Great news for families looking to reunite in Canada! The Canadian government has raised the number of applications it will accept under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in 2025.
What’s Changing?
- Canada will now accept up to 25,000 sponsorship applications for processing in 2025.
- Some of these will be applications from the 2024 intake, while others will be new ones from 2025.
- Initially, the government planned to process only 15,000 applications and was not going to accept any new ones in 2025. This decision has now been reversed!
- Invitations to Apply (ITA) will be sent to those who submitted interest in 2020 but have not yet received an invitation.
What is the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)?
The PGP allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residency (PR).
Since the number of applications is much higher than the available spots, Canada uses a lottery system to select sponsors. The last time the program accepted new applicants was in 2020, and all invitations since then have been sent to those who applied in that year.
Alternative Option: The Super Visa
If you don’t get selected for the PGP, don’t worry! There’s another way for parents and grandparents to visit Canada for long periods—the Super Visa.
- The Super Visa is a multiple-entry visa valid for 10 years.
- It allows parents or grandparents to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time.
- Unlike a regular visitor visa, which allows a 6-month stay, the Super Visa lets families be together for much longer.
- Applicants must have private health insurance for their stay.
1. Who can apply for the PGP?
Any Canadian citizen or permanent resident who submitted an interest-to-sponsor form in 2020 and has not yet received an invitation can still be selected.
2. How does the lottery system work?
The Canadian government randomly selects eligible sponsors who applied in 2020 and sends them an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
3. What if I was not selected in 2020?
If you applied in 2020 and did not get an invitation yet, you might still receive one in 2025.
4. Can I apply for the PGP if I didn’t submit in 2020?
No, the current intake is only for those who applied in 2020. However, you can consider the Super Visa for long-term visits.
5. What is the difference between the PGP and the Super Visa?
- PGP: Grants permanent residency to parents or grandparents.
- Super Visa: Allows long-term visits (up to 5 years at a time) but does not provide permanent residency.
6. When will Canada open a new intake for PGP applications?
The government has not announced when it will accept new applications beyond those from 2020.
Final Thoughts
If you are hoping to bring your parents or grandparents to Canada permanently, this increase in application spots is great news! However, since it is still a lottery system, there’s no guarantee of selection. The Super Visa remains an excellent alternative for long-term visits.
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