How to submit your Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) 2022 immigration application

Between October 12 and October 20, Canada conducted a lottery to issue 23,100 invitations to apply (ITAs) for the 2022 Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).

As a reminder, the pool of potential sponsors from which ITAs were issued for this year’s program is the 155,000 remaining sponsorship hopefuls who submitted an interest to sponsor form in 2020.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) goal is to accept up to 15,000 completed applications and you could be one of them this year. If you were fortunate enough to receive an ITA for this year’s PGP, we’ll be detailing how you can submit your application below.

Get a Free Legal Consultation if you Receive a PGP Invitation

Note: Application submissions for the PGP are now online only and IRCC stresses that you should only apply for the PGP if you were invited to do so. Applications submitted without an ITA will be returned

How to submit your PGP 2022 application

Before you apply: Ensure that you verify that you received an ITA using IRCC’s invitation status web form. If this web form confirms receipt of an ITA but you never received an email to the account indicated on your interest to sponsor form, check your spam and junk folders, but also your physical mail. IRCC mails physical ITAs when they are not able to email a prospective applicant. Finally, confirm once again that you meet all of IRCC’s PGP eligibility criteria including:

Being over 18 years old
Being a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or having First Nations status
Meeting the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirement for the 2021, 2020 and 2019 tax years (if you live outside of Quebec)

Residents of Quebec must prove that they meet the specific sponsor income requirements set out by that province over the last 12 months.

While you do not need to hire an immigration lawyer, you may wish to do so to ensure you submit a complete and accurate application. IRCC permits the use of an immigration lawyer on behalf of PGP 2022 applicants.

IRCC’s guide outlines the following steps to help you prepare and submit your application. By December 24, 2022, you must:

1. Gather documents

IRCC provides a document checklist to ensure that prospective applicants do not miss out on any forms/material that would result in their application being sent back

2. Complete the application

Thoroughly review the entire instruction guide provided and completely and accurately fill out all sections of every form. For sections that do not apply to you, indicate “N/A” or “Not Applicable”

3. Pay the fees

Depending on the number of people being sponsored through a single application, fees will change based on individual circumstances (dependents of the principal applicant being sponsored to come to Canada etc.)

4. Review your application to avoid common mistakes

5. Submit your application

Ensure that all questions are answered on the application and that the application is electronically signed. Also, make sure to include your processing fee receipt and all required supporting documents such as your ITA letter with your confirmation number

What happens after I submit my PGP 2022 application?

At the time of writing, the average PGP application processing time stands at 37 months (including the time required for those being sponsored to provide their biometrics). However, this timeframe is dynamic and IRCC outlines its current average processing times on its website.

The person(s) you are sponsoring can get instant email updates and more detailed status updates by creating an online account on IRCC’s website.

If you would like application status updates and information…

From inside Canada and the U.S.: contact IRCC through this link

From outside Canada and the U.S.: contact the Canadian diplomatic office responsible for your region

Do I have any options to bring my parents and grandparents to Canada outside of the PGP?

Yes.

The Super Visa is an option that people who did not receive an ITA could explore for their parents and grandparents. Through the Super Visa, the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents (PRs) could “stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time and apply to extend their stay while in Canada by up to 2 years at a time.”

Get a Free Legal Consultation if you Receive a PGP Invitation