Can I sponsor my parents or grandparents to Canada?

Yes. Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence through the Parents and Grandparents Program, provided they meet age, status, and income requirements set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

What income do I need to sponsor my parents or grandparents?

You must meet the Minimum Necessary Income for the three consecutive tax years prior to applying. The income threshold depends on your family size and includes anyone you are currently sponsoring or financially responsible for. A spouse or common-law partner may co-sign to help meet the income requirement.

I received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). What should I do next?

If you receive an Invitation to Apply, you must submit both the sponsorship application and the permanent residence application for your parents or grandparents before the deadline stated in the invitation. These applications are submitted online through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Permanent Residence or Representative Portal, and missing the deadline can result in losing your opportunity to apply.

How long does Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship take?

Processing times for Parents and Grandparents Program applications vary and depend on application volume, completeness, and background checks. Many applications take multiple years to process. Submitting a complete, well-prepared application can help avoid unnecessary delays or refusals.

Do I need a lawyer for a parents and grandparents sponsorship application?

While hiring a lawyer is not mandatory, the Parents and Grandparents Program process is highly regulated and mistakes can lead to refusals or long delays. Working with an experienced immigration lawyer can help ensure your application meets income requirements, includes the correct documentation, and is submitted accurately and on time.

Sponsor Parents and Grandparents to Canada – Immigration Lawyer

Ayodele Law helps Canadians sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence in Canada through the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship (PGP) program. Many families come to us after searching for a parents and grandparents sponsorship lawyer near them, looking for clear guidance through the PGP process.

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Bringing your parents or grandparents to Canada as permanent residents is a meaningful but highly regulated process. The Parents & Grandparents Program (PGP) is currently the only pathway under family class to sponsor parents/grandparents.

Is the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program Open Right Now?

The Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program (PGP) is not continuously open. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) opens the program by invitation only, and intake periods are announced by the federal government.

In recent years, invitations have been issued from previously submitted Interest to Sponsor forms rather than through a new open intake. This means many families searching for a parents and grandparents sponsorship lawyer near them discover they are not currently eligible to apply — even if they meet all income and residency requirements.

When the PGP is closed or paused, families may still have alternative options, such as the Super Visa, to bring parents or grandparents to Canada while waiting for future sponsorship opportunities.

What are the requirements to sponsor your Parents or Grandparents to Canada?

To sponsor your parents or grandparents to Canada under the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship (PGP) program, you must meet the eligibility requirements set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):

  
    Eligibility Requirements to Sponsor Parents or Grandparents
  
✔Be 18 years of age or older.
✔Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a registered Indian under the Indian Act.
✔Reside in Canada, or if abroad as a citizen, show intent to return when your parents or grandparents become permanent residents.
✔Meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the three consecutive tax years before applying.
✔Your MNI depends on family size and includes anyone you currently or plan to sponsor.
✔You may add a co-signer (spouse or common-law partner) who also meets eligibility and signs the undertaking.
✔Sign an undertaking to provide financial support for 20 years (in most provinces).
✔Not be in default of a previous sponsorship, owe social assistance repayments, or be undischarged bankrupt.
✔Have no serious criminal record or inadmissibility that prevents sponsorship under IRPA/IRPR.

Eligibility Requirements to Sponsor Parents or Grandparents
✔Be 18 years of age or older.
✔Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a registered Indian under the Indian Act.
✔Reside in Canada, or if abroad as a citizen, show intent to return when your parents or grandparents become permanent residents.
✔Meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the three consecutive tax years before applying.
✔Your MNI depends on family size and includes anyone you currently or plan to sponsor.
✔You may add a co-signer (spouse or common-law partner) who also meets eligibility and signs the undertaking.
✔Sign an undertaking to provide financial support for 20 years (in most provinces).
✔Not be in default of a previous sponsorship, owe social assistance repayments, or be undischarged bankrupt.
✔Have no serious criminal record or inadmissibility that prevents sponsorship under IRPA/IRPR.

As a sponsor, what documents do I need to provide?

Proof of Canadian status (citizenship certificate, PR card, or Indian registration)
Notices of Assessment (NOAs) for the past three consecutive tax years (e.g. 2022-2024 for the 2025 intake)
Proof of Canadian residence (driver’s licence, utility bill, or lease)
If using a co-signer, provide their forms, NOAs, and signatures on the undertaking

What documents do my parents or grandparents need to provide?

Valid passports and birth/adoption certificates
Marriage, divorce, or death certificates (if applicable)
Police certificates for each country lived in 6+ months since age 18
Medical exam results from an IRCC-approved panel physician
Biometrics, if required
Certified translations of non-English/French documents
Photos, communications, and proof of visits to demonstrate family relationship

What If I Don’t Meet the Income Requirement?

Meeting the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) is one of the most common challenges in parents and grandparents sponsorship applications. If you do not meet the income threshold on your own, you may be able to include a co-signer, such as your spouse or common-law partner, provided they also meet eligibility requirements and agree to the undertaking.

If you still fall short, submitting an application anyway can lead to refusal and lost time. Many people searching for a parents and grandparents sponsorship lawyer near me contact us after discovering too late that income miscalculations or family size errors caused their application to be refused.

An immigration lawyer can assess your income history, determine whether a co-signer is viable, and advise whether waiting for a future intake or pursuing a Super Visa is the better strategy.

Who Can You Sponsor Under the Parents and Grandparents Program application?

Under the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program, you may sponsor:

Your biological or adopted parents or grandparents.
Their spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner (for example, if your mother has remarried).
Dependent children of your parents or grandparents, if they qualify as dependants under IRCC rules.

If you’re also sponsoring a spouse or partner, learn more about our spousal sponsorship services.

Sponsor a child. Learn more about our services here
Sponsor a spouse. Learn more about our services here
Sponsor a spouse with criminal inadmissibility. Learn more about our services here

I Received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). What do I do next?

If you receive an ITA under the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program, you must submit:

Sponsorship Application (you as the sponsor)
Permanent Residence Application (your parents, grandparents, and dependants)

Applications are submitted online through IRCC’s Permanent Residence Portal or Representative Portal before your deadline. If you live in Quebec, you must also complete a provincial undertaking once IRCC approves your federal sponsorship. IRCC can provide alternate formats (paper, Braille) for applicants needing accessibility accommodation.

If a sponsorship application is refused due to an error or misunderstanding, legal remedies such as reconsideration requests or appeals may be available.

What Are My Options If the Parents and Grandparents Program Is Closed?

If the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program is not accepting applications, permanent residence may not be immediately available. However, parents and grandparents may still be able to come to Canada through temporary resident options, most notably the Super Visa.

The Super Visa allows eligible parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years per visit, allowing families to reunite while waiting for future PGP intakes. Many clients searching for an immigration lawyer near them choose this option as a practical solution when sponsorship is paused or invitation-only.

Choosing the right pathway depends on income levels, family size, medical insurance requirements, and long-term plans. Legal advice can help ensure the option you choose aligns with both current immigration rules and future sponsorship goals.

Why choose Ayodele Law for your parents or grandparents sponsorship application

Sponsoring your parents or grandparents is one of the most meaningful ways to bring family together in Canada. At Ayodele Law, we simplify the process — ensuring your Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship (PGP) application is accurate, complete, and submitted on time. With over a decade of experience helping families reunite, our immigration lawyer provides trusted, compassionate, and results-driven guidance every step of the way.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sponsoring your parents or grandparents can feel overwhelming.
These frequently asked questions address common concerns about eligibility, income requirements, timelines, and next steps under the Parents and Grandparents Program.

If you’re looking for a parents and grandparents sponsorship lawyer near you, it’s important to work with a law firm experienced in the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) and the requirements set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Ayodele Law is a Toronto-based immigration law firm that assists families locally and across Ontario and Canada with PGP sponsorship applications.
Yes. Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), provided they meet age, status, and income requirements set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
You must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the three consecutive tax years prior to applying. The income threshold depends on your family size and includes anyone you are currently sponsoring or financially responsible for. A spouse or common-law partner may co-sign to help meet the income requirement.
If you receive an ITA, you must submit both the sponsorship application and the permanent residence application for your parents or grandparents before the deadline stated in the invitation. These applications are submitted online through IRCC’s Permanent Residence or Representative Portal, and missing the deadline can result in losing your opportunity to apply.
Processing times for PGP applications vary and depend on application volume, completeness, and background checks. Many applications take multiple years to process. Submitting a complete, well-prepared application can help avoid unnecessary delays or refusals.
While hiring a lawyer is not mandatory, the PGP process is highly regulated and mistakes can lead to refusals or long delays. Working with an experienced immigration lawyer can help ensure your application meets income requirements, includes the correct documentation, and is submitted accurately and on time.
The Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program (PGP) is not open year-round. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) opens the program by invitation only, and intake periods are announced by the federal government. In recent years, IRCC has issued invitations from previously submitted Interest to Sponsor forms rather than opening a new intake. When the program is closed, parents and grandparents may still be eligible to come to Canada under temporary options such as the Super Visa.
Yes. If you were not invited to apply under the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program, your parents or grandparents may still be able to come to Canada on a Super Visa. The Super Visa allows eligible parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years per visit and can be renewed from inside Canada. While it does not grant permanent residence, it is often the best solution for families seeking long-term reunification while waiting for the PGP to reopen.

From Our Clients

Tracy has a wealth of experience in immigration law, and her deep understanding of the process was evident throughout my case. The team at Ayodele Law treated me with respect and kindness, making me feel more than just another case file. Thanks to Tracy, I Had a Successful Outcome, I highly recommend Ayodele Law.

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