The Canadian federal government has officially reopened the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for 2025. Starting 28 July, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has begun issuing invitations to apply (ITAs) to permanent residents and Canadian citizens who wish to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence and must submit complete application forms by 11:59 p.m., ET, October 9, 2025.

Invitations sent by lottery

This year, 17,860 ITAs will be sent out by lottery over the next two weeks. Only individuals who submitted an interest-to-sponsor form in 2020 and did not receive an invitation between 2020 and 2024 are eligible for selection.

The department aims to approve 10,000 complete applications from the selected pool.


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Two-step application process

Applicants who receive an ITA must complete two applications:

• Sponsorship application: Submitted by the sponsor
• Permanent residence application: Submitted by the parent or grandparent

Both applications must be completed and submitted online via the Permanent Residence Portal. If more than one parent or grandparent is being sponsored, each must submit a separate application.

Special provisions are available for applicants unable to complete the process online.

Required forms and documents

The application involves both digital and PDF forms. Sponsors must complete forms like:

• Sponsorship agreement - IMM 1344
• Document checklist - IMM 5771
• Financial evaluation - IMM 5768

Sponsored parents or grandparents must fill out forms including:

• Generic Application - IMM 0008
• Background/Declaration - IMM 5669
• Additional family information - IMM 5406

Full instructions are provided in Guide IMM 5772.

Application fees

Fees start at CAD 1,205 for a single parent or grandparent and vary depending on the number of dependents included. The cost includes:


Additional fees apply for spouses, partners, dependent children, and third-party services such as medical exams and police certificates.

Processing and follow-up

Applicants must:

• Submit all required documents
• Pay applicable fees
• Include a copy of the ITA

Incomplete applications will be returned unless missing information is submitted within 30 days. After submission, applicants can track their case and provide updates as needed.

Post-submission requirements

After applying, the following must be submitted:

• Medical exams (as per IRCC instructions)
• Police certificates, valid for one year
• Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) for all applicants aged 14–79

Failure to meet deadlines or submit complete documentation may result in the application being returned by IRCC.