If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident hoping to bring your parents or grandparents to Canada, the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) may be one of the family immigration options you have heard about.
However, the program can be confusing because Canada limits how many applications it accepts, invitations are required, income requirements apply, and the rules can change from year to year.
As of August 2026, Canada has paused new intake for the Parents and Grandparents Program. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says it is not accepting new interest-to-sponsor forms or inviting new potential sponsors until further notice, although existing applications continue to be processed.
This guide explains Canada parent and grandparent sponsorship, including who can sponsor, income requirements, the application process, sponsorship responsibilities, and the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa as an alternative.
What Is Canada Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship?
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is a Canadian family sponsorship program that allows eligible Canadian citizens, permanent residents and registered Indians to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence in Canada.
Permanent residence is different from a visitor visa. If the sponsorship application is approved, the sponsored parent or grandparent can become a permanent resident and may eventually qualify to apply for Canadian citizenship if they meet the citizenship requirements.
The program is highly competitive because the number of people who want to sponsor their parents and grandparents is greater than the number of applications Canada can accept.
For this reason, simply meeting the eligibility requirements does not automatically mean that someone can submit a PGP application. An eligible person generally needs an invitation to apply.
Is the Parents and Grandparents Program Open in 2026?
This is one of the most important questions for anyone researching Canada parent sponsorship requirements.
As of August 2026, the PGP is paused. IRCC states that it will not accept new interest-to-sponsor forms or issue new invitations until further notice. Existing applications will continue to be processed.
Canada announced in July 2026 that it planned to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the PGP in 2026, while pausing new intake. The government said the decision was intended to help manage demand, processing times and immigration levels.
Therefore, anyone planning to sponsor a parent or grandparent should check the official IRCC website for the latest announcement before preparing an application.
The rules and intake dates can change, so information from an older blog post, social media video or forum may no longer be accurate.
Who Can Sponsor a Parent or Grandparent in Canada?
When the PGP is open and invitations are being issued, a potential sponsor must generally meet several conditions.
You must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
- Live in Canada.
- Have sufficient income to meet the program’s financial requirements.
- Be invited to apply.
- Meet the other requirements under Canada’s immigration laws.
Your primary residential address must be in Canada when you submit the application and while IRCC makes its decision.
There are also circumstances that can make someone ineligible. For example, certain outstanding financial obligations, undischarged bankruptcy, certain criminal convictions or receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability can affect eligibility.
The rules can be more complicated for people living in Quebec because Quebec has its own undertaking and immigration requirements.
Who Can You Sponsor?
The PGP is specifically designed for parents and grandparents.
Generally, you can sponsor your own biological or adopted parents and grandparents when you meet the program requirements.
Depending on the family situation, certain accompanying family members may also be included. For example, eligible family members can include a parent’s or grandparent’s spouse or common-law partner and certain dependent children.
One important point is that you cannot use your PGP invitation to sponsor your in-laws.
If you want to sponsor a spouse’s parent or grandparent, your spouse or partner must be the person who received the invitation and meets the relevant requirements.
Canada Parent Sponsorship Income Requirements
One of the most important parts of the Canada Parents and Grandparents sponsorship requirements is the sponsor’s income.
The government requires sponsors to demonstrate that they have enough income to financially support the people they are sponsoring.
Your required income depends partly on your family size. This means you do not simply count the parent or grandparent you want to sponsor. You may also need to consider yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, previously sponsored family members and the parents or grandparents included in the new application.
For the PGP, sponsors outside Quebec generally need to demonstrate that they met the required income level for each of the three consecutive tax years immediately before applying. A spouse or common-law partner may be able to co-sign and combine income with the sponsor.
For example, the 2025 intake assessed sponsors using income from the 2022, 2023 and 2024 tax years.
This is why keeping your Canadian tax records and Notices of Assessment is important if you hope to sponsor a parent or grandparent in the future.
IRCC generally uses information from the Canada Revenue Agency to assess income, with certain types of income excluded from the calculation.
Why Family Size Matters
Consider a simple example.
Suppose you are married, have two children and want to sponsor one parent. Your financial responsibility is not based only on the one parent you want to bring to Canada.
Your family-size calculation can include you, your spouse, your children, the person being sponsored and other people for whom you have existing sponsorship obligations.
A larger family size can mean a higher minimum income requirement.
Because the exact income thresholds can change, it is better to check the current IRCC income table rather than relying on figures copied from an old article.
What Is the Sponsorship Undertaking?
Sponsoring a parent or grandparent is a significant financial responsibility.
When you sign the sponsorship undertaking, you promise to provide financial support for the sponsored family members for a specific period.
For parents and grandparents, the federal undertaking period is generally 20 years. For sponsors living in Quebec, the undertaking period is generally 10 years.
This commitment is important because sponsorship is not simply a way to help a relative obtain permanent residence.
The sponsor may be responsible for supporting the sponsored person if they require certain forms of social assistance during the undertaking period.
For this reason, families should consider their long-term finances before accepting sponsorship obligations.
How Does the Canada Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Process Work?
When the program is open, the process generally involves several stages.
1. Submit an Interest to Sponsor Form
Potential sponsors first submit an interest-to-sponsor form during the intake period announced by IRCC.
Submitting an interest form does not guarantee an invitation.
2. Wait for an Invitation
IRCC selects potential sponsors and sends invitations to apply.
For the 2025 intake, IRCC invited people who had submitted an interest-to-sponsor form in 2020. It sent 17,860 invitations and aimed to accept 10,000 complete applications. The application deadline for that intake was October 9, 2025.
The exact process for any future intake may be different.
3. Prepare the Sponsorship Application
If invited, the sponsor must prepare the sponsorship application and provide evidence showing that they meet the requirements.
This can include proof of status in Canada, identity documents, family information, income evidence and other required forms.
4. Submit the Permanent Residence Application
The sponsored parent or grandparent also applies for permanent residence.
IRCC explains that there are two connected applications: the sponsorship application and the permanent residence application. They are submitted together through the appropriate online process when an applicant has received an invitation.
5. Complete Required Checks
IRCC may require medical examinations, police certificates, biometrics and other supporting documentation depending on the circumstances.
Applicants should follow the document checklist and instructions that apply to their particular application.
6. Wait for a Decision
IRCC assesses the sponsor and the people being sponsored.
If approved, the parent or grandparent can complete the steps necessary to become a permanent resident of Canada.
What If You Are Not Invited to Sponsor Your Parents?
This is where the Canada Parent and Grandparent Super Visa becomes especially important.
The Super Visa is not the same as PGP sponsorship.
The PGP is a pathway to permanent residence.
The Super Visa is a temporary resident visa designed to allow eligible parents and grandparents to visit their family in Canada for extended periods.
As of 2026, IRCC says eligible Super Visa holders can stay in Canada for up to five years at a time, subject to the applicable rules. The visa provides multiple entries for up to 10 years.
This can make the Super Visa an attractive option for families who want their parents or grandparents to spend substantial time in Canada but cannot currently use the PGP.
Canada Parent and Grandparent Super Visa Requirements
The Super Visa has its own eligibility requirements.
The Canadian host must generally be the applicant’s biological or adopted child or grandchild and must be:
- At least 18 years old.
- A Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian.
- Living in Canada.
- Able to meet the applicable income requirement.
- Willing to provide a signed invitation letter.
The parent or grandparent applying for the Super Visa must also meet immigration requirements.
For example, the applicant must generally apply from outside Canada, complete an immigration medical examination and have the required private health insurance.
The Super Visa applicant must also satisfy the officer that they meet the requirements for temporary entry to Canada.
Super Visa Income Rules Changed in 2026
Canada changed how income is calculated for Parent and Grandparent Super Visa applications beginning March 31, 2026.
The changes are intended to make the income calculation more accessible while maintaining financial-support requirements. Under the updated rules, certain income from the parent or grandparent applicant can be considered in meeting the financial requirement when the applicable conditions are satisfied.
Because these rules are relatively recent, applicants should use the current IRCC guidance when calculating family size and required income.
PGP vs Super Visa: Which Is Better?
There is no single answer because the two programs serve different purposes.
Parents and Grandparents Program:
- Leads to permanent residence if approved.
- Requires an invitation when the program is operating under the applicable intake system.
- Has significant income and sponsorship requirements.
- Includes a long-term financial undertaking.
- Intake is currently paused as of August 2026.
Super Visa:
- Is a temporary residence option.
- Does not provide permanent residence by itself.
- Can allow eligible parents and grandparents to stay for up to five years at a time.
- Requires medical and private health insurance requirements.
- Can be an option while PGP intake is unavailable or while an eligible family explores its longer-term options.
For many families, the practical question is not simply “Which program is better?” but rather “Do we need permanent immigration, or do we mainly want extended family visits?”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Families researching how to sponsor parents in Canada should be careful about several common mistakes.
Relying on Old Information
Immigration rules can change quickly. An article written several years ago may list an intake date, income threshold or application procedure that no longer applies.
Always compare online information with current IRCC guidance.
Assuming an Interest Form Guarantees an Invitation
An interest-to-sponsor form is not the same as an invitation to apply.
When the program uses an invitation system, you must receive an invitation before submitting a PGP application.
Ignoring the Income Requirement
A sponsor should review their tax history before assuming they qualify.
Income requirements are based on family size and, for the federal program, generally involve multiple previous tax years.
Confusing the PGP With the Super Visa
The PGP and Super Visa have different purposes.
The PGP is a permanent residence sponsorship program, while the Super Visa is a temporary visitor pathway.
Forgetting the Long-Term Financial Commitment
A sponsorship undertaking can last for many years.
Before sponsoring a parent or grandparent, consider whether your household can realistically meet the financial responsibilities involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sponsor my parents to Canada in 2026?
As of August 2026, Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program is paused. IRCC is not accepting new interest-to-sponsor forms or inviting new potential sponsors until further notice. Existing applications continue to be processed.
Can permanent residents sponsor their parents?
Yes. Eligible Canadian permanent residents can sponsor parents and grandparents when the PGP is open, provided they meet the other requirements and receive an invitation to apply.
How much income do I need to sponsor my parents in Canada?
The required income depends on factors including your family size and the applicable intake year. Sponsors generally need to demonstrate the required income for three consecutive tax years before applying, although Quebec has different rules.
Can I sponsor my in-laws?
You cannot use your own PGP invitation to sponsor your in-laws. Your spouse or partner must be the person who received the invitation and must meet the applicable requirements.
Can my parents visit Canada while waiting for sponsorship?
Potentially, yes. Eligible parents and grandparents may apply for a Super Visa while a sponsorship application is being processed.
How long can parents stay in Canada on a Super Visa?
Eligible Super Visa holders can generally stay for up to five years at a time under the current rules, subject to their authorized status and applicable requirements.