THE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS PROGRAM IS REAL — BUT SO IS THE WAIT. HERE IS AN HONEST PICTURE OF HOW THE LOTTERY WORKS, WHAT YOU NEED TO QUALIFY, AND WHAT YOU CAN DO IN THE MEANTIME.
What We Handle
- PGP interest-to-sponsor readiness assessment
- Income threshold and co-signer eligibility review
- Full PGP application preparation once invitation received
- Super Visa applications for parents and grandparents
- Undertaking form preparation and review
- Document package preparation for NOAs, proof of relationship, and status
Common Refusal Reasons:
- Sponsor income below LICO+30% threshold for 3 consecutive years
- Sponsor not residing in Canada (for permanent residents)
- Incomplete application submitted within the 90-day window
- Missing Notices of Assessment from CRA
- Prior sponsorship undertaking default
- Sponsored person medically or criminally inadmissible
HOW THE PGP LOTTERY ACTUALLY WORKS
The Parents and Grandparents Program is the most sought-after family sponsorship category in Canada — and the most constrained. Understanding the actual mechanics of the program is essential before investing time in preparation:
- IRCC releases a limited number of invitations each year — in 2024 IRCC accepted 15,000 new PGP applications — through a randomized interest-to-sponsor (ITS) pool
- When IRCC opens the intake window (announced online with short notice), eligible sponsors submit an interest-to-sponsor form. The window is typically open for only 1–2 hours
- IRCC then randomly selects from all submitted forms — selection is not first-come-first-served. Submitting earlier within the window does not improve your odds
- If selected, you receive an invitation to apply and have a limited time (typically 90 days) to submit the full application
- Many sponsors wait 2–4 or more years between rounds before being selected
- Submitting faster, submitting multiple forms, or using a representative does not improve your odds in the lottery draw
The PGP lottery means preparation matters before selection, not after. Sponsors who have their document packages ready when the invitation arrives are able to meet the tight 90-day window. Those who begin preparing after receiving the invitation frequently fail to submit on time.
ELIGIBILITY — WHO CAN APPLY AS SPONSOR
To be eligible to sponsor parents or grandparents through the PGP, you must meet all of the following criteria at the time of application:
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian aged 18 or older
- Be currently living in Canada — permanent residents must reside in Canada (citizens may sponsor from abroad)
- Meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) threshold for 3 consecutive tax years before applying
- Not be in receipt of social assistance (other than for disability)
- Not have defaulted on a prior sponsorship undertaking
- Not have been convicted of certain offences against family members
INCOME REQUIREMENTS — THE LICO+30% THRESHOLD
The Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for PGP sponsorship is calculated at the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30%. The threshold depends on the total size of your household — meaning your current family members plus every person you are sponsoring. As a general reference using 2024 figures (IRCC updates annually):
- Household of 2 (sponsor + 1 parent): approximately $36,500 CAD
- Household of 3: approximately $44,900 CAD
- Household of 4: approximately $54,500 CAD
- Household of 5: approximately $61,800 CAD
You must prove this income for 3 consecutive tax years using your Notices of Assessment (NOAs) from the Canada Revenue Agency. If your income was below the threshold in any of those 3 years, you need a co-signer. A co-signer must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident residing in Canada who meets the income threshold in their own right and agrees to be jointly and severally liable for the undertaking.
THE 20-YEAR UNDERTAKING — UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SIGNING
When you sponsor parents or grandparents, you sign a 20-year undertaking. This is a legally binding commitment — not a formality — and it has real financial consequences:
- You commit to financially supporting your sponsored relatives for food, shelter, clothing, and health needs for 20 years from the date they become permanent residents
- This obligation applies even if your circumstances change after the sponsorship: divorce, job loss, relationship breakdown, or the death of the co-signer
- If your sponsored relatives receive social assistance from a provincial or federal government during the 20-year undertaking period, the government may seek repayment from you
- Defaulting on the undertaking makes you ineligible to sponsor anyone else in the future
VisaScope ensures you fully understand the legal and financial scope of the undertaking before you sign. It is a 20-year contract — it should be treated as one.
THE SUPER VISA — THE PRACTICAL SOLUTION WHILE YOU WAIT
While waiting for PGP approval (which can take years), many families use the Super Visa as a bridge solution. The Super Visa is a 10-year multiple-entry visa that allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to 5 years per visit — with no annual cap on total time spent in Canada.
Super Visa requirements:
- Valid Canadian medical insurance coverage of at least $100,000 CAD from a Canadian insurance company
- Letter of invitation from the Canadian child or grandchild
- Proof that the Canadian sponsor meets the income threshold
- Evidence the parents or grandparents intend to leave Canada at the end of each stay
Processing is typically 2–8 weeks. The Super Visa is not permanent residence — your parents or grandparents do not receive work authorization or access to provincial health insurance and must maintain their private coverage throughout each stay. For most families, the Super Visa is the right practical tool while PGP processing unfolds over years. Learn more about the Super Visa.
WHEN YOUR INVITATION ARRIVES — THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Once selected from the interest-to-sponsor pool, you typically have 90 days to submit a complete application. IRCC will refuse incomplete applications without refund — the preparation window is tight and the document package is extensive. The full application includes:
- Completed IMM forms for sponsor and all sponsored persons
- Notices of Assessment (NOAs) from CRA for 3 consecutive tax years
- Proof of relationship: birth certificates, adoption papers as applicable
- Sponsor's proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residence status
- Co-signer documents if applicable (their NOAs, status documents, undertaking forms)
- Police certificates for all sponsored persons (countries of residence, past 10 years)
- Medical examination results from an IRCC-designated panel physician
- Undertaking forms signed by sponsor (and co-signer if applicable)
VisaScope prepares the complete document package in advance — before the invitation arrives — so you are ready to submit immediately when your invitation comes. Families who wait until selection to begin preparation routinely miss the 90-day window.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I sponsor both my parents at the same time?
Yes. One sponsorship application can include both parents (and any dependent children under 22). Both parents are included in the household size calculation for the MNI threshold.
My parents are not legally married. Can I still sponsor them?
Yes. Parents do not need to be married to each other to be sponsored. Each parent is a separate sponsored person — you can include one or both in the same application.
Can I sponsor my parents if I am a permanent resident (not a citizen)?
Yes — but only if you are currently living in Canada. You must demonstrate that you reside in Canada at the time of sponsorship. Citizens can sponsor from abroad; permanent residents cannot.
What happens if my income drops below the MNI during the undertaking period?
The income threshold applies at the time of application — not throughout the 20-year undertaking. Once approved, your sponsored relatives have permanent residence regardless of subsequent income changes. However, if they receive social assistance during the undertaking period, the government may pursue you for reimbursement.
Is the Super Visa the same as PR?
No. The Super Visa allows long stays (up to 5 years per visit) but does not give your parents or grandparents permanent residence, work authorization, or access to government health insurance (they must maintain private insurance). It is a visitor authorization — but one of the most generous in the world for its category.
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