How will the new parents and grandparents sponsorship process work?

The Government of Canada has listened to feedback from clients, stakeholders and the public to identify improvements needed in the Parents and Grandparents (PGP) Program – specifically, the application process. That is why the government is streamlining the intake process to enhance client experience. Here’s how the new process will work:

Step 1: Potential sponsors indicate their interest. Under the new process, as in previous years, the interest to sponsor form will be available online in January, so eligible potential sponsors can let us know they wish to sponsor their parents and grandparents.

However, in 2019, the enhanced version of the interest to sponsor form will require potential sponsors to upload a copy of a status in Canada document. Requiring all potential sponsors to submit a status in Canada document will help IRCC detect duplication and possible fraud within the system.

The interest to sponsor form will open at noon EST on January 28, 2019. The form will remain available on IRCC’s website until we receive a specific number of complete interest to sponsor forms. At that point, the form will no longer be accessible.

Step 2: Invitations to sponsor are sent. Once the interest to sponsor period has ended and the form has been removed from our website, we will review all submissions and remove duplicates.

We will then invite interested potential sponsors to submit a complete application to sponsor their parents and grandparents, in the order we received their interest to sponsor forms. This process will continue until the cap is reached. In 2019, we’ll accept 20,000 complete applications.

Step 3: Applications are submitted. Those who are invited to apply will be given 60 calendar days for IRCC to receive their complete application. Those who submit an interest to sponsor form and receive a confirmation number, but do not receive an invitation to apply in 2019, will have their form retained by IRCC for consideration in 2020.

For a list of the information that interested potential sponsors need to have on hand to submit an interest to sponsor form on January 28, 2019, please read more about the 2019 interest to sponsor form.