In short: the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) lets Canadian citizens and permanent residents sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence under the Family Class (IRPA s.12(1)), but you generally cannot apply on demand. Intake is limited and invitation-based: IRCC invites a set number of potential sponsors from a pool of submitted interest to sponsor forms, and only those who are invited can then submit a full application. Because places are capped, many families also use the super visa, a long-stay visitor route, while they wait or if they are not invited. This guide explains who can sponsor, how the intake works, the LICO+30% income test for the 3 most recent tax years, the 20-year undertaking, current government fees, and processing realities. It is educational information, not legal advice, and an IRCC officer makes the final decision on every application; always confirm current details on canada.ca.
Who Can Sponsor Under PGP?
Under IRPA s.13 and IRPR s.130, a sponsor must meet all of the following requirements:
- ✓ Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (or a registered Indian under the Indian Act)
- ✓ Be at least 18 years of age
- ✓ Reside in Canada (Canadian citizens living abroad may sponsor but must intend to reside in Canada when the sponsored person becomes a PR)
- ✓ Meet the LICO+30% minimum necessary income for the 3 most recent consecutive tax years
- ✓ Not be subject to a removal order, not be in prison, and not have been convicted of certain criminal offences
- ✓ Not be in default of a previous sponsorship undertaking
- ✓ Not have declared bankruptcy (unless discharged)
The sponsored person must be the sponsor's parent or grandparent. The application may also include the parent's or grandparent's spouse or common-law partner and their dependent children as accompanying co-applicants. Note that spousal/partner sponsorship is a separate, always-open stream; PGP is specifically for sponsoring a parent or grandparent.
How PGP Intake Works: Invitation-Based, Not First-Come
This is the part that surprises most families: you usually cannot just file a PGP application whenever you like. IRCC caps how many applications it accepts and runs an invitation-based intake. In recent rounds it has invited potential sponsors at random from a pool of interest to sponsor forms submitted in earlier years, rather than opening a brand-new form each time. Here is the typical flow:
1. Interest to Sponsor (the pool)
Sponsors first submit a short, free online interest to sponsor form. This is not the full application; it simply places you in the pool. IRCC has at times invited from forms submitted in a prior year (for example, the 2020 pool) instead of opening a new form, so a new interest window does not open every year. Check canada.ca before assuming a form is open.
2. Invitation by random selection
From the pool, IRCC randomly selects a set number of potential sponsors and sends invitations to apply. For the 2025 round, IRCC sent about 17,860 invitations (drawn from the 2020 pool) with a goal of accepting roughly 10,000 complete applications. Only invited sponsors can submit a full application; numbers and targets change each year under the Immigration Levels Plan.
3. Full Application
Invited sponsors typically have 60 days to submit a complete sponsorship package. It includes the sponsor's income documentation (CRA Notices of Assessment), relationship proof, the signed undertaking, and the parent's or grandparent's permanent-residence forms. Confirm the current deadline in your invitation, as it is set by IRCC.
4. Visa Office Processing
After the sponsorship is assessed in Canada, the permanent-residence application is processed for the parent or grandparent, including admissibility, medical examination, and biometrics. Depending on circumstances this can be handled inland or through a visa office abroad.
What this means for you: do not wait for a "lottery" you can enter at will. Intake details (whether a new interest form opens, how many invitations are sent, and the application deadline) are set by Ministerial Instructions and change yearly. The most reliable step is to check the official PGP page on canada.ca for the current round before making plans. If you are not invited, the super visa can let your parents or grandparents visit for extended periods in the meantime.
Income Requirements: LICO+30%
PGP sponsors must demonstrate income at least 30% above the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for the 3 most recent consecutive tax years. The LICO+30% threshold is based on family size, which includes the sponsor, the sponsor's spouse/partner (if applicable), existing dependants, and the persons being sponsored. Consult our LICO income requirements guide for a detailed table and explanation of what counts as income. The exact dollar figures change each year and depend on family size, so confirm the current LICO+30% amounts on canada.ca before relying on them. Key points:
- ✓ Income must be at or above LICO+30% for each of the 3 most recent consecutive tax years (not just the most recent one). Falling short in any of the three years can make you ineligible for that round.
- ✓ IRCC verifies income directly with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The figure used is generally your total income from your CRA Notice of Assessment (line 15000), so the amount you actually report on your tax return matters.
- ✓ Acceptable sources include employment income, self-employment income, pensions, rental income, and other taxable income shown on your CRA records.
- ✓ Social assistance (other than for a disability) is NOT counted as income for PGP sponsorship.
- ✓ A co-signer (your spouse or common-law partner) can add their income to help meet the threshold. In doing so they sign the undertaking too and become jointly responsible for the full obligation.
- ✓ Family size for the test includes you, your spouse/partner, any dependent children, anyone you have previously sponsored and are still responsible for, and the parents/grandparents (and their family members) you now want to sponsor.
⚠ Important distinction
The LICO+30% income test applies specifically to PGP sponsorship. By contrast, when you sponsor only a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child, there is generally no minimum income requirement. A different (lower) LICO-level income applies to the super visa, which is a visitor route, not PR. Do not assume the PGP figure carries over to those other routes.
The 20-Year Undertaking
By signing the sponsorship undertaking, the sponsor makes a legally binding commitment under IRPR s.132 to financially support the sponsored parent or grandparent. For parents and grandparents the undertaking runs for 20 years, starting the day the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident (in Quebec the period is generally 10 years). This is one of the longest financial commitments in Canadian immigration, so it is worth understanding clearly. In practical terms:
- ✓ If the sponsored person receives provincial social assistance during the undertaking period, the province may seek repayment from the sponsor
- ✓ The undertaking continues even if the relationship breaks down, the sponsor divorces, or changes in financial circumstances occur
- ✓ The undertaking is not discharged by bankruptcy
- ✓ Death of the sponsor may not extinguish the undertaking, provincial enforcement can vary
- ✓ The 20-year period starts from the date the parent/grandparent becomes a permanent resident, not from application date
Sponsors who default on a prior undertaking (i.e., fail to repay social assistance received by a previously sponsored person) are ineligible to sponsor again. A licensed immigration lawyer can advise on the implications of the 20-year undertaking in your province.
Government Fees: About $1,260 per Parent or Grandparent
PR-application fees increased on April 30, 2026, and that increase is now in effect. The figures below reflect the current amounts (Last verified: June 2026); always reconfirm on the official IRCC fee list before you pay:
| Fee Item | Amount (CAD) | Who Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship fee | $90 | Sponsor |
| Principal applicant processing fee | $570 | Parent/Grandparent (principal applicant) |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) | $600 | Principal applicant (paid before becoming a PR) |
| Biometrics (if required) | $85 ($170 family max) | Per person |
| Medical examination | Varies by country/clinic | Principal applicant (paid to the panel physician) |
| Approximate IRCC total (per principal applicant) | ~$1,260 | Both parties |
The $1,260 figure is the combined sponsorship fee, processing fee, and RPRF for one parent or grandparent; the RPRF (currently $600) is paid before they become a permanent resident. An accompanying spouse or partner of your parent/grandparent is charged at the same level, and each accompanying dependent child currently costs $180. Biometrics, the medical exam, translations, and police certificates are extra. For a full estimate covering everyone in your application, use our Immigration Fee Calculator for a detailed estimate including all family members.
Processing Times
PGP processing times are among the longest in the Family Class. IRCC publishes current processing time estimates on its website, always check canada.ca for the most up-to-date figures. Historical context (Last verified: June 2026):
- ✓ Processing times have historically ranged from approximately 20–36 months from application submission to PR landing
- ✓ Times vary by visa office (country of origin) and file complexity
- ✓ Medical and security checks can add additional time
- ✓ IRCC's published target is to process 80% of PGP applications within a given timeframe, check canada.ca for current data
💡 Super visa as a bridge
While waiting for PGP, or if they are not invited, many families turn to the super visa. It is a multi-entry visitor route (not permanent residence) that can let a parent or grandparent stay up to 5 years per entry and be valid for up to 10 years. It requires the host to meet a LICO-level income and proof of private medical insurance valid for at least 1 year (historically a minimum of $100,000 in coverage); verify the current amounts on canada.ca. See our Super Visa vs PGP comparison guide.
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Get Your Immigration Overview, $79.99Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I'm not invited to apply under PGP?+
If you are not invited in a given round, you are not able to submit a full application that year. Whether you can do anything to improve your odds depends on the round: in recent years IRCC invited people at random from a pool of interest to sponsor forms submitted in an earlier year (such as 2020) rather than opening a new form, so there was nothing new to submit. Watch canada.ca for the next round and whether a new interest form opens. In the meantime, the super visa may allow your parents or grandparents to visit Canada for extended periods, up to 5 years per entry.
Can I include my parent's spouse or partner in the PGP application?+
Yes. If your parent has a spouse or common-law partner, that person can be included as a co-applicant in the PGP application. Dependent children of the principal applicant may also be included. Separate processing fees apply for each additional person.
What documents do I need to prove my income?+
IRCC requires Notices of Assessment (NOA) from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the 3 most recent consecutive tax years, along with T4 slips, T1 General returns, or other income evidence. If the sponsor's spouse/co-signer's income is being counted, their NOAs are also required. See our Document Checklist tool for a full list.
Can I apply for PGP if my parents are already in Canada as visitors?+
Your parents can be in Canada as visitors when you submit the interest to sponsor form and during processing. The processing pathway (inland or through a visa office abroad) depends on the circumstances and IRCC's procedures, and being in Canada as a visitor does not by itself create permanent status. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed immigration lawyer or a CICC-regulated consultant.
Is PGP a lottery, and is the interest to sponsor form open right now?+
PGP intake is best described as invitation-based with random selection, rather than a true open lottery you can enter at will. Whether a new interest to sponsor form is open changes from year to year. In recent rounds IRCC invited potential sponsors at random from a pool of forms submitted in an earlier year (for example, the 2020 pool) instead of opening a new form. Because this is set by Ministerial Instructions and changes annually, check the official PGP page on canada.ca for the current round before making plans.
Do my 3 years of income all have to meet LICO+30%?+
Generally yes. For PGP, your income must be at or above the LICO+30% minimum necessary income for each of the 3 most recent consecutive tax years, not just the latest one. IRCC verifies the figures with the Canada Revenue Agency. A spouse or common-law partner can co-sign and add their income to help meet the threshold, but they then share the full financial obligation. Confirm the current dollar amounts for your family size on canada.ca, as they change each year.
How is the super visa different from sponsoring my parents for PR?+
The super visa is a long-stay visitor option, not permanent residence. It can allow a parent or grandparent to stay up to 5 years per entry and be valid for up to 10 years, and it requires private medical insurance (historically a minimum of $100,000 in coverage) valid for at least 1 year, plus a host who meets a LICO-level income. PGP, by contrast, leads to permanent residence and uses the higher LICO+30% income test and a 20-year undertaking. Many families use the super visa while waiting for, or as an alternative to, a PGP invitation. See our super visa comparison guide and verify current figures on canada.ca.
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This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.