To sponsor your parents or grandparents, you must:

• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and at least 18 years old
• Meet a specific minimum income requirement for the last three tax years to ensure you can financially support your sponsored family members
• Sign an undertaking agreement to provide financial support for your parents or grandparents for 20 years, ensuring they do not rely on social assistance

1. Income Requirement: Sponsors must prove they have met the minimum income threshold for the past three consecutive tax years, based on family size. This is to confirm financial capability to support the sponsored individuals.
2. Interest to Sponsor Form: This form must be submitted to indicate your interest in sponsoring parents or grandparents. If selected, you’ll receive an invitation to formally apply.
3. Legal Commitment: As part of the application, sponsors sign an undertaking to support their parents or grandparents financially. This is a long-term commitment of 20 years, during which sponsors are responsible for their family members’ basic needs.

Step 1: Interest to Sponsor

The PGP pool opens periodically, and the Interest to Sponsor form must be submitted within a specific time frame, typically around two weeks. For instance, in the 2021 intake, submissions opened on September 20. Those who expressed interest in sponsoring in previous years but weren’t invited may have another chance in subsequent lottery draws.

Step 2: Lottery System

Once the pool closes, IRCC reviews all entries, removes duplicates, and randomly selects potential sponsors from the pool. Chosen sponsors receive an invitation to apply. If not selected, other options include a visitor visa or Super Visa, allowing parents and grandparents to visit Canada for extended periods.

Step 3: Invitation and Results

Selected sponsors receive an invitation email from IRCC. It’s important to check the email address provided on the submission form for updates. IRCC will also post results on its website, where applicants can verify their status.

Step 4: Apply for Permanent Residency

If invited, you must submit a formal sponsorship application, while your parents or grandparents apply for Permanent Residency (PR). Be mindful of submission deadlines to ensure timely processing.