Canada Changes Income Rules for Parent, Grandparent Sponsorship

Canada has changed the minimum income needed to sponsor parents or grandparents in 2025.

People who want to bring their parents or grandparents must meet the new income levels. These apply under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).

The required income for 2024 is now $47,549 for a family of two. That’s about $3,000 more than the year before.

Income Must Be Met for Three Years

To apply in 2025, sponsors must meet the income limit for 2024, 2023, and 2022.

The more people in your family, the more income you need. Here’s a breakdown of the required amounts:

Family Size and Income Needed

• 2 people: $47,549 (2024), $44,530 (2023), $43,082 (2022)
  
• 3 people: $58,456, $54,743, $52,965
  
• 4 people: $70,972, $66,466, $64,306
  
• 5 people: $80,496, $75,384, $72,935
  
• 6 people: $90,784, $85,020, $82,259
  
• 7 people: $101,075, $94,658, $91,582
  
• Each extra person: Add around $10,000 more per year
  

You can apply alone or with your spouse or common-law partner. Their income can count too.

How to Count Family Size

You must include everyone you support financially. Not just the people you’re sponsoring. Here’s who to count:

• Yourself
  
• Your spouse or partner (even if separated)
  
• Any dependent children
  
• Sponsored people and their families
  
• Past family members you’ve sponsored
  

You also need to include family members of the people you plan to sponsor—even if they won’t move to Canada.

Invitations to Apply Coming Soon

Starting July 28, 2025, the government will begin sending invitations to apply for the PGP.

The invitations will go out over two weeks. A total of 17,860 invitations will be sent.

The goal is to approve 10,000 applications this year.

Only those who submitted their interest in 2020 will be considered. The process is done through a lottery system.

More About the PGP Program

The PGP helps families reunite. It allows citizens, permanent residents, or registered Indians to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residency.

You can only apply after receiving an invitation. The last time people could show interest was in 2020.

Super Visa Is Another Option

If you didn’t fill out a 2020 form, you can consider the super visa.

This visa lets parents or grandparents visit for up to 10 years. They can stay up to 5 years at a time.

To apply, sponsors must show enough income. Applicants also need health insurance and valid travel documents.