Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed that a significant opportunity is on the horizon for many Canadian citizens and permanent residents eager to reunite with their families in Canada. The popular Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) will officially begin its new invitation process on July 28, 2025.

According to the official announcement, this invitation round will span two weeks. During this time, the federal government will randomly select and issue a total of 17,860 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). The ultimate goal is to process and approve 10,000 complete and compliant application packages, helping these fortunate families fulfill their dream of having their parents or grandparents obtain permanent resident status in Canada.

Key Detail: Invitation Pool Remains Limited to 2020 Candidates

A critical detail from this announcement is that all invitations will be sent exclusively to potential sponsors who submitted an "Interest to Sponsor Form" back in 2020. The program has not reopened its intake for new expressions of interest since that brief window in 2020. This means that Canadian citizens and permanent residents who developed an interest in sponsoring after 2020 and were unable to submit a form will not be eligible to participate in this draw.

This decision underscores the significant imbalance between the program's immense demand and its limited spots. Due to the large backlog of interested sponsors, the government utilizes a lottery system to ensure fairness in the selection process. Only sponsors who receive an official Invitation to Apply are eligible to formally submit an immigration application for their parents or grandparents.

Program Background: A Key Pathway to Permanent Residency for Family Reunification

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is a cornerstone of Canada’s immigration system, serving as a core family reunification pathway. It allows eligible Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and persons registered as Indians under the Canadian Indian Act to sponsor their parents or grandparents from abroad for permanent residency, enabling them to live out their later years in Canada.

The Alternative: Super Visa Offers a Long-Term Visiting Option

For those who do not receive an invitation in this round, or who never had the chance to enter the sponsorship pool, the federal government continues to promote the Super Visa as a viable alternative.

The Super Visa is not a permanent residency program but rather a long-term, multi-entry temporary resident visa with significant advantages. Unlike a standard visitor visa, which typically grants a stay of up to only six months, the Super Visa allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for a much longer continuous period and can be valid for up to 10 years. This provides families with substantial flexibility for extended reunions in Canada.

To apply for a Super Visa, specific conditions must be met:

• The applicant (the parent or grandparent) must purchase qualifying medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company and be admissible to Canada, which includes passing medical and security checks.
• The host in Canada (the child or grandchild) must provide a written promise of financial support and prove that their household income meets the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) threshold.