The Canadian federal government has announced an increase in the number of applications it will accept under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for 2025.
A total of 25,000 sponsorship applications will be processed, including those submitted in response to the 2024 intake as well as new applications from the 2025 intake. This update was confirmed in Ministerial Instructions published in the Canada Gazette on March 22, 2025.
This decision reverses an earlier announcement made in January, in which the government stated that no new applications would be accepted in 2025 and that only 15,000 applications from the 2024 intake would be processed.
On March 7, the government indicated that invitations would still be issued in 2025 but did not specify a revised cap at the time.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents who submitted an interest to sponsor form in 2020 but have not yet been invited will have another chance to apply when the PGP reopens for intake this year.
Successful applicants under the PGP program will be granted permanent residency in Canada.
Overview of the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
The PGP is designed to help families reunite by allowing Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency.
Due to overwhelming demand, the government selects sponsors through a lottery system. Since the last open intake in 2020, all invitations have been sent to individuals who submitted an interest to sponsor form that year.
The Super Visa Alternative
Apart from the PGP, Canada offers the Super Visa program, which allows parents and grandparents to visit their family members in Canada for extended periods.
Through this program, eligible Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians can sponsor their parents or grandparents for long-term visits.
Super Visas are valid for up to 10 years and permit holders to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time, with the option to extend their stay for an additional two years. However, Super Visa holders must obtain private health insurance to cover their stay. Without a Super Visa, visitors to Canada are generally allowed to remain in the country for only six months.
