Key Points
- Canada will issue up to 10,000 invitations under the 2025 Parents and Grandparents Program.
- Invitations will be sent starting July 28, 2025, over a two-week period.
- Only individuals who submitted an interest in the sponsor form in 2020 are eligible.
- Non-selected individuals may consider the super visa as an alternative.
Overview
On July 28, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will begin issuing invitations to apply under the 2025 intake of the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). This family reunification program will accept up to 10,000 complete sponsorship applications in this cycle, continuing its focused approach by selecting from the pool of potential sponsors who submitted interest-to-sponsor forms in 2020.
IRCC will not open a new intake window in 2025. Instead, invitations will be issued over approximately two weeks to randomly selected individuals from the existing 2020 submissions. This strategy mirrors recent years’ practice and underscores the department’s ongoing commitment to gradually reduce the backlog of eligible sponsors.
Individuals selected to apply will be able to submit their applications electronically using either the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal. IRCC emphasizes that applicants should monitor the email address they used in their 2020 submissions, including junk or spam folders, as that is where invitation notifications will be sent.
Those who do not receive invitations are encouraged to explore the Super Visa option. The Super Visa permits eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time, with the possibility of an extension of up to two additional years.
Looking Ahead
Prospective sponsors should confirm access to the email account associated with their 2020 interest-to-sponsor form and prepare supporting documentation in anticipation of a potential invitation. Immigration professionals and employers with employees pursuing family reunification may wish to review options with those affected. While no new interest-to-sponsor intake is expected in 2025, future program iterations may open new windows, subject to IRCC policy. The Super Visa remains a viable interim solution for families seeking to visit Canada for extended periods.
