Canada Accepts More Applications for Parents & Grandparents

The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) announced that IRCC will invite a record number of people to apply under the 2021 intake of the Program.

Under the 2021 intake of the program, IRCC will accept up to 30,000 additional applications. This additional allocation will lead to a record acceptance of 40,000 applications this year when added to 10,000 already received from the 2020 intake process.

IRCC will use the same process as used in previous years and will send invitations over the course of 2 weeks, starting the week of September 20, 2021 to the applicants who have already submitted an interest to sponsor form in 2020.

Those who are invited to apply will have 60 days to submit the application electronically using the new Permanent Resident Digital Intake tool.

In order to see whether selected, potential sponsors must check the relevant email account or may check the status online using the confirmation number. 

Those who wish to sponsor a parent or grandparent under PGP must be at least 18 years old, live in Canada, be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident or be a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act, and have enough money to support the people they want to sponsor.

As many Canadian families have experienced financial difficulties in the last year, IRCC will continue to implement a more facilitative income requirement to ensure that more people can apply. For the 2020 tax year, applicants are required to meet only minimum necessary income. Additionally, regular Employment Insurance benefits and temporary COVID-19 benefits are allowed to be included in the sponsor's income.

The sponsors who are not invited to apply may apply for a super visa. Super visa will allow a parent or grandparent to visit their children or grandchildren for up to 2 years at a time. It provides multiple entries for a period up to 10 years.