of all siblings, children, and parents of the person being sponsored. Gathering these dates and addresses in advance saves critical time.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I sponsor my in-laws through the PGP?
No, you cannot directly sponsor your spouse's parents or grandparents. However, you can act as a co-signer on your spouse's application to sponsor their own parents. In this scenario, your spouse is the lead sponsor, and your income is used to help meet the MNI requirements.
2. What happens if my income drops below the MNI during the processing period?
IRCC may reassess your income at any time before the permanent resident visa is issued. You are required to meet the MNI for the three years prior to the application date AND maintain that financial standing throughout the processing period. If your income falls below the threshold, the application may be refused.
3. Is there a way to increase my chances in the lottery?
No. The PGP lottery is a randomized process. Submitting multiple "Interest to Sponsor" forms for the same person is prohibited and can lead to disqualification. The only way to "increase" your chances is to ensure that if you are a couple, the person with the most consistent income history over the last three years is ready to be the primary sponsor should a draw occur.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration policies and income thresholds change frequently. Always consult the official IRCC website or a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) before submitting your application.