Are you wondering if you can sponsor parents to Canada?
If you are a Canadian citizen or a Canadian Permanent Resident, the answer is YES!
In order to sponsor parents to Canada, you need approval under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). Once approved, they can live in Canada and eventually apply for Canadian citizenship.
Last year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a PGP draw and invited 30,000 Canadians and Permanent Residents to submit sponsorship applications for their families abroad.
How can I Submit a Sponsorship Application?
In order to sponsor your parents abroad, you will need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada;
- Be at least 18 years old;
- Be in Canada;
- Be able to provide proof that you exceed the minimum necessary income level required for the program;
- Sign an undertaking that you will financially support your sponsored family in Canada for 20 years and repay any social assistance paid to the sponsored family member.
PGP: Minimum Necessary Income
To be able to sponsor your parents, one of the requirements is to exceed the minimum necessary income requires by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The purpose of this requirements is to ensure that you are beyond capable of providing for your needs and the needs of your family members that you wish to sponsor.
For the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), you must have exceeded the minimum necessary income for at least three (3) years before you submit your application.
Sponsoring your Parents in Quebec
If you are in Quebec, apart from the abovementioned eligibility requirements, you must also meet the eligibility requirements set by the province.
Aside form signing an undertaking to the federal government that you can financially support your sponsored family member, you will also need to provide a separate undertaking to the province of Quebec.
Additionally, the minimum necessary income in Quebec is separate from the rest of the country.
What if I’m not Eligible to Sponsor my Parents through the PGP?
If you are not eligible to sponsor parents to Canada through the PGP, you can always turn to a Super Visa.
A Super Visa is an alternative to the Parents and Grandparents Program, and does not require you to wait for a PGP Draw. It allows parents and grandparents of Canadians and Canadian Permanent Residents to enter Canada for up to five (5) consecutive years without the need to renew their visa.
What are the Super Visa Eligibility Requirements?
Under the PGP, the sponsor must be the one to submit an application. However, for a Super Visa, the parent or grandparent of the Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident must be the one to apply.
To apply, the following requirements must be met:
1. Signed invitation letter from the Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident that includes the following information:
– promise of financial support throughout the parents or grandparents stay.
– list of people residing in the household where the parents or grandparents will stay.
– a copy of the Canadian citizenship or permanent resident document.
– a document that guarantees at least $100,000 of emergency coverage.
– proof of medical insurance.
2. Proof that Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident meets the income requirements.
If you want to know more about how you can sponsor your parents or grandparents to Canada, consult with us today.
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