Parent & Grandparent Sponsorship: 20-24 Months

Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) sponsorship applications are currently taking 20-24 months to process from submission to final decision. This is one of the longest processing times among Canadian immigration programs due to the high volume of applications, thorough financial assessment requirements, and thorough background checks involved. IRCC reopens the PGP lottery system periodically (typically annually) and invites a limited number of potential sponsors to apply.

The PGP program has strict financial requirements: sponsors must meet or exceed the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for their household size for three consecutive taxation years. This income must be demonstrated through official Canadian tax documents (Notice of Assessment). The financial assessment ensures sponsors can support their parents or grandparents without them needing social assistance, and sponsors commit to financially supporting them for 20 years.

Processing includes multiple stages: sponsor eligibility assessment (including financial review), applicant's permanent residence assessment, medical examinations, background checks, and final decision. Applications from countries requiring extensive background verification may take longer. The medical inadmissibility assessment is particularly important for parent/grandparent applications as medical conditions requiring significant healthcare services can lead to refusal.