Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) began sending invitations to apply for the new Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program on Wednesday, April 24 and will continue until all invitations are sent. The relaunched PGP program accepted 27,000 online applications on a first-come, first-served basis on January 28, 2019.

If you received an invitation to apply, IRCC must receive your completed application on or before Friday, June 28, 2019. If you miss the deadline, you are not eligible for another invitation. You can check your invitation status on the IRCC website using your application confirmation number, or follow the website's instructions if you have lost your confirmation number.

The Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program lottery system was revised in 2019 due to complaints about the unfairness of the program. This year's revised program faced more complaints from families and immigration lawyers after the online application process was filled within less than 10 minutes.

PGP Alternative

If you were not able to apply for an invitation in January, a Super Visa is an alternative option for Canada resident's parent and grandparents to move to Canada. While they will not have access to health insurance or be eligible for employment, a Super Visa will permit them to stay in Canada for up to two years. A Super Visa is only available to someone who is either the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.