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, the government will process up to 25,000 sponsorship applications. These will include applications from both the 2024 and 2025 intake periods, as per Ministerial Instructions published in the Canada Gazette on March 22, 2025.
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This decision marks a shift from earlier this year when the government initially announced in January that no new applications would be accepted in 2025. At that time, it had planned to process only up to 15,000 applications, all from the 2024 intake.
However, on March 7, the government reversed its stance, confirming that invitations would indeed be sent in 2025, though the revised cap had not been provided at that time.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents who submitted interest to sponsor forms in the 2020 intake for the PGP and have not yet received an invitation will have the opportunity to receive one when the PGP intake opens this year.
Successful applicants under the PGP will receive Canadian permanent residence.
About the PGP
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is a family reunification pathway to permanent residence in Canada. Due to high demand, the government selects sponsors through a lottery system.
So far, the program has only opened for intake once—in 2020—and all invitations to sponsor have been sent to individuals who submitted interest to sponsor forms in that year.
About the Super Visa
In addition to the PGP, Canada also offers the Super Visa program, which allows parents and grandparents to join their relatives in Canada for extended visits.
Under the Super Visa, eligible Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians can sponsor their parents or grandparents to visit for up to 10 years. Super Visa holders can stay in Canada for up to five years at a time, with the possibility of two-year extensions.
Super Visa holders are granted visitor status and are required to purchase private health insurance for the duration of their stay. Without the Super Visa, a visitor to Canada can typically stay for only six months.
