Two popular family sponsorship programs for parents and grandparents of permanent residents and citizens of Canada.
Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) allowing parents and grandparents of permanent residents and citizens of Canada to immigrate to Canada and experience the benefits of permanent residency (PR) and even citizenship gives; Although it is less available than Super Visa, due to its lottery system selection process and once a year availability.
The Super Visa acts as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) and allows parents and grandparents of Canadian PR/citizens to enter and stay in Canada on a longer-term basis (up to 10 years). till validity, with a continuous stay of five years). It is available year-round, but does not provide parents/grandparents the same option as PGP for PR and eventual citizenship.
Eligibility
- At a minimum, candidates hoping to sponsor their parents/grandparents through any program must:
- at least 18 years old;
- a Canadian citizen, or PR;
- Residing in Canada at the time of application and when a parent/grandparent is expected to visit;
- of sound financial condition;
Ineligibility
In addition to failure to comply with the eligibility criteria, candidates will be ineligible for any program if they:
- did not pay an immigration loan, a performance bond, or court-ordered family support (ie: alimony or child support);
- did not provide the financial assistance they had previously agreed to when sponsoring a family member;
- are covered under any other ineligibility criteria.
Financial requirements
For Super Visa, candidates must prove that their family meets the required low-income cut-off (LICO) criteria.
For PGP, candidates must meet the minimum required income (MNI) requirements for the programme. Candidates must show proof of funding by requesting a Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA); It shows that the sponsor has met with the MNI for its case, and has done so for the last three taxation years prior to applying.
Application Process
For Super Visa sponsorship, the application process is similar to that of a regular TRV. However, additional documentation is required to prove that the parent/grandparent can be cared for upon arrival in Canada.
For PGP, candidates need to follow the steps to meet and prove their eligibility, and then submit this information to be included in the candidate pool. If candidates are selected, they will receive an invitation to apply, with subsequent steps.
For either a PGP or a super visa, the sponsor may not be medically or criminally inadmissible to visit Canada. An Immigration Medical Examination (IME) is required for both programs, and PGPs also require a police certificate.
Availability in Quebec
Both programs are also available to residents and citizens of Quebec, although they have additional steps including a unique MNI system (for both sponsor and sponsor) and the requirement to obtain a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ).