Founder and Principal Consultant
Program status: closed. IRCC paused intake under the Parents and Grandparents Program on 15 July 2026 and will not receive new interest to sponsor forms or invite sponsors to apply until further notice. Applications already submitted continue to be processed.
If you are looking to bring your parents or grandparents to Canada now, the working routes are the super visa, which allows a stay of up to five years at a time, or a visitor visa for a shorter visit. We explain the closure and the 2026 super visa income and insurance changes in Parents and Grandparents Program Closed Indefinitely: What Families Can Do.
If you are looking to bring your parents or grandparents to Canada now, the working routes are the super visa, which allows a stay of up to five years at a time, or a visitor visa for a shorter visit. We explain the closure and the 2026 super visa income and insurance changes in Parents and Grandparents Program Closed Indefinitely: What Families Can Do.
What this page covers
- What is the Parents and Grandparents Program?
- What do you need to know first?
- Who can sponsor, and who can be sponsored?
- How does the application process work?
- How much income do you need to sponsor?
- What should you weigh before you commit?
- Refused. Do you appeal or reapply?
- Frequently asked questions
Intake is closed, so nothing on this page is something you can act on today. It is here so you are ready when it reopens, and so you can see what the income test will ask of you. If you need your parents here in the meantime, the super visa is the route that is actually open.
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Invitation-Based ProcessSponsors must submit an Interest to Sponsor form and receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from IRCC to proceed with the application.
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Extended Sponsorship ResponsibilitySponsors commit to financially supporting their parents and grandparents for 20 years (10 years in Quebec).
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Alternative PathwayIf not invited, the Super Visa offers a viable option for long-term visits.
Program status
The Parents and Grandparents Program is closed to new applications
On 15 July 2026 IRCC announced that it will not receive new interest to sponsor forms and will not invite potential sponsors to apply, until further notice.
It is worth understanding what this actually changes, because the program has not worked the way most people assume for some years. The last time a new interest to sponsor pool was opened was 2020, when 203,213 unique submissions were received in a three week window. Every invitation round from 2021 through to 2025 drew at random from that same 2020 pool. No new pool was ever opened. So for anyone who did not submit a form in 2020, there has been no way in for five years, and there is none now.
Admission targets are set at 15,000 a year for 2026, 2027 and 2028, against a pool that still holds well over one hundred thousand people who have never been invited.
For families who want a parent or grandparent in Canada now rather than at some undefined future date, the Super Visa is the working alternative. It allows stays of up to five years per entry, and the income rules were relaxed on 31 March 2026 so that the host may now meet the minimum necessary income in either of the two preceding tax years, and where the host meets at least seventy-five per cent of it the visiting parent’s own income can close the gap.
Updated 15 July 2026, the date of the IRCC announcement.
If you are the sponsor
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Statusyou must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a person registered under the Indian Act, and at least 18.
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Incomeyou must meet or exceed the minimum necessary income for your family size in each of the three tax years before you apply, proved with CRA Notices of Assessment.
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Undertakingyou sign a 20 year undertaking to support them financially, 10 years in Quebec. It survives divorce, job loss and estrangement.
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Residenceyou must be living in Canada, and remain here while the application is processed.
If you are the parent or grandparent being sponsored
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Medicalyou must pass an immigration medical examination. Cost of care is not a bar for this class, but a condition that endangers public health or safety still is.
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Police certificatesone from every country you have lived in for six months or more since turning 18.
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Relationshipbirth certificates, family registers, passports and anything else that proves the relationship is what you say it is.
1. Submit an Interest to Sponsor form
- During the annual intake period, submit an Interest to Sponsor form on the IRCC website.
- Only those invited to apply can proceed with the application.
2. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
If selected, you’ll receive an ITA from IRCC. This is based on a lottery system, so ensure all details in your Interest to Sponsor form are accurate.
3. Complete and submit the application
- Complete the sponsorship and permanent residence applications.
- Ensure all forms and supporting documents, such as proof of income and relationship, are included.
- Submit the application online by the deadline mentioned in the ITA.
- Be sure to check your spam folder regularly to avoid missing important emails and ensure you submit your application before the deadline.
- Pay the applicable fees, which may include the sponsorship fee, processing fee, biometrics fee, and Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF).
4. Wait for processing
- Once the application is submitted, IRCC will review it for completeness, conduct background checks, and request biometrics.
- The average processing time is approximately 20-24 months.
5. Medical exams and police certificates
Sponsored parents and grandparents must complete medical exams and provide police certificates from countries where they have lived for six months or more since the age of 18.
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Plan aheadstart gathering documents the day you submit the Interest to Sponsor form, not the day an invitation arrives.
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Proof of incomeyou must meet the Low Income Cut Off for your family size in each of the three tax years before you apply, evidenced by CRA Notices of Assessment.
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Document thoroughnessan incomplete package is returned rather than refused, and by the time it comes back the intake may have closed.
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Quebec applicantsif you live in Quebec you sign an undertaking with the province on top of the federal requirements.
| Family Size | 20231 | 20221 | 20211 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 people | $44,530 | $43,082 | $32,898 |
| 3 people | $54,743 | $52,965 | $40,444 |
| 4 people | $66,466 | $64,306 | $49,106 |
| 5 people | $75,384 | $72,935 | $55,694 |
| 6 people | $85,020 | $82,259 | $62,814 |
| 7 people | $94,658 | $91,582 | $69,934 |
| If more than 7 people, for each additional person, add: | $9,636 (2023) $9,324 (2022) $7,120 (2021) |
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If a family class sponsorship application is refused, you generally have a right of appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division. It does not follow that you should use it.
Here is the point clients are almost never told before they commit. If you appeal and the appeal is dismissed, that dismissal is a decision on the merits, and it closes the door on simply filing again. A fresh application after a dismissed appeal runs straight into the finality of that decision. Whereas if you do not appeal, and you are otherwise eligible, a better prepared application is often still open to you.
So the real question after a family class refusal is not whether you can appeal. It is which of the two roads actually gets your family here.
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The refusal turns on a finding you can demonstrably disprove on the existing record
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The officer made an error of law, or ignored evidence that was properly before them
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The relationship evidence was strong and was simply misread
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Time is against you because of a dependent child’s age lock-in or a change in the sponsor’s circumstances
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The refusal raises misrepresentation, where the finding itself carries a five year bar that needs to be fought
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The refusal identified a genuine gap that you can now properly fill
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The evidence at the time was thin, and the relationship has developed since you filed
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Income, status or documentation problems have since been resolved
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The appeal backlog would take longer than a fresh, well built application
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The file was self prepared or poorly prepared, and the underlying case is actually strong
This applies across spousal and common-law sponsorship, dependent child sponsorship and other relative sponsorship. It is a strategic decision with a deadline attached to it, and it is worth thirty minutes of proper advice before you commit to either road. We will tell you honestly which one we think is stronger, including when that answer is to wait.
Can I sponsor my in-laws under the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program?
Yes and No!! Read on though. The program only allows Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their biological or adoptive parents and grandparents. However, your spouse or common-law partner can sponsor their parents or grandparents if they meet the eligibility criteria. As the sponsor’s spouse or partner, you can act as a co-signer to combine your income to meet the financial requirements.
Can I sponsor my siblings or children of my parents?
Siblings or children of your parents can be included in the sponsorship application only if they meet the definition of a dependent child. This means they must:
- Be under 22 years of age, and
- Be financially dependent on their parents.
Children who are married or in a common-law relationship are not considered dependents, regardless of their age.
Do I need to meet the income requirement if I’m only sponsoring one parent and leaving the other as non-accompanying?
Yes, you must meet the income requirement for the entire family unit, which includes both parents, even if only one parent is being sponsored and the other is non-accompanying. The non-accompanying parent must also undergo medical and police clearance checks. If either parent fails these checks or is found inadmissible, both applications could be refused.
Tip: Some situations can be complicated; contact us for professional guidance tailored to your case.
Can I sponsor both parents and grandparents together in one application?
No, you cannot sponsor both your parents and grandparents together in a single application. You need to decide whether to sponsor your parents or grandparents. If eligible, both parents can be included in a single application, but grandparents require a separate application.
What happens if one parent or grandparent fails the medical or police clearance checks?
If one parent or grandparent is found inadmissible due to failing medical or police clearance checks, their application and that of any accompanying applicant may be refused. It is crucial to ensure all applicants meet the requirements before submitting the sponsorship application.
Is it mandatory for my parents or grandparents to complete medical and police clearance checks?
Yes, completing medical and police clearance checks is mandatory for all sponsored parents or grandparents, including non-accompanying family members. This ensures they meet Canada’s admissibility requirements.
What is the processing time for the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program?
Processing times vary, but it typically takes 20-24 months from the date of submission. Factors like completeness of the application, medical exams, and background checks can impact the timeline.
What are my options if I don’t meet the income requirements?
If you don’t meet the income requirements, you cannot sponsor your parents or grandparents under this program. However, you may consider inviting them to Canada on a Super Visa or a Visitor Visa, which allows extended temporary stays.
