IRCC has officially confirmed that the 2025 intake for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) will open on July 28, 2025 — and for the fifth consecutive year, the government will once again be selecting applicants exclusively from the 2020 interest to sponsor pool. No new submissions. No new opportunities to enter the program. Just another round of selection from a list that is now half a decade old.
For Canadian citizens and permanent residents hoping to reunite with their parents and grandparents, the continued use of this outdated pool raises difficult questions — not just about fairness, but about transparency and access.
Five Years, No New Chance: A Frustrating Pattern
This marks the fifth year in a row that IRCC has refused to reopen the interest to sponsor form — the critical first step in the PGP process. Anyone who became a permanent resident after 2020, or who simply missed the narrow window to enter the pool that year, has been completely excluded from the process, regardless of whether they now meet all legal and financial requirements.
While IRCC cites “program integrity,” “backlog management,” and “processing capacity” as justifications, these reasons offer little comfort to families who are financially and legally prepared to sponsor, but are systematically shut out.
The result is a two-tiered system: one for those who made it into the pool in 2020, and one for everyone else who, despite having the right to sponsor under the law, has no meaningful pathway to do so under the PGP.
What’s Happening in 2025?
Between July 28 and mid-August 2025, IRCC will send 17,860 invitations to apply (ITAs) to individuals who submitted an interest to sponsor form in 2020. The goal is to approve up to 10,000 completed permanent residence applications.
If you submitted the form in 2020 and haven’t been invited yet, check your email regularly — especially the spam or promotions folders. IRCC will only contact you via email, and missing the 60-day deadline to respond can permanently forfeit your chance.
Legal Eligibility Still Applies
Even if you’re lucky enough to receive an ITA, sponsorship approval is not guaranteed. You must still meet the strict legal criteria, including:
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A valid 2020 interest to sponsor submission.
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Meeting the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the 2022, 2023, and 2024 tax years.
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Being at least 18 years old, residing in Canada, and not in default of any prior sponsorship undertakings.
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Willing to sign a 20-year financial undertaking (10 years in Quebec).
If you’re co-signing with a spouse or common-law partner, both parties must meet the requirements and be legally bound to the undertaking.
This is not just an application — it’s a legal contract with long-term consequences. Sponsors are financially responsible for the sponsored individuals, regardless of future changes in relationship, income, or health.
What If You’re Not Invited?
If you’re not selected from the 2020 pool, you cannot apply under the PGP in 2025. There is no waitlist or secondary pathway. For thousands of families, this is the most frustrating part — not being refused, but not even being allowed to apply.
The Super Visa remains the only realistic option in most cases. It allows parents and grandparents to visit for up to 5 years at a time and is valid for 10 years. However, it does not provide permanent residence and has its own requirements, including:
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Proof of private medical insurance.
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A letter of financial support from the child or grandchild in Canada.
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Demonstrating that the host meets the income requirement (LIM).
The Super Visa is a temporary solution, not a pathway to PR — and for many, it’s no substitute for the security of family reunification through sponsorship.
Legal Insight: Why This Matters
The continued use of the 2020 pool raises serious concerns about access to immigration pathways that are supposedly available to all permanent residents. Many individuals have:
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Become PRs since 2021 and now meet MNI thresholds;
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Improved their financial position to support sponsorship;
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Been waiting for a fair opportunity to participate — and still haven’t had one.
IRCC’s decision not to reopen the program does not reflect the growing number of Canadian families who are eligible, willing, and legally entitled to sponsor — yet are being sidelined by administrative choices.
For legal professionals and RCICs, this situation highlights the growing tension between policy management and individual rights under Canadian immigration law. While the Minister of Immigration has wide discretion in how to administer programs, discretion must still be exercised transparently and fairly. Prolonged inaccessibility of the PGP may eventually become subject to legal scrutiny.
Final Word: Hope and Strategy
If you’re in the 2020 pool, prepare early. Review your income records, calculate MNI accurately, and seek professional guidance to ensure a strong application.
If you’re not in the pool, don’t give up. While the PGP remains closed to new sponsors, other pathways may be available depending on your family’s situation. Super Visa options, temporary resident permits, or even legal review of your eligibility could offer short-term or long-term solutions.
