Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship program continues to serve as a vital route for family reunification, allowing Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence. If you’ve recently received an invitation to apply under the 2025 intake, this guide will walk you through what to expect next and how to successfully complete your application.
1. Confirm Your Invitation
Starting July 28, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) began issuing up to 17,860 invitations to apply over a two-week period. These invitations are being sent to individuals who submitted an Interest to Sponsor (ITS) form in 2020 and have not yet been selected.
Check your inbox, spam, and junk folders—especially the email address you used when you submitted your 2020 form.
If selected, you must submit your complete sponsorship application before 11:59 p.m. ET on October 9, 2025. This deadline is strict, with no exceptions.
2. Prepare and Submit Your Application
Invited applicants must submit their application for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship through:
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The Permanent Residence Portal, or
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The Representative Permanent Residence Portal (if using a representative).
You must demonstrate that:
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You meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the past three tax years,
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You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and
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You agree to a 20-year financial undertaking (with your co-signer if applicable).
The sponsorship application fee begins at $1,205 CAD, with additional fees depending on the number of people sponsored.
3. What Happens After You Apply
Once your application is submitted and passes the completeness check, it enters the processing stream. According to IRCC’s historical data (2020–2022), over 90% of finalized applications are approved, although processing times can vary.
Applications are typically finalized within 20–24 months, depending on volume and destination (Quebec vs. rest of Canada). Delays can also result from inventory levels, as noted in the PGP Intake Report 2020–2022.
4. Not Invited? Consider the Super Visa
If you weren’t selected this year under the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship program, consider the Super Visa as an alternative. It allows eligible parents and grandparents to:
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Visit Canada for up to 5 years at a time,
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Hold a 10-year multiple-entry visa, and
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Extend their stay by up to 2 years without leaving Canada.
This is an excellent option while you wait for future intakes.
5. Demand Is High, but the Opportunity Is Real
The Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship program remains highly competitive. In 2020, over 203,000 ITS forms were submitted, creating a large pool of potential sponsors. Yet, IRCC continues to process and admit thousands of applicants annually—27,270 were admitted in 2022 alone.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve received an invitation under the 2025 Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship intake, now is the time to act. At Visaserve Immigration Law P.C., we specialize in helping families navigate sponsorship and visa pathways with accuracy, care, and compliance.
Need help preparing your application or exploring a Super Visa?
Contact our team of experienced immigration professionals today.
