Breaking: 2019 Parent Sponsorship Rules - 20,500 Spots Only

Canada opens 20,500 parent sponsorship spots - limited time window

On This Page You Will Find:

• Critical income requirements that determine your eligibility (30% above poverty line for 3 years)
• Exact submission timing strategy to secure your spot in the limited 20,500 applications
• Complete sponsor qualification checklist including the 20-year financial commitment details
• Step-by-step process timeline from application to permanent residency approval
• Common inadmissibility grounds that could derail your parents' application
• Co-signer options when your income falls short of requirements

Summary:

Canada's Parent and Grandparent Program offers just 20,500 sponsorship spots in 2019, operating on a first-come, first-served basis that fills within days of opening. Success requires meeting strict financial thresholds (income 30% above poverty line for three consecutive years), understanding the 20-year financial undertaking commitment, and submitting applications in the narrow window between December 27, 2018, and January 4, 2019. This comprehensive guide reveals the exact eligibility requirements, application strategy, and potential roadblocks that could prevent your family reunification dreams from becoming reality.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Only 20,500 parent sponsorship spots available in 2019 with first-come, first-served processing
• Sponsors must earn 30% above poverty line for 3 consecutive years and commit to 20-year financial support
• Application window extremely narrow: submit between December 27, 2018 and January 4, 2019
• Co-signers can combine income when primary sponsor doesn't meet financial requirements
• Parents become permanent residents upon approval but must pass admissibility requirements

Maria stared at her tax documents spread across the kitchen table, calculator in hand, heart racing. After three years in Canada as a permanent resident, she finally had the income to sponsor her elderly parents from Colombia. But with only 20,500 spots available nationwide and applications opening in just weeks, one miscalculation could mean waiting another year – or longer – to bring her family together.

If you're like Maria, navigating Canada's Parent and Grandparent Program feels overwhelming. The stakes couldn't be higher: miss the narrow application window, fail to meet income requirements, or overlook a critical document, and your family reunification dreams get pushed back indefinitely.

Here's what you need to know to maximize your chances of success in 2019's highly competitive sponsorship process.

The Reality of Parent Sponsorship in Canada

Canada welcomes approximately 300,000 immigrants annually, with about 25% arriving through family sponsorship programs. Of these 78,000+ sponsored immigrants, roughly 20% are parents and grandparents – representing one of the most sought-after immigration pathways in the country.

The numbers tell a sobering story: thousands of eligible sponsors compete for just 20,500 available spots. This means even perfectly qualified applicants get turned away simply because they didn't submit fast enough.

The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis, creating an intense rush when applications open. Based on historical patterns, the quota typically fills within the first few business days of January. If you're not among the first wave of submissions, you'll likely wait until the following year to try again.

Who Qualifies as a Sponsor: The Complete Checklist

Before diving into application preparation, you must meet every single sponsor requirement. Missing even one criterion disqualifies your entire application.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

You must be at least 18 years old and hold Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status. This seems straightforward, but timing matters – if your PR card is expiring soon, renew it before applying to avoid complications.

Residency plays a crucial role: you must currently live in Canada, not abroad. Immigration officers verify this through various means, including tax filings, employment records, and utility bills. If you've been traveling extensively or living outside Canada, document your Canadian residence clearly.

The 20-Year Financial Commitment

Perhaps the most significant requirement involves signing an undertaking promising 20 years of financial support. This isn't symbolic – you're legally responsible for your parents' living expenses, ensuring they don't access social assistance during this period.

What does this mean practically? If your parents need government financial support anytime in the next two decades, the government can pursue you for repayment. This includes provincial welfare, housing assistance, and other social benefits. The only exceptions are emergency medical care and certain educational services.

Income Requirements: The 30% Rule

Your income must exceed the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) by at least 30% for three consecutive years. This calculation includes everyone you're sponsoring plus your current household members and any previous sponsorship commitments still active.

For example, if you're sponsoring both parents (2 people) and have a spouse and one child (2 more people), plus yourself (1 person), you need income supporting 5 people total at 130% of LICO.

The government uses your Notice of Assessment from Canada Revenue Agency to verify income. Make sure you've filed taxes for all three required years and that your reported income meets thresholds consistently.

Criminal and Financial Background Requirements

Several automatic disqualifiers exist:

You cannot have been convicted of violent or sexual offenses against family members. This includes domestic violence charges, even if they occurred years ago or in other countries.

Current bankruptcy disqualifies you immediately. If you've previously declared bankruptcy, you must be fully discharged before applying.

Outstanding debts to the federal government create problems. This includes unpaid taxes, student loans in default, immigration loans, or employment insurance overpayments. Resolve these before submitting your application.

Being under a removal order obviously disqualifies you – you can't sponsor others while facing deportation yourself.

The Co-Signer Solution

If your income falls short, adding a co-signer might solve the problem. Your spouse or common-law partner can combine their income with yours to meet requirements.

However, co-signers accept equal responsibility for the 20-year undertaking. They must meet the same eligibility criteria as primary sponsors, including criminal background and financial requirements.

Choose co-signers carefully – their financial situation affects your application's success, and they're legally bound to the same long-term commitments you're making.

Who Can Be Sponsored: Parent and Grandparent Eligibility

The definition of eligible applicants seems simple but has important nuances. You can sponsor biological parents, adoptive parents, or grandparents. Step-parents qualify only if they were in a relationship with your biological parent when you became a permanent resident or citizen.

Age and Relationship Verification

No minimum age exists for sponsored parents, but you must prove the relationship conclusively. Birth certificates, adoption papers, and other official documents establish these connections.

For grandparents, documentation becomes more complex – you might need your parent's birth certificate plus your grandparent's documents to establish the chain of relationship.

Admissibility: The Hidden Obstacles

Even eligible relatives can be refused entry to Canada on various grounds. Understanding these helps you prepare for potential challenges.

Security and Criminal Concerns

Parents with criminal histories face scrutiny. Serious criminality (crimes that could result in 6+ months imprisonment in Canada) creates inadmissibility. This includes offenses committed decades ago or in other countries.

Minor criminal history doesn't automatically disqualify applicants, but full disclosure is essential. Hiding criminal records constitutes misrepresentation – a serious offense that can result in permanent bars from Canada.

Health Requirements

Medical examinations are mandatory, and certain health conditions can prevent admission. The key question is whether the condition might:

• Endanger public health or safety
• Cause excessive demand on health or social services

Common concerns include active tuberculosis, untreated syphilis, or conditions requiring expensive ongoing treatment. However, many health issues don't prevent admission – the assessment focuses on public risk and system burden rather than general health status.

Financial Inadmissibility

If parents seem likely to need social assistance immediately upon arrival, officers might refuse applications. This is where your financial undertaking becomes crucial – you're promising to support them, reducing the likelihood they'll burden public systems.

Strategic Application Timing: Your Submission Window

Success in the Parent and Grandparent Program often comes down to timing rather than qualifications. With limited spots and first-come, first-served processing, when you submit matters as much as what you submit.

The Critical December-January Window

Based on historical patterns, prepare your complete application package by mid-December 2018. The optimal submission window runs from December 27, 2018, through January 4, 2019.

Submitting too early (before the program officially opens) means your application gets returned. Submitting too late (after January 4) dramatically reduces your chances as spots fill rapidly.

Document Preparation Strategy

Start gathering documents months in advance. Some items take weeks to obtain, especially from other countries. Your package needs:

For Sponsors:

• Completed sponsorship application and agreement
• Notice of Assessment for three consecutive tax years
• Employment verification letters
• Proof of Canadian status (citizenship certificate or PR card)
• Identity documents

For Applicants (Parents/Grandparents):

• Completed permanent residence applications
• Birth certificates proving relationship to sponsor
• Police certificates from all countries where they've lived 6+ months since age 18
• Medical examination results
• Passport-style photographs
• Proof of funds (even though you're supporting them, they need to show some financial resources)

Common Documentation Mistakes

Missing signatures invalidate entire applications. Every form requires signatures in the right places – review multiple times before submitting.

Outdated forms cause automatic returns. Immigration forms change regularly; download fresh copies immediately before submission rather than using saved versions from months earlier.

Incorrect fees result in returned applications. Double-check current fee schedules and payment methods accepted.

The Application Process: Step-by-Step Timeline

Understanding the complete process helps you prepare for what's ahead and manage expectations about timing.

Phase 1: Initial Submission (January 2019)

Submit your sponsorship application with all required documents and fees. Applications go to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, for initial review.

Officers check completeness, verify eligibility, and confirm you're among the 20,500 accepted applications. If successful, you receive an acknowledgment letter with file numbers.

Phase 2: Sponsor Assessment (Months 2-6)

Immigration officers thoroughly review sponsor eligibility, including:

• Income verification through tax documents
• Criminal background checks
• Confirmation of undertaking understanding
• Review of any co-signer information

This phase can involve requests for additional documentation or clarification. Respond quickly to avoid delays.

Phase 3: Principal Applicant Processing (Months 6-24)

Once sponsor approval comes through, your parents' applications move to the appropriate visa office (usually in their country of residence).

This phase includes:

• Medical examinations at approved panel physicians
• Police certificate collection from all relevant countries
• Background verification and security checks
• Possible interviews at visa offices

Phase 4: Final Decision and Landing (Months 18-36)

Approved applicants receive Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) documents and entry visas. They must land in Canada before these documents expire, typically within one year of medical examination dates.

Upon landing, your parents become permanent residents with most of the same rights as Canadian citizens (except voting and running for office).

Financial Planning: Understanding the True Costs

Sponsoring parents involves significant financial commitments beyond the 20-year undertaking. Plan for both upfront costs and ongoing expenses.

Application Fees and Expenses

Government fees total several thousand dollars per application:

• Sponsorship fee: $75
• Principal applicant processing fee: $475
• Right of Permanent Residence fee: $490
• Additional fees for dependents if applicable

Add costs for medical examinations (typically $200-500 per person), police certificates ($50-200 per country), document translation, and courier services.

The 20-Year Financial Reality

Your undertaking amount depends on family size and location. For example, sponsoring two parents in Toronto requires proving you can support them at 130% of LICO – approximately $40,000+ annually for a family of five.

This doesn't mean you pay the government $40,000 yearly. Rather, you promise your total household income can support everyone without social assistance. However, if your parents do access benefits, you're responsible for repayment.

Planning for Success

Consider your parents' ages, health status, and likely expenses. Older parents might need more medical care, housing modifications, or personal support – costs not covered by basic healthcare.

Factor in potential income changes over 20 years. Job loss, illness, or economic downturns could affect your ability to meet undertaking obligations, but the commitment remains legally binding.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Learning from others' mistakes can save you months of delays and potential refusals.

Documentation Errors

Incomplete applications get returned automatically, costing you valuable time in the competitive process. Create checklists for every required document and have someone else review your package before submission.

Expired documents cause problems even after submission. Police certificates and medical exams have validity periods – time your applications so nothing expires during processing.

Income Calculation Mistakes

Many sponsors misunderstand LICO requirements or miscalculate family sizes. Include everyone you're legally responsible for: current household members, previous sponsorship commitments still active, and the parents you're now sponsoring.

Use gross income (before taxes) from your Notice of Assessment, not take-home pay. Include employment income, investment returns, rental income, and other sources reported to CRA.

Relationship Proof Problems

Adoption documents, name changes, and family situations can complicate relationship proof. If your parents' names on documents don't match exactly due to spelling variations or cultural naming conventions, provide explanations and supporting evidence.

For complex family situations (step-parents, adoption, name changes), consult immigration lawyers to ensure proper documentation.

What Happens After Approval

Success in the sponsorship process marks the beginning, not end, of your journey together in Canada.

Your Parents' Rights and Responsibilities

As permanent residents, your parents can:

• Live, work, or study anywhere in Canada
• Access healthcare coverage (after provincial waiting periods)
• Apply for Canadian citizenship after meeting residency requirements
• Travel freely with proper documentation

They must:

• Follow all Canadian laws
• File annual tax returns
• Maintain permanent resident status through residency obligations
• Inform immigration authorities of address changes

Your Ongoing Obligations

The 20-year undertaking continues regardless of changing circumstances. Divorce, job loss, or family disputes don't eliminate your legal responsibilities.

Keep detailed records of support provided – receipts, bank transfers, housing arrangements. If questions arise about undertaking compliance, documentation proves your commitment fulfillment.

Building New Lives Together

Many families find the transition challenging despite excitement about reunification. Your parents might struggle with language barriers, cultural differences, or social isolation.

Consider connecting them with community organizations, language classes, and social programs. Many cities have specific services for newcomer seniors, helping with everything from healthcare navigation to social activities.

Plan for practical needs: housing modifications for aging parents, transportation solutions if they don't drive, and healthcare coordination as they establish relationships with Canadian doctors.

Looking Beyond 2019: Future Considerations

Immigration policies evolve, and the Parent and Grandparent Program continues changing based on government priorities and program outcomes.

Potential Policy Changes

Recent years have seen various modifications: lottery systems, first-come first-served approaches, and changing income requirements. Stay informed about potential future changes that might affect renewal applications or additional family sponsorships.

Alternative Options

If you're unsuccessful in 2019, consider the Super Visa program as a temporary solution. This allows parents to visit for up to two years at a time with multiple entries over 10 years, though it doesn't provide permanent residence or healthcare coverage.

Long-term Family Planning

Think beyond just your parents – can you sponsor grandparents later? Are there siblings or other relatives you might want to bring to Canada? Understanding the broader immigration landscape helps with strategic family reunification planning.

The Parent and Grandparent Program represents one of Canada's most generous family reunification policies, but success requires careful preparation, strategic timing, and thorough understanding of complex requirements. With only 20,500 spots available and thousands of qualified applicants, attention to detail and early preparation make the difference between success and another year of separation.

Start your preparation now, gather documents methodically, and be ready to submit the moment applications open. Your family's future together in Canada depends on getting every detail right the first time.