Parents and Grandparents Program

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is a special immigration policy in Canada that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their own parents and grandparents for permanent residence in the country.

Eligibility to apply for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)

To be eligible to apply for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) and sponsor your parents or grandparents, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.

• Be at least 18 years old.

• Meet the necessary income requirements to demonstrate your ability to support your parents or grandparents financially. This includes meeting the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for your family size, which is determined annually by the Canadian government.

• Sign an undertaking to financially support your parents or grandparents and ensure they do not rely on social assistance from the government.

• Provide evidence of your relationship with your parents or grandparents, such as birth certificates or other documents proving biological or legal parent-child or grandparent-grandchild relationship.

• Meet the sponsorship eligibility criteria, which include being able to demonstrate that you have not received social assistance for reasons other than a disability.

Responsibilities of Sponsor for their parents or grandparents:

As a sponsor under the Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP), you have the following responsibilities moving forward:

• Financial Support: You are legally obligated to financially support your sponsored parents or grandparents for a specified period. If you live outside of Quebec, this commitment lasts for 20 years from the day your sponsored family members become Canadian citizens. If you reside in Quebec, the undertaking is valid for 10 years from the day your sponsored family members receive permanent residency.

• Meeting Basic Necessities: You are responsible for ensuring that your sponsored family members have their basic needs met. This includes providing them with food, clothing, shelter, and other essential requirements.

• Repayment of Social Assistance: If your sponsored family members receive social assistance from the provincial government during the 20-year commitment period (for sponsors outside Quebec), you will be required to repay the government for those costs.

Income Requirement to Sponsor parents and grandparents:

The minimum income requirement for sponsoring your parents and grandparents under the Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) depends on various factors, including the number of people you are sponsoring and whether you live in Quebec. The income requirement is meant to ensure that sponsors have the financial capacity to support their sponsored family members.

The minimum income criteria are updated annually, and the specific amounts can be found on the official website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The Minimum Necessary Income for the past three tax years (2022, 2021, and 2020 for 2023 submissions) is calculated based on the following formula:

For sponsors residing outside Quebec:

• Number of people being sponsored: 1

• Minimum income required: Variable based on the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30%

• Number of people being sponsored: 2

• Minimum income required: Variable based on the LICO plus 40%

• Number of people being sponsored: 3

• Minimum income required: Variable based on the LICO plus 50%

And so on, increasing by 10% for each additional person being sponsored.

For sponsors residing in Quebec:

The minimum income requirement is determined by the Quebec government. You must meet the income criteria set by the province.

MNI for Parents & Grandparents Sponsorship:

Income Table 2023: Your child or grandchild may use the following income scale to assess their ability to meet the income requirements. Income required for the 3 tax years right before the day you apply

Yearly Target

(sponsors applying in 2023)

Parent & Grandparent (PGP) Yearly Application Targets

FAQs

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