Grandparent Sponsorship: Parents and Grandparents Program/Super Visa
Learn about the process of sponsoring your grandparents to Canada. If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident you may qualify for sponsoring your grandparents to live in Canada.
Canada believes in immigrants and their families to be together in Canada which is why they pride themselves on family reunification. Currently, there are two programs that allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their grandparents to live in Canada:
- the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
- and/or the Super Visa Program
Am I Eligible to Sponsor a Grandparent?
Find out if you meet the income requirements:
Before you apply, find out how much money you need to sponsor your parents and grandparents. You’ll have to prove you have this income in your application.
You can sponsor your own parents and grandparents if:
- you’re at least 18 years old
- you live in Canada
- you’re a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
- you have enough money to support the persons you want to sponsor
- To show that you have enough, you’ll have to provide your proof of income.
If You Live Outside Quebec
To become a sponsor, you must promise to financially take care of the persons you are sponsoring for a period of time. This promise an undertaking.
The undertaking commits you to:
- providing financial support for your sponsored family members for 20 years, starting when they become permanent residents
- repaying any provincial social assistance (money from the government) your sponsored family members get during that time
Also, you and your sponsored family members need to agree to certain responsibilities during the undertaking period. We call this the sponsorship agreement.
The sponsorship agreement means that:
- you’ll provide for the basic needs of your sponsored family members
- the person you sponsor will make every effort to support themselves and their family members
When you apply, you’ll have to complete and sign a form that includes the undertaking and the sponsorship agreement.
If You Live in Quebec
You must meet Quebec’s immigration sponsorship requirements after we approve of you as a sponsor. The Quebec ministry in charge of immigration will assess your income.
You must also sign an undertaking with the province of Quebec.
Who Can't Sponsor a Grandparent
You can’t sponsor your grandparents if:
- you’re less than 18 years old
- you won’t live in Canada when you apply to sponsor your parents and grandparents and/or when your parents and grandparents become permanent residents
- Your primary residential address must be in Canada when you submit your application and until we make a decision on your application.
- you’re not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
- you’re a temporary resident, that is you’re visiting, studying or working in Canada on a visa or permit
- your permanent residence application is still in the process
- You must have permanent resident status at the time you submit your sponsorship application.
- your proof of income shows you don’t have enough money to support the persons you want to sponsor
You may not be eligible to sponsor your grandparents if you:
- are in jail, prison, or penitentiary
- didn’t pay back:
- an immigration loan
- a performance bond
- court-ordered family support payments such as alimony or child support
- didn’t give the financial support you agreed to when you signed a sponsorship agreement to sponsor someone else in the past
- declared bankruptcy and are not discharged
- receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability
- were convicted of a violent criminal offense, any offense against a relative or any sexual offense inside or outside Canada
- can’t legally stay in Canada and must leave the country because you received a Removal Order
There may be other reasons that make you ineligible to sponsor your parents and grandparents which is why it is best to consult with an immigration lawyer to determine your eligibility.
Who You Can Sponsor for Grandparent Sponsorship
You can sponsor your own grandparents, related by blood or adoption. In the case of divorce or separation, you can sponsor your grandparents’ spouses or conjugal or common-law partners.
You may sponsor more than 1 person or couple if you meet the income requirements for all the people you want to sponsor and their dependents (spouse, partner, and children).
The people you sponsor must also be eligible.
To show they meet the eligibility requirements, your grandparents and their dependents must provide:
- all required forms and documents with their application
- any additional information we request during processing, including:
How to Apply to the PGP Step by Step
- Submit the interest to Sponsor Form
- Get an Invitation to Submit a Complete Application
- Get the Application Package
- Pay Your Application Fees
- Submit your Application
- Send in Additional Information During Processing
1. Submit the Interest to Sponsor Form
The first step to sponsor your parents or grandparents is filling out the interest to sponsor form. After you successfully submitted the interest to sponsor form, you saw a page with your confirmation number. Keep this number for your records. You can use it later to check if you have been invited to apply. The IRCC will invite potential sponsors to submit a complete application in the same order they received the interest to sponsor forms. They will start sending invitations after we review the submissions and remove duplicates. Use your confirmation number to find out if you’re invited to apply.
They will invite potential sponsors by email. To make sure you don’t miss their email:
- Check the same email account you used on the interest to sponsor form.
- Check the junk mail folder to see if the email from the IRCC is there.
- Let them know if your email address has changed.
The interest to sponsor form for 2019 is closed. The IRCC has already received enough interest to sponsor forms for 2019. They may open the interest to sponsor form again in 2019 if they need more potential sponsors. If they open the form again, it will be announced on their main website and on their social media: Twitter account and Facebook page
2. Find Out If You're Invited to Apply to Sponsor a Grandparent
Rounds of invitations
When the IRCC invites a group of potential sponsors to submit a complete application, it is called a round of invitations. Depending on the number of complete applications they receive, they may do more than 1 round of invitations.
If You’re Invited to Submit a Complete Application
The IRCC must receive your complete application within 60 days. The exact deadline will be specified in your invitation.
If you mail your application and they receive it after the deadline, they’ll return it to you. You can’t delay your invitation and apply later. You won’t get another invitation.
When you’re invited to apply, you’re automatically removed from the list of potential sponsors. If you’re invited this year but you change your mind at the time you receive your invitation, you’ll have to submit another interest to sponsor form if you want to sponsor your grandparents again next year.
If You’re Not Invited to Apply
We may do more than 1 round of invitations, depending on how many complete applications we receive at each round.
3. Get the application package
To avoid using outdated forms, don’t prepare your application before you’re invited to submit a complete application.
The application package includes the:
- document checklist for you and the persons you want to sponsor
- forms you and the persons you want to sponsor need to fill out
- instruction guide to help you and your family members fill out the forms correctly
Read the guide carefully before you complete the application form. The sponsorship application fee for processing your form can’t be refunded.
Make sure:
- you’re eligible to sponsor before you apply
- you list all your family members
- all the information on your application is true
- your application is complete
If you live in Quebec, find out the steps to take to sponsor your parents and grandparents in Quebec.
4. Pay Your Application Fees
In most cases, your fees will include:
- processing fees for you, the persons you’re sponsoring and their dependents
- the Right of Permanent Residence Fee
- the biometrics fee
You have to pay your fees online.
Biometrics Fee
In most cases, you must pay a biometrics fee when you submit your application. Otherwise, you may experience delays. The biometrics fee covers the cost of collecting fingerprints and a digital photo.
Third-party Fees
Depending on your situation, you may need to pay third parties for:
The instruction guide can help you understand which fees apply to you and show you how to pay them.
5. Submit Your Grandparent Sponsorship Application
We must receive your complete application within 60 days. The deadline is specified in your invitation.
The mailing instructions are in the application guide.
You may use a courier service to submit your application if you want to. Courier services will help you track your application. You can also use regular mail.
Find out how long it will take to process your application.
They’ll return your application to you if:
- it’s incomplete
- fees are missing
- you weren’t invited to submit a complete application
- we didn’t receive it within the deadline specified in your invitation
6. Send Additional Information During Processing
During processing, they’ll ask the person you’re sponsoring to submit their:
- biometrics
- When the biometrics fee is paid, they’ll send your family members a letter asking them to give their biometrics.
- Your family members must show this letter when they give their biometrics.
- They have 30 days to give their biometrics in person at their closest collection point.
- medical exams
- police certificates
Year
# of Immigrants Receiving PR Through Grandparent Sponsorship
2020
21,000
2021
21,000
2022
21,000
Super Visa for Grandparents Process
Get Your Documents Ready
Before you apply for a super visa, you need:
- a letter of invitation from your grandchild who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada that includes:
- a promise of financial support for the duration of your visit
- the list and number of people in the household of this person
- a copy of this person’s Canadian citizenship or permanent resident document
- proof that your grandchild’s household meets the minimum necessary income; examples include:
- Notice of Assessment (NOA) or T4/T1 for the most recent tax year
- Employment Insurance stubs
- employment letter including salary and date of hire
- pay stubs
- bank statements
- proof of payment for medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company that is:
- valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry
- at least $100,000 coverage
- a document confirming that you had an immigration medical exam
Apply for a Super Visa
You must apply for a super visa from outside Canada. You can apply online or on paper.
Applying Online
To apply online, you need a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents, and a valid credit or debit card.
- Read the instruction guide before you complete your application.
- You must pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application. Otherwise, you may experience delays.
Applying on Paper
Get the Application Package
The application package includes an instruction guide and all the forms you need to fill out.
Read the guide carefully before you complete your application. We will not refund your application fee, so make sure you need a visitor visa before you apply.
For a super visa, you need to use the visitor visa guide and application form. Make sure you choose super visa from the list of options on the form.
Pay Your Application Fees
In most countries, application fees must be paid in Canadian dollars.
If you apply on paper at a VAC, you will also have to pay the VAC service fees. These fees are not already included in your application fees.
Submit Your Application
Families should send their individual applications in one package. The principal applicant must send this combined package to the location where their application will be processed.
For more information on Super Visa Sponsorship visit our page on Super Visas.
Why Legal Help for Grandparent Sponsorship is Important
Although the government prioritizes the processing of sponsorship applications, being successful is by no means a given. All of the requirements must be met, and even the slightest error on an application can lead to a refusal. In order to take advantage of this great opportunity, individuals should enlist the help of a legal professional who knows how to send a package that will provide an applicant with the best chance to be sponsored.
Why Hire Us to Assist Your Grandparent Sponsorship Case?
With over 15 years of experience specializing in helping to reunite families from across the world, we know what immigration officers are looking for when reviewing a sponsorship application. We have helped thousands of individuals to successfully get Canadian permanent residence through family sponsorship, and we can help you too!
Make it happen!
Book a consultation and start your immigration process now!