Canada Opens Applications for Parents and Grandparents Visa

The federal government begins sending invitations to apply (ITAs) for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) starting July 28. Permanent residents and Canadian citizens who want to sponsor their parents or grandparents will be chosen through a random lottery.

Only those who submitted an interest-to-sponsor form in 2020 and didn’t get selected in past years (2020–2024) will receive invitations this year.

Immigration officials plan to send 17,860 invitations. Their goal is to approve 10,000 full applications for permanent residency through this program.

Who Can Apply?

You can only apply if:

• You sent your interest-to-sponsor form in 2020
  
• You haven’t received an invitation in earlier rounds
  

How to Apply

If you get an invitation, there are two parts to the application:

1. Sponsorship Application – You apply to sponsor
   
2. Permanent Residence Application – Your parents or grandparents apply
   

Both applications must be submitted online using the Permanent Residence (PR) Portal. If someone is helping you (like a paid representative), they must use a special version of the PR Portal.

Every principal applicant (each parent or grandparent applying) must have their own PR Portal account. If they cannot apply online, special help may be available.

Forms You Must Fill Out

Here’s what you need:

For the person being sponsored:

• Application form
  
• Background declaration
  
• Family details
  
• Travel history
  

For the sponsor:

• Sponsorship agreement
  
• Document checklist
  
• Financial evaluation
  
• Proof of income sources
  
• Other forms depending on your situation
  

If your parent or grandparent has a spouse or dependent child, they also need to complete some forms. Make sure all required documents are uploaded and signed properly.

Proof of Status

If you're a Canadian citizen, you must provide proof of citizenship.

Fees You Must Pay

All fees are to be paid online. Here's a breakdown:

• Sponsorship fee: $85
  
• Application fee for the principal applicant: $545
  
• Right of permanent residence fee: $575
  

Total: $1,205

If you're including a spouse, child, or not paying the right of permanent residence fee, your total will change.

You might also need to pay extra for:

• Medical exams
  
• Police checks
  

Submitting Your Application

Before clicking submit, make sure:

• All questions are answered
  
• All documents are uploaded
  
• You’ve signed everything with your full name
  
• Your ITA letter and fee receipt are attached
  

If anything is missing, you’ll have 30 days to fix it. If not, your application will be rejected.

After You Apply

You may need to:

• Complete a medical exam
  
• Submit a police certificate
  
• Provide biometrics (fingerprints and photo)
  

You must update any changes in your or your family’s details using the online web form.

Check your status regularly and respond quickly if officials ask for more information.