Since January 2017, the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program has been administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada through a lottery method.
The process will switch to a first-come, first-served one starting in 2019.
Sponsors will still need to submit an “interest to sponsor” form in January, but rather than the IRCC selecting applicants at random, applicants will be contacted in the order in which they submit the form.
The invited participants have 90 days to submit a comprehensive application.
In addition to the standard conditions for sponsorship, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident must also satisfy the following more stringent standards in order to sponsor parents and grandparents:
- Demonstrate having an annual minimum necessary income that is more than for three consecutive years previous to sponsorship, as published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
- Sign a commitment promising to provide financial support for the parent or grandparent for a period of 20 years following the date of permanent residency, as well as to reimburse the government for any social assistance provided to the relative.
Individuals who meet the aforementioned requirements as well as the standard requirements for sponsoring family members are qualified to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence in Canada. Grandparents and parents of eligible applicants may continue to apply for temporary admission to Canada even if they do not exceed the annual application intake criterion. In order to visit their close relatives, parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents may apply for Super Visas, which are extended guest visas.