Canada's Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program 2025: Key Details

Canada has a rich history of success when it comes to family reunification, and one program that has remained at the helm of this philosophy is the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program (PGP). Used by Canadian citizens and permanent residents to invite their parents and grandparents into the country to live as permanent residents, the PGP is popular every year. In 2025, the program was officially launched, and it brought new hopes and opportunities to many families who were willing to reunite in Canada. This definitive guide will take you through everything that you need to know about the 2025 intake, including who will be able to apply, what will be expected of them, and when they need to apply by.

The Preamble of the 2025 PGP Intake

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has begun to issue the invitation to apply (ITA) under the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program 2025 on July 28, 2025. The intake will particularly take place among those who have manifested their interest in sponsoring their immediate family members by submitting interest-to-sponsor forms in 2020 and have not yet been invited in any of the draws that have been conducted from 2020 to 2024. This will serve to give the already waiting people a fair opportunity to make their applications.

After two weeks, 17,860 ITAs will be issued by way of a lottery process. The desired outcome of the department is to accept 10,000 complete applications through this intake, and this will go to show the commitment of Canada to the program of family reunification, even though the program has witnessed a lot of demand.

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The Application Process: A Two-Fold Approach

The process of applying for PGP is very detailed, and careful consideration needs to be paid by the sponsor in Canada and the parents/ grandparents applying to become permanent residents.

The first step is where the Canadian citizen or permanent resident makes an application regarding sponsorship. The app shows that they intend to sponsor their particular family members financially, for a given time duration of 20 years, or sometimes, based on the province they reside in. This is a legally binding undertaking, which means that the role of sponsors takes on a great responsibility. The sponsorship application needs to be filled in online, which makes the process simpler and available to applicants in different places.

Permanent Residence: Parents and Grandparents Online Application

At the same time, or right after the sponsorship application, the parents or the grandparents are required to file their own application to become permanent residents. This section of the application needs provisions of detailed personal details, their background in the details, and links that show their relationship with the sponsor. The sponsorship and permanent residence application will be done online so that the system is uniform and there is no variation in making it.

Important Dates and Deadlines

The last date to file full application forms to access the 2025 PGP intake is October 9, 2025, 11.59 p.m. ET. All the invited applicants are also required to meet this deadline strictly, and late submissions will not be accepted. The crunch schedule of submission is just another reason as to why it is so vital to be ready and have everything prepared before you are even issued an ITA.

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Financial Requirements: Minimum Necessary Income (MNI)

Another important aspect of the PGP is the commitment that the sponsor has to pay. The sponsors are required to prove that they are able to earn up to the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) following the number of persons in the household that comprise the sponsor, their dependents, and the family that they seek to sponsor. This income has to be sustained over the three preceding tax years in advance of application. IRCC determines the specific MNI requirements, which are an addition of 30 per cent of Low Income Cut-Offs (LICOs). These details change on a yearly basis, and those applying must use the latest information given on the PR requirements by IRCC. This is because being in good financial standing will prevent the sponsored people not to causing burdens to the social assistance programs in Canada.

More than the App: Other Things You Need

It is not the only step: The Main application is only part of the journey. After the applications have been made, there are other requirements to be met. These include:

Medical Examinations

Any of the permanent residence applicants, including the parents and those in the grandparent category, are required to have their comprehensive medical examination by one of the physicians who have been approved by the IRCC panel. This is meant so that the applicants will not become a health or safety risk to Canadians, and also it is not meant to place an overload on the health or social services of Canada.

Police Certificates

The applicants should also submit a police certificate, including each country or territory they have stayed in for a period of at least six months since the age of 18. It is a very important part of the security checking and is used to ensure that the person has not been convicted of a crime, and thus they are not inadmissible to Canada.

Biometrics

Most permanent resident applicants are required to submit biometrics that consist of fingerprints and a photograph. Guidelines regarding the process of how and where to submit biometrics are normally given after an application has been made. Such information supports verification of identity, and the process of immigration becomes safer.

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Tips for Prospective Sponsors and Applicants in 2025

Here are some tips for prospective sponsors and applicants:

Be Prepared

Given the lottery system and the short submission window, it is highly advisable for potential sponsors to have all their documentation ready even before the ITAs are sent out. This includes tax documents to prove MNI, identity documents for all parties, and proof of relationship.

Accuracy is Key

Errors or omissions in the application can lead to significant delays or even refusal. Double-check all information and ensure that every required document is included and correctly filled out.

Stay Informed

Immigration policies and program details can change. Rely on official IRCC sources for the most accurate and up-to-date information. While third-party resources can be helpful, always verify information with the official government website.

What Happens After Receiving an ITA?

With an ITA, there is a specified and short time frame in which a sponsor must forward their full application package. This package will take into consideration both the sponsorship undertaking and the permanent residence application of their parents or grandparents. Failure to meet the deadline will lead to expiry of the ITA and the sponsor will only have to wait until a future intake, assuming that he/she meet the criteria again.

The process of reviewing the application once it has been submitted by IRCC is rigorous. These include qualifying all the provided documents, evaluating the status of the financial position of the sponsor, a background check, and the results of the medical check. It could take a long time (depending on the number of applications and the level of complication of individual cases) to process cases. Applicants are expected to constantly monitor their IRCC online application status by regularly checking their IRCC online account.

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Reasons that were Commonly Used to Refuse

It is possible to identify some pitfalls that should be avoided by seeing that such pitfalls normally occur to applicants because of a lack of understanding of what constitutes a particular brand. The common causes of the refusal of the PGP application are:

• Insufficiency of Financial Records: This is the most common reason confirming the need to have sound financial records.

• Incomplete Application: The lack of some documents or information may cause rejection without being studied.

• Misrepresentation: Giving misleading information or withholding material information is a crime, and it results in denial and even a taboo of reapplying again.

• Inadmissibility: There are medical, criminal, and security aspects that may cause the applicants to be declared inadmissible.

Conclusion: A Dream of Reunification Realised

The launch of the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program in Canada in 2025 can be considered an important day in the lives of many thousands of families around the world. It is a legacy of Canada in terms of accepting and bringing families together. Although it is a competitive and stringent process, once an applicant passes, he or she will have the pleasure of taking his or her loved ones to reside in one of the most receptive countries in the world permanently. To individuals who are already waiting in 2020 with an interest-to-sponsor form to get an ITA, this time is like a second chance and the promise of reconnecting with their family. The most important ingredients in making it through this very popular program are keeping yourself abreast, planning carefully, and being fast.

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