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Welcome to the latest update on the Parent and Grandparent Program 2024 (#PGP2024)! As we gear up for the next phase, we’re excited to provide you with insights into the invitation process and essential sponsorship responsibilities.
Invitation Process for #PGP2024
Starting May 21, IRCC will begin sending out invitations to 35,700 potential sponsors from the pool of remaining interest to sponsor forms submitted in 2020. These invitations will be distributed over approximately two weeks. If you submitted an interest to sponsor form in 2020, please ensure to check the email address you provided at that time for further instructions.
Understanding Sponsorship Responsibilities
Being a sponsor entails a significant commitment, requiring you to pledge support to the individuals you’re sponsoring, such as your parents and grandparents, for a specified period, even if your circumstances change.
Who You Can Sponsor
- If they’re eligible, you can sponsor:
- your own parents and grandparents, related by blood or adoption
- the dependent children of your parents and grandparents (for example, your siblings, half-siblings, or step-siblings) and their dependent children
- if your parents or grandparents are divorced, their current spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner
- You’ll need to submit separate applications for your divorced parents.
- If your parents or grandparents are separated and not divorced, you’ll need to submit one application for them because they’re still married.
Who You Can’t Sponsor
You can’t sponsor:
- your spouse or common-law partner’s parents and grandparents (your in-laws)
- However, if your spouse or partner receives their own invitation to apply, you can be a co-signer on your in-laws’ application.
- You can’t transfer your invitation to another person, including your spouse or partner, for them to sponsor their parents and grandparents.
- someone who is inadmissible to Canada (someone who isn’t allowed to come to Canada)
Income Requirements for Sponsors
To qualify as a sponsor, you must demonstrate financial capability to support all individuals you’ll be responsible for, including yourself. This is determined by your “family size” and specific income criteria for each of the three tax years preceding your application.To prove you meet the income requirements, you must provide a notice of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for each of the 3 tax years before the date you apply.
Income required for the 3 tax years before you apply (if you’re applying for the 2024 intake)
| Family size | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| 2 people | $44,530 | $43,082 | $32,898 |
| 3 people | $54,743 | $52,965 | $40,444 |
| 4 people | $66,466 | $64,306 | $49,106 |
| 5 people | $75,384 | $72,935 | $55,694 |
| 6 people | $85,020 | $82,259 | $62,814 |
| 7 people | $94,658 | $91,582 | $69,934 |
| If more than 7 people, for each additional person, add: | $9,636 | $9,324 | $7,120 |
Adjustment for Income Requirement in the 2021 Tax Year
In light of the financial challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, adjustments have been made to the income requirement for the 2021 tax year. Unlike previous years, the income requirement for 2021 has been reduced to the minimum necessary income, excluding the additional 30% buffer.
Furthermore, sponsors and co-signers can include various benefits received due to the pandemic in their income calculation for the 2021 tax year. These benefits include regular Employment Insurance benefits, Canada Emergency Response Benefits issued under the Employment Insurance Act or Canadian Emergency Response Benefit Act, and other temporary COVID-19-related benefits (excluding those from provincial or territorial social assistance programs).
It’s important to note that this adjustment only applies to the income requirements for the 2021 tax year. For the 2022 and 2023 tax years, the minimum necessary income plus 30% buffer still applies.
Family Size Calculation
Calculating your family size is crucial for assessing income requirements. This includes your familymembers and those you intend to sponsor, along with their families.
Examples of How to Calculate Your Family Size
To better understand how to calculate your family size and assess income requirements, let’s look at some examples:
- Sponsor with a Co-signing Spouse
Angel is sponsoring her father and will submit her application in 2024. Her husband Diego will co-sign the application. They must calculate their family size for each year and check if they meet the income requirement accordingly.
- Sponsor with a Newborn Child
Julie is sponsoring her parents and has a child born in 2022. She must calculate her family size for each year, considering the addition of her child in 2022.
- Sponsor with a Non-dependent Child
Amir is sponsoring his parents and has a son who turned 22 in 2022. His family size will vary depending on whether his son qualifies as a dependent child for each year.
- Non-accompanying Dependents
Maria is sponsoring her mother, who has a spouse and a non-dependent child. Maria must include all family members in her calculation, even those not coming to Canada.
- Sponsor with a Separated Spouse
Juan is sponsoring his mother and separated from his spouse in 2023. He must still include his spouse in his family size calculation until they are divorced.
Sponsorship Application Process
Upon receiving an invitation to sponsor your parents and grandparents, two applications are required:
Sponsor Application: You apply to become a sponsor.
Permanent Residence Application: Your parents and grandparents apply for permanent residence.
Both applications are submitted online simultaneously via the Permanent Residence (PR) Portal. If using a paid representative, they’ll utilize the Representative Permanent Residence (PR) Portal.
Missed to submit an interest to sponsor form in 2020
If you didn’t have the opportunity to submit an interest to sponsor form in 2020, don’t worry. There’s still a pathway for your parents and grandparents to visit Canada through the Super Visa program.
The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents to enjoy extended visits to Canada, with the flexibility to stay for up to 5 years at a time. Moreover, they can apply to extend their stay while in Canada, providing them with ample time to spend with family and explore the beauty of Canada.
Consider the Super Visa as an alternative option to reunite with your loved ones, offering them the opportunity to experience Canada’s rich culture and landscapes for an extended period.
For further guidance and professional assistance throughout the sponsorship process or supervisa process, reach out to Enclave Immigration Services. Our expert team is dedicated to supporting you at every stage.
Stay updated on #PGP2024 developments as we move forward.
