Canada's updated 2020 Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) sponsorship online lottery opened October 13 through November 3, 2020. If you receive an Invitation to Apply, you are required to provide proof that you meet the income requirements for each of the 3 tax years before the date you apply.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will randomly select applications submitted during the PGP lottery and issue an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to 10,000 applicants in late 2020. Applicants then have 60 days to complete and submit their PGP application in early 2021.
PGP Sponsorship Income Requirements 2021
PGP sponsors who applied in 2020 must provide proof that they exceed the MNI - Minimum Necessary Income - and meet the income requirements for each of the 3 tax years before the application date, and can support themselves, their family and who they are sponsoring. IRCC will assess sponsors based on their income for tax years 2020, 2019 and 2018.
PGP sponsorship applicants may not receive their 2020 Notice of Assessment (NOA) until after they submit their PGP application in early 2021. This year, IRCC will accept Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship applications with a 2019 and 2018 NOAs, and applicants will be required to submit their 2020 NOA when they receive it. To prove you meet the income requirements, PGP applicants must include their Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the last 3 tax years before they apply (2020, 2019 and 2018). The easiest way to prove your income is to give IRCC permission to get your Notices of Assessment directly from the CRA.
IRCC recognizes that many sponsors may have been affected financially by the COVID-19 pandemic, and have temporarily reduced the income requirement for the 2020 tax year to the minimum necessary income, instead of the normal Minimum Necessary Income plus 30%. Family class sponsors can count regular Employment Insurance benefits in their income calculations for the 2020 tax year, rather than just special Employment Insurance benefits.
* PGP sponsors living in Quebec must have income in the previous 12 months greater than the required income, which will be assessed by the Quebec ministry in charge of immigration.
PGP Alternative: Parent and Grandparent Super Visa
Individuals who have a child or grandchild in Canada, and who wish to spend an extended period of time with their families in Canada, also have the option to apply for the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa. While they will not have access to health insurance or be eligible for employment, a Super Visa will permit them to stay in Canada for up to two years. A Super Visa is only available to someone who is either the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada. The parent and grandparent super visa is a temporary resident permit that allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit Canada for up to 2 years per visit, and visit multiple times over 10 years without renewing their status.
FREE CHECKLIST: ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CANADA
PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS SUPER VISA
To apply for a Super Visa you have to be able to:
- demonstrate the relationship claimed
- have a letter of invitation
- meet other criteria, including income, medical coverage and more
Family Class Sponsorship
If you require assistance with the Parent Grandparent Sponsorship Program or want to apply for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa, contact Ackah Business Immigration Law today at (403) 452‑9515 Ext. 100 or 1-800-932-1190 or email us directly.
