Updates on the 2025 Parents and Grandparents (PGP) Program

Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship
Written By Vivian Wong

Family reunification remains a core value of Canada’s immigration system, allowing Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents to live and work alongside them in Canada. The Parents and Grandparents (PGP) Program is a key initiative under this effort, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced its latest updates regarding the 2025 intake.

2025 PGP Program Intake: Key Updates

For 2025, IRCC aims to accept up to 10,000 complete sponsorship applications under the PGP Program. However, rather than opening a new intake process, IRCC will continue its approach from previous years by selecting potential sponsors from the existing pool of interest to sponsor forms submitted in 2020. This method ensures fairness while processing the backlog of interested sponsors still awaiting selection.

Processing Times and Quebec-Specific Considerations

Processing times for PGP applications currently vary based on location:

  • 24 months for applications destined outside Quebec

  • 48 months for applications destined for Quebec, due to the province’s more restricted family class admission targets

IRCC is carefully balancing the number of applications it receives with the available PGP spaces within its 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan. As part of a broader strategy to manage processing times and immigration targets, the government has had to reduce overall immigration levels, affecting how many new applications can be accepted under the PGP Program.

Alternative Option: The Super Visa

For families who are not selected to apply under the PGP Program, the Super Visa remains a valuable alternative. The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents to:

  • Stay in Canada for up to 5 years per visit

  • Make multiple entries over a 10-year period

  • Benefit from recently improved accessibility, including revised health insurance requirements

This option provides flexibility for families who wish to spend extended periods together without undergoing the sponsorship process.

Who Can Sponsor Under the PGP Program?

To be eligible to sponsor a parent or grandparent under the PGP Program, sponsors must:

  • Be invited to apply (as per the 2025 selection process)

  • Be at least 18 years old

  • Live in Canada, with their primary residential address remaining in Canada throughout the application process

  • Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act

  • Meet the minimum income requirements for the last three tax years (as of the 2024 intake)

Minimum Income Requirements for Sponsorship

Sponsors must demonstrate sufficient financial capacity to support their family members. Below are the minimum income thresholds for the past three tax years:

*Income required for the 3 tax years before you apply (if you’re applying for the 2024 intake)

Looking Ahead

IRCC will release further details about the 2025 PGP intake process in the coming months, including the timeline for sending invitations to apply. While the continued use of the 2020 interest to sponsor pool may disappoint those hoping for a fresh intake, IRCC is committed to family reunification through balanced immigration planning and alternative pathways like the Super Visa.

For those interested in the program, staying updated on IRCC announcements and preparing financial documentation in advance will be key steps toward a successful sponsorship application.

Vivian Wong