Yesterday, on 10 October, Canada started the lottery for the Parents & Grandparents Program (PGP) 2023. The Department of IRCC, i.e., Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, plans to send around 24,200 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) between 10 and 23 October to the interested eligible sponsors. 

IRCC will randomly select the potential sponsors to send these invitations who are in the remaining pool of submissions from 2020. This time, IRCC expects to obtain 15,000 complete applications. 

It’s good news for the individuals who had submitted an interest to sponsor form to sponsor their Parents or Grandparents in 2020 but didn’t get an ITA for the Parents and Grandparents Program in 2021 and 2022. If you have also submitted an interest to sponsor form previously, ensure to keep checking the email address that you provided at the time of submission of the interest to sponsor form in 2020. Also, make sure to check your spam folder in your emails as well, since the IRCC’s invitation to apply may have landed up there. 

What are the Eligibility Criteria for the PGP 

For the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), one important eligibility factor is the MNI. 

MNI stands for the Minimum Necessary Income. It demonstrates that a PGP sponsor is financially capable of supporting the individuals they are inviting to Canada through the PGP- Parents and Grandparents Program. 

Notably, the eligible MNI changes every year and also differs for the number of sponsored individuals. For instance, the MNI for the last year for two persons was $43,082, and for three persons was $52,965. The MNI for 2021 for two persons was $32,898, and for three persons was $40,444. 

Except for Quebec, Sponsors in every province or territory who receive an invitation to apply are required to submit the Notices of Assessment provided by CRA, i.e., Canada Revenue Agency, for the three taxation years. This must be done immediately prior to submitting the applications. 

If sponsors live in Quebec and desire to invite their parents or grandparents under the PGP, their income is evaluated by the immigration ministry of Quebec as per the provincial income requirements. Interested sponsor is also required to submit a signed undertaking to both IRCC and the Quebec government. 

Note that except for Quebec, the duration of the Parent and Grandparent program undertaken in all provinces is 20 years. In Quebec, the undertaking duration for the PGP is ten years. 

If you do not receive an invitation to apply for the PGP this year, you have another option- the Super Visa. 

What is a Super Visa in Canada? 

The Super Visa in Canada is a temporary visa that permits parents and grandparents living abroad to visit their family in Canada. Canadian citizens, as well as Canadian Permanent residents who desire to bring their parents & grandparents to Canada from overseas, can take advantage of the Super Visa. The Super Visa allows them to enter Canada for a maximum of five years in a row without requiring them to renew their visitor status. 

Individuals who hold Canada’s Super Visa are allowed to come to Canada several times for as long as ten years. Also, individuals who already have a super visa are also permitted to apply for a visa extension. This permits them to remain in Canada as a visitor for a period of Seven years. 

Having a super visa is advantageous for interested individuals as it does not use a lottery system to invite candidates. It is provided throughout the year to the eligible candidates. 

The Eligibility Criteria for the Super Visa 

The following are the eligibility criteria that candidates must satisfy to obtain a Super Visa. 

  • They must be a parent or grandparent of a Canadian permanent resident or Canadian citizen. They must not be restricted from entering Canada due to their health or criminality status. 
  • They must demonstrate that they are able to satisfy the income requirements specified by the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) 
  • They must submit proof of their medical insurance coverage. This must be of a minimum of one year and with the Canadian insurance company. 
  • They must submit a signed letter from their child or grandchild inviting them to Canada. This must also include a pledge of monetary assistance for the total duration of their visit as well as the list of total individuals in this person’s home.