SPONSOR YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS
How does the Parents and Grandparents Program work?
The Parents and Grandparents sponsorship program opens for a limited time when announced by Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). During this window, interested sponsors may submit an expression of interest to sponsor. These submissions will be reviewed by IRCC, and potential sponsors will then receive an invitation to submit a complete application. Once received, these applications will be processed for permanent residency.
NOTE: This program was paused as of July 15, 2026. IRCC is not accepting new interest-to-sponsor forms or inviting potential sponsors until further notice, but continues to process existing applications. As an alternative, you may consider applying for a Super Visa instead.
What financial support do you need to provide your parents and grandparents?
You must be able to show that you have the financial capability to support your parents’ and grandparents’ living expenses including basic needs and health needs not covered by public health insurance. The length of undertaking (the period for which you are financially responsible for them) is 20 years from the day they land in Canada.
How many applications are accepted every year?
IRCC determines this every year. For reference, in 2023 the cap was 15,000 applications. In 2024, the cap was 20,500 applications. And in 2025, the cap was 10,000 applications.
How can I bring my parents and grandparents to Canada if the application window is already closed?
You may let your parents and grandparents apply for a Super Visa instead. The Super Visa allows them to stay in Canada as temporary residents up to 5 years at a time.
How long is the processing time and what are the processing fees?
Processing time for Parent and Grandparent sponsorships is approximately 20-24 months from the day a complete application is accepted by the visa office. This may change based on the volume of applications being processed.
Processing fees depend on the number of applicants in the application. You can view the complete and updated list of IRCC fees here.
What are the key considerations in submitting an application?
The requirements might look simple on paper, but often applications are rejected because the documents submitted were inaccurate, incomplete, or non-compliant. Here are some key considerations when applying to sponsor parents and grandparents to Canada:
- How do you show your ability to support your parents and grandparents financially?
- How do you correctly compute the minimum annual income you need to show based on the size of your household?
- Who can help you with your undertaking, which is your pledge to financially support your parents and grandparents?
LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN.
We have the experience and expertise to ensure you comply with sponsorship requirements and file your strongest sponsorship application possible.
We firmly believe that our clients’ success is our success. We commit to ensuring that each application package is accurate, complete, and at its strongest to avoid delays and errors that waste your time and resources.
