Canada has officially reopened its Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for 2025. If you’re a permanent resident or citizen hoping to reunite with your parents or grandparents, this is your window. But there’s a catch: not everyone gets to apply.

Let’s break down how it works this year and what you need to do if you’re one of the lucky few to receive an invitation.

What is the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) lets Canadian citizens and permanent residents sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence, allowing them to live in Canada permanently and access healthcare and other social benefits.

Who Gets to Apply in 2025?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) started sending out invitations to apply (ITAs) on July 28, and the process will continue over the next two weeks. A total of 17,860 invitations will be issued this year.

But here’s the key detail: Only those who submitted an interest in to sponsor form in 2020 and didn’t receive an ITA between 2020 and 2024 are eligible. So if you didn’t register your interest back then, you’re out of this round.

IRCC plans to accept 10,000 completed applications from this pool.

The Two-Step Application: How It Works

If you receive an Invitations to Apply (ITA), there are two applications to complete:

• Sponsorship Application (submitted by you)
• Permanent Residence Application (submitted by your parent or grandparent)

Both must be submitted online through IRCC’s Permanent Residence Portal by 11:59 p.m. ET on October 9, 2025.

If you’re sponsoring more than one parent or grandparent, each requires a separate permanent residence application. There are exceptions for those who can’t apply online, but those cases are rare and need special approval.

What You’ll Need: Forms and Documents

IRCC doesn’t make this simple, so prepare to wade through forms. Sponsors must complete:

• IMM 1344: Sponsorship Agreement
• IMM 5771: Document Checklist
• IMM 5768: Financial Evaluation

Parents or grandparents being sponsored must fill out:

• IMM 0008: Generic Application Form
• IMM 5669: Schedule A – Background/Declaration
• IMM 5406: Additional Family Information

Everything is outlined in Guide IMM 5772, and yes, you should read it.

Application Fees: What It’ll Cost You

The base cost for sponsoring one parent or grandparent is CAD 1,205, broken down like this:

Additional fees apply if you’re including a spouse, partner, or dependent children. Plus, third-party services like medical exams and police certificates will add to the total.

Don’t Miss These Follow-Up Steps

After submitting your application, you’ll need to:

• Complete medical exams (IRCC will send instructions)
• Submit valid police certificates (must be less than a year old)
• Provide biometrics (required for applicants aged 14–79)

Also, include a copy of your ITA when you submit your application. Miss a document or deadline, and your file could be sent back.

Final Tip: Stay On Top of It

This program is competitive and tightly controlled. If you’ve been waiting since 2020 for your turn, don’t let the opportunity slip. Make sure your paperwork is complete, your fees are paid, and your documents are uploaded before the deadline.

And if you’re not among those selected this year, keep an eye on future announcements. IRCC often tweaks the program, and new intake rounds could open again.

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