PGP and Super Visa — Sponsoring Parents and Grandparents (2026 Guide)

Most Canadian citizens and permanent residents want their parents and grandparents to live in Canada with them. There are two pathways: the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), which leads to permanent residence, and the Super Visa, which is a 10-year multi-entry visitor visa allowing stays of up to 5 years per visit.

The PGP is the gold standard — your parents become Canadian PRs, can work, can access provincial healthcare, can eventually become citizens. But PGP is lottery-gated. IRCC issues 30,000-35,000 invitations per intake cycle out of a much larger interest pool, and many sponsors wait 2-5+ years to be selected. There is no guarantee, no priority order, and no way to influence the lottery outcome.

The Super Visa is the practical bridge — most Canadian families use Super Visa now (10-year multi-entry, 5 years per visit) while waiting for PGP, and many never actually need PGP because Super Visa already provides sufficient long-term family presence. This guide covers both — when each makes sense, how to maximize PGP odds, and how to build a strong Super Visa file.

Contact us if you want help with either application.

1. PGP vs. Super Visa — which one?

Most families use both — Super Visa now for parent visits, PGP application when (and if) selected through the lottery. Understanding when each makes sense shapes the immigration strategy.

2. The PGP lottery — how it works

The PGP Interest-to-Sponsor lottery is IRCC's intake mechanism for the program. Understanding the mechanics affects your strategy.

• Step 1 — Interest-to-Sponsor submission during the annual intake window (varies by year; typically a few weeks to a few months). Sponsor submits basic information (name, address, status, family size) at no cost.
• Step 2 — IRCC random selection from the interest pool. IRCC has issued 30,000-35,000 invitations per cycle in recent years, out of interest pools often exceeding 100,000.
• Step 3 — Invitation to apply (PGP) sent to selected sponsors. From this point, the sponsor has a deadline (typically 60 days) to submit a complete PGP application with full documentation.
• Step 4 — Federal application processing — sponsor eligibility review (2-4 months), then federal PR application for the parents (16-32 additional months).
• If not selected — you can submit Interest-to-Sponsor again in the next cycle. There's no priority for previous applicants; each cycle is a fresh lottery.

3. PGP Minimum Necessary Income (MNI)

MNI is the financial eligibility test for PGP sponsors. The sponsor must have demonstrated income meeting MNI for each of the 3 prior tax years before applying. Income is verified through Notices of Assessment (NOA) from CRA.

• Income threshold depends on family size — including sponsor's existing household + the parents/grandparents being sponsored.
• Example: Family of 4 (sponsor + spouse + 2 parents) — MNI is approximately CAD $61,000+ for each of the 3 prior tax years (2026 figures; updated annually).
• Income sources counted — employment income, self-employment income, taxable benefits. Lump-sum payments and one-time bonuses may be excluded.
• Each of the 3 years must independently meet MNI. Falling short in any one year disqualifies the application in that cycle.
• Co-sponsor option — if the primary sponsor doesn't meet MNI alone, a co-sponsor (spouse or common-law partner) can combine income. Both must sign undertakings.

4. The Super Visa — how to build a strong file

Super Visa applications are processed by visa offices serving the parents' country of nationality. New Delhi, Manila, Islamabad, Beijing, and Nairobi each have specific scrutiny patterns. Strong files address visa-office-specific concerns directly.

• Sponsor side — LICO income: sponsor must meet Low-Income Cut-Off for their family size + visiting parents. Demonstrated through NOA for the previous tax year.
• Sponsor side — Invitation letter: includes sponsor's status proof, employment letter, recent pay stubs, and detailed invitation explaining purpose, accommodation, and financial support.
• Parents side — Medical insurance: minimum CAD $100,000 coverage, valid 1+ year from entry, covering healthcare, hospitalization, and repatriation. Pre-existing conditions should be addressed in the policy.
• Parents side — Ties-to-home documentation: property ownership (registered title, tax records), ongoing employment or pension, dependants still in home country, travel history (prior international visits with return demonstrated).
• Parents side — Immigration medical exam: required (panel physician). Results may flag conditions affecting admissibility.
• Parents side — Biometrics: typically required.

5. Medical inadmissibility for elderly parents

Most PGP applicants are elderly. Medical inadmissibility risk increases with age, and several common conditions affecting older parents trigger admissibility review.

• IRPA's three medical-inadmissibility grounds: danger to public health, danger to public safety, excessive demand on health/social services.
• Excessive demand threshold — raised to CAD $128,445 over 5 years (or $25,689/year) in 2018+ updates. Conditions imposing costs above this threshold trigger 'excessive demand' findings.
• Common conditions NOT triggering inadmissibility: Type-2 diabetes (controlled), hypertension, controlled cardiac conditions, common cancers in remission, age-typical mobility limitations.
• Conditions that may trigger 'excessive demand' findings: chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis, certain ongoing cancer treatments, advanced dementia, complex chronic conditions requiring ongoing specialist care.
• Mitigation strategies: medical disclosure letter from treating physician, declaration of intent to obtain private healthcare insurance, evidence of family financial capacity to cover costs.

6. End-to-end timeline if PGP is selected

Once you receive an Invitation to Apply, here's what to expect.