Restart of the PGP: Targeting Applicants Who Submitted Interest in 2020
On March 7, 2025, IRCC confirmed that it will send out Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) to eligible sponsors within the current year. It is worth noting that in January 2025, IRCC stated that no new PGP sponsorship interest submissions would be accepted this year and that only the applications received in 2024 would be processed. This restart will rely entirely on the application pool established in 2020, with candidates being selected through a random draw. To date, no new application window has been reopened for the PGP since 2020.
Draw Mechanism and Schedule to be Announced
Although the Immigration Department has not disclosed the specific timing for the draw, it has promised to reveal operational details in the coming months. Data indicates that during the 2020 PGP application period, over 200,000 sponsorship interests were received, and all ITAs issued between 2021 and 2024 were drawn from that pool.
Under current policy, sponsors must meet the minimum income requirements and pass eligibility screening, while the sponsored individuals must satisfy Canadian entry requirements. Successful invitees are required to submit their complete application documentation within 60 days, and the current processing period for the PGP is approximately 20 to 24 months.
Super Visa as an Alternative Option: Policy Relaxation Draws Attention
For families who are not selected in the draw or do not meet the PGP criteria, IRCC emphasizes that long-term family reunification can still be achieved through the Super Visa. This visa allows parents and grandparents to make multiple entries within a 10-year validity period, with a maximum single stay of up to 5 years, and it can be extended for an additional 2 years.
Notably, the federal government has recently relaxed the health insurance requirements for the Super Visa: starting in November 2024, applicants can choose insurance products from either domestic or international insurance companies, with the minimum coverage amount reduced from CAD 100,000 to CAD 50,000. This move significantly lowers the financial threshold, and it is estimated to increase the annual approval rate by 15% to 20%.
Policy Background and Controversies
As the core channel for family reunification, the PGP has long faced an imbalance between supply and demand. Since the introduction of the draw system in the 2020 reform, the selection rate has consistently remained below 10%. Data from IRCC indicates that in 2023, only 15,000 applications were approved under the PGP, whereas the number of Super Visas issued during the same period reached 87,000.
This new policy rollout not only demonstrates the Canadian government’s emphasis on family reunification but also highlights its humane and flexible approach to immigration management amid global immigration trends. As further details are gradually announced, more families seeking reunification will have new immigration opportunities, injecting more warmth and vitality into Canada’s diverse society.
