Canada Reopens Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program for 2025

The federal government has officially reopened the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for 2025. Starting July 28, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will begin issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to Canadian citizens and permanent residents who want to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residency in Canada.

Who Will Receive an Invitation?

IRCC will send 17,860 invitations over the next two weeks. The goal is to accept 10,000 complete sponsorship applications.

To qualify for an ITA under this year’s intake, you must have:

• Submitted a valid interest-to-sponsor form in 2020, and
• Not received an ITA between 2020 and 2024.
  
  

Invitations are selected by lottery and will be sent to the email address used in the original 2020 submission.

Keep in mind: Receiving an invitation does not mean you automatically qualify as a sponsor. You must still meet all eligibility criteria during the application process.

Application Process Overview

Once you receive an ITA, you must complete two applications:

1. Sponsorship Application – Completed by the Canadian sponsor.
2. Permanent Residence Application – Completed by the parent(s) or grandparent(s) being sponsored.
   
   

Both applications must be submitted online using IRCC’s Permanent Residence Portal. If you’re using a paid representative, they will use the Representative PR Portal.

If multiple parents or grandparents are applying separately, each one must create their own portal account.

IRCC can also accommodate special cases where the applicant cannot apply online.

Required Forms and Documents

For the Person Being Sponsored (Principal Applicant):

• IMM 0008 – Generic Application Form for Canada
• IMM 5669 – Schedule A – Background/Declaration
• IMM 5406 – Additional Family Information
• IMM 5562 – Supplementary Information – Your Travels
• IMM 5476 – Use of a Representative (if applicable)
• IMM 5409 – Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (if applicable)
  
  

For the Sponsor:

• IMM 5771 – Document Checklist
• IMM 1344 – Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking
• IMM 5768 – Financial Evaluation Form
• IMM 5748 – Income Sources for Sponsorship (if applicable)

You can refer to Instruction Guide IMM 5772 for detailed steps on completing the forms correctly.

All completed forms must be uploaded to the PR portal. The sponsored person must electronically sign and submit the application on behalf of themselves and their dependents.

Application Fees

Fees must be paid online and include:

You may also need to pay third-party fees for:

• Medical exams
• Police certificates
  
  

Submitting the Online Application

Before submission, make sure to:

• Complete all mandatory fields;
• Sign the application electronically;
• Upload all documents and receipts;
• Attach a copy of the Invitation to Apply (ITA) letter.

If any information is missing, IRCC will give you 30 days to respond. If you don’t, the application will be returned.

After submitting, you can:

• Track the application online;
• Update information about the sponsor or the applicant.
  
  

What Happens After Submission?

You may be asked to provide the following:

Medical Exams
Instructions will be provided after submitting the complete PR application.

Police Certificates
Must be valid and recent. If the application process takes longer, new certificates may be required.

Biometrics
Applies to applicants aged 14 to 79. IRCC will send a biometrics instruction letter, and applicants will have 30 days to complete this step.

Important Reminders

Your application may be returned if:

• It is incomplete;
• Fees are unpaid;
• You were not invited to apply;
• You missed the deadline on your ITA letter.

It is important to keep your information up to date throughout the process. Use IRCC’s web form to notify any changes.

Conclusion

The Parents and Grandparents Program offers Canadian families the opportunity to reunite with loved ones. If you submitted an interest form in 2020 and have not yet been selected, this could be your chance. Watch your email closely and follow all IRCC instructions carefully to submit a complete application.