Parents' sponsorship or the super visa: the practical choice

If you are a permanent resident (PR) or Canadian citizen, bringing your parents or grandparents to Canada is one of the most meaningful family reunification choices you can make. Two main pathways exist: the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), which leads to permanent residence, and the Super Visa, which permits multi-year stays as a visitor. Understanding the trade-offs between these programs is essential, because each operates on different timelines, income thresholds, and eligibility rules.

The Parents and Grandparents Program: Permanent Residence but a Lottery

The Parents and Grandparents Program is designed to reunite families by bringing parents and grandparents to Canada as permanent residents. However, the program is heavily restricted. Unlike spousal sponsorship, which is first-come, first-served, the PGP uses a randomized lottery system to manage demand. Because interest far exceeds available spots each year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) opens an intake window only periodically, collects Interest to Sponsor (ITS) forms, and then randomly selects a limited number of sponsors to invite for a complete application.

How the Lottery Works

The process unfolds in several stages. First, when IRCC opens an intake window, eligible sponsors submit an ITS form—a brief online registration with no fees or documentation required at that stage. All submitted forms enter a pool. IRCC then conducts a random draw and invites a limited number of sponsors, typically between 15,000 and 30,000, to submit a complete sponsorship application within 60 days. Only those who receive an invitation can proceed. Even if you meet all income and eligibility requirements, there is no guarantee you will be selected. As of August 2026, the PGP is paused for new intakes. The program was last open in 2025, when IRCC invited 17,860 sponsors from the 2020 interest pool. No new ITS intake has been announced for 2026, and the 2020 pool has been exhausted.

Income Requirements

To sponsor a parent or grandparent under the PGP, you must demonstrate that your household income meets or exceeds the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI), which is calculated as the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30 percent. You must meet this threshold for each of the three tax years immediately before you apply. The actual dollar amount depends on your household size—including yourself, your spouse or partner if applicable, the parent or grandparent you are sponsoring, and any dependent children. For example, sponsoring two parents as a family of two may require approximately $50,000 to $60,000 in annual income. Income is verified through your Notice of Assessment (NOA), which you can authorize IRCC to obtain directly from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) using your Social Insurance Number (SIN). Unlike some other programs, you cannot average your income across the three years; you must meet the threshold individually in each year.

The Sponsorship Undertaking

Once a parent or grandparent receives permanent residence through the PGP, you—the sponsor—sign a legal undertaking to provide financial support. This undertaking runs for 20 years outside Quebec and 10 years in Quebec, counting from the date your parent or grandparent becomes a permanent resident. During this period, your sponsored family member is generally ineligible to receive social assistance benefits, and if they do, you are liable for repayment to the province. This is a serious long-term commitment and should be discussed carefully with family before you begin the sponsorship process.

Processing Times and Costs

If your application is invited, expect a long wait. As of 2026, processing times are approximately 24 months outside Quebec and 48 months for applications destined to Quebec, measured from the date you submit your complete application after receiving an invitation. Government fees typically total between $1,000 and $1,500 per sponsored person and cover the sponsorship application fee, permanent residence processing fee, Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF), and biometrics.

The Super Visa: Immediate Access, Shorter Commitment

The Super Visa is a multiple-entry visitor visa designed exclusively for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Unlike the PGP, the Super Visa does not lead to permanent residence, but it does allow extraordinarily long stays: up to five years per entry, with the ability to re-enter and stay again, for a visa valid up to ten years. The Super Visa is available year-round and does not operate on a lottery system. This makes it far more accessible than the PGP, particularly for families who want their parents nearby while they wait on a PGP application or who prefer not to apply through the PGP at all.

Income Requirements for the Super Visa

To sponsor someone on a Super Visa, you (the Canadian host) must demonstrate that your household income meets the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for your family size. Note that the Super Visa uses plain LICO, not LICO plus 30 percent—the bar is lower than for PGP sponsorship. Your child or grandchild in Canada can show income from either of the two prior tax years, or demonstrate at least 75 percent of the required income in the most recent year and combine it with the visiting parent's or grandparent's own income to reach the full threshold. This flexibility makes the Super Visa accessible to more families than the PGP.

Medical Insurance: The Critical Requirement

Super Visa holders are not eligible for provincial or territorial health care plans—they cannot access services covered by provincial plans such as OHIP in Ontario, MSP in British Columbia, or RAMQ in Quebec. Consequently, every Super Visa applicant must carry private medical insurance. The policy must provide a minimum of $100,000 in coverage, be valid for at least one year from the date of entry into Canada, and cover health care, hospitalization, and repatriation (return to home country if needed). Coverage must be continuous with no gaps during the entire stay.

Insurance can be purchased from a Canadian insurance company or, as of January 28, 2025, from a foreign insurer authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) under Canada's Insurance Companies Act. This change has broadened options for families, especially those with parents in countries where international insurance is more readily available. When selecting a policy, confirm that the insurer meets IRCC standards and appears on the OSFI list of authorized providers.

Application Cost and Processing

The Super Visa application fee is $100 per person (or a maximum of $500 for a family of five or more applying together). Processing time varies but is typically much faster than the PGP. The application is submitted online, and IRCC assesses it on its merits; there is no random selection.

Comparing the Two Pathways

Both programs address family reunification, but they serve different needs and timelines. The PGP is the only path to permanent residence for parents and grandparents, but access is unpredictable and processing is lengthy. The Super Visa is more accessible and faster, but it provides temporary visitor status rather than PR. Many families use both strategies: they enter the PGP lottery whenever intake opens (preparing documents, maintaining required income, and watching for announcements) while simultaneously using the Super Visa to reunite with parents in the meantime. This dual-track approach allows families to enjoy years of visits while waiting to see if a PGP invitation arrives.

When PGP Makes Sense

• You want your parents or grandparents to become permanent residents and eventually access Canadian provincial health care, work, or apply for citizenship.
• You have stable income that consistently meets LICO plus 30 percent and are comfortable with a 20-year (or 10-year in Quebec) undertaking.
• You are willing to wait for an intake window and accept the risk of not being selected in the lottery.
• You are prepared for a 24–48-month processing timeline after receiving an invitation.

When the Super Visa Makes Sense

• You need your parents or grandparents in Canada soon and cannot wait for a PGP lottery and multi-year processing.
• Your income meets plain LICO but may not reach LICO plus 30 percent, or it fluctuates year to year.
• You can afford private medical insurance and want to avoid the long-term undertaking commitment.
• Your parents prefer visitor status and do not necessarily want to pursue permanent residence.
• You are waiting on a PGP application and want your parents present during the interim years.

Practical Steps for Settled Families

If you have decided that reuniting with your parents is a priority, start by checking your household income against both LICO and LICO plus 30 percent. Gather your last three years of Notices of Assessment from the CRA; you will need these for either application. If you think the Super Visa might be your route, research IRCC-approved insurance companies and get sample quotes for your parents' age and health profile. Costs vary widely, so comparing at least three providers is wise.

For the PGP, monitor the IRCC website (canada.ca) regularly for intake announcements, especially if the program reopens. IRCC typically announces new interest-to-sponsor windows well in advance, but announcements are brief and the windows close quickly. Consider signing up for email notifications on the IRCC website and following settlement.org or reputable immigration news sources.

Running Both Tracks

Many successful families do pursue both options in parallel. They submit a Super Visa application to bring parents to Canada now, secure the required medical insurance, and set a stay of up to five years. Meanwhile, they watch for PGP intake announcements and prepare to enter the lottery if the window reopens. If a PGP invitation arrives down the road, the family can then pursue permanent residence while the parents are already enjoying an extended visit on the Super Visa. If no PGP invitation materializes, the Super Visa can be renewed when it expires, and the cycle can repeat every ten years. This approach removes the pressure of an all-or-nothing gamble on the lottery and ensures that your parents and grandparents are not separated from your family by years of waiting.

Final Considerations

The choice between PGP and Super Visa is not necessarily permanent. Your circumstances, your parents' health and wishes, and government policy may all change. What matters is knowing your options now and having a clear plan that reflects your family's priorities. Whether you pursue permanent residence, extended visits, or both, the goal is the same: reuniting with the people who matter most and building a life together in Canada.