Author: Azadeh Haidari-Garmash, RCIC
Family Reunification Pathway
Canada gears up to invite new sponsors for parents and grandparents in 2025
In a significant development for family reunification efforts, the Canadian government has announced its intention to send invitations for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in 2025. This initiative will allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency, further strengthening family ties across borders.
A New Phase in Family Reunification
Canada's immigration department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), revealed on March 7, 2025, that invitations to apply (ITAs) will be distributed to potential sponsors under the PGP in 2025. This announcement marks a pivotal shift as it follows the department's earlier decision in January to halt new invitations for the program this year, focusing instead on processing applications from the 2024 intake.
The decision to send ITAs in 2025 is particularly significant for those who expressed interest in sponsoring their relatives through the PGP in 2020. While the government has not specified the exact timeline for when these invitations will be sent, further details are expected to be released in the coming months. The IRCC employs a lottery system to randomly select potential sponsors from a pool of applicants, ensuring a fair and transparent selection process.
Understanding the Parents and Grandparents Program
The Parents and Grandparents Program is a key component of Canada's family reunification strategy. It offers Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians the opportunity to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency. Eligibility criteria for sponsors include meeting minimum income requirements and ensuring that their relatives are admissible to Canada.
Since its last intake in 2020, the PGP has garnered significant interest, with a large number of interest-to-sponsor forms submitted. The program operates on a lottery basis, and sponsors have been selected from the pool of applicants who submitted their forms in 2020. This process underscores the high demand and competitive nature of the program, which has yet to reopen for new submissions.
Exploring Alternatives: The Super Visa
For those unable to secure sponsorship through the PGP, the Super Visa program offers an alternative pathway for family reunification. This program allows Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians to sponsor their parents and grandparents for extended visits to Canada. Valid for up to 10 years, the Super Visa permits multiple entries and enables holders to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time, with the option to extend their stay by two more years.
Prospective sponsors must meet minimum income requirements, and applicants are required to purchase third-party health insurance for the duration of their stay. In a recent move to make the program more accessible, the Canadian government has relaxed health insurance requirements, providing applicants with more options for coverage.
Looking Ahead
The announcement of ITAs for the PGP in 2025 is a testament to Canada's ongoing commitment to family reunification. As the government prepares to release more information in the coming months, Canadian citizens and permanent residents eagerly await the opportunity to reunite with their loved ones, reinforcing Canada's reputation as a welcoming and compassionate nation.
