e-2996 (Citizenship and immigration)

The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of family reunification and the economic and social advantages of having families together. The Parents and Grandparents Program is a dedicated pathway to reuniting more families in Canada. Year after year, the number of people interested in sponsoring their parents and grandparents exceeds the admissions targets in the annual Immigration Levels Plan, the tool by which the Government of Canada, in consultation with Provincial and Territorial governments, sets the number of permanent residents to be admitted within each immigration category each year, which in turn determines how many applications can be processed. Family class admissions must be balanced with other immigration categories in order to meet Canada’s broader immigration objectives, including under the economic and refugee streams. Because of this, a random selection model has been implemented.  This ensures that all interested persons have an equal opportunity to be invited to submit an application to sponsor their parents and grandparents.

In 2020, the Government of Canada used a random selection intake process that was conducted electronically and under the supervision of auditors to ensure that this process was fair, secure, and transparent. Other intake models used in the past, such as the 2019 online first-in system, posed technical challenges for some prospective sponsors and may have disadvantaged those with certain cognitive or physical disabilities. To address accessibility and fairness concerns, IRCC engaged with disability stakeholder organizations.  Their insight helped inform the 2020 intake model and process, especially in regards to accessibility.  For the first time, interest to sponsor forms in alternative formats (i.e., paper form, large print, or braille) were made available in advance of the online interest to sponsor form submission period. 

The 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan sets the target at 23,500 parent and grandparent admissions per year.  However, in 2020, more than 200,000 individuals filled out the interest to sponsor form to express interest in sponsoring their parent(s) or grandparent(s). Given that demand to sponsor parents and grandparents significantly exceeds the number of spaces allocated to the program, a limit on applications received is needed to avoid lengthy processing times and delays. In 2011, prior to the introduction of an annual limit on the number of applications, the inventory of parent and grandparent sponsorship applications had grown to nearly 80,000 cases, equalling more than 160,000 parents and grandparents awaiting decision. As a result of this large inventory, processing times had grown to over 6 years. Therefore, the application limit prevents the buildup of an unmanageable backlog of applications that leads to lengthy processing times, better supporting faster family reunification.

In addition, prospective sponsors who are not selected, but are interested in bringing their parents or grandparents to Canada, can also consider the parent and grandparent Super Visa. Recognizing the importance of bringing families together, this unique visa, available only to parents and grandparents, allows them to visit family in Canada for up to two years at a time without the need to renew their status. It provides multiple entries for a period up to 10 years.

The Department always considers ways to improve the Parents and Grandparents Program in order to continue to ensure the Program is accessible and fair to all those who are interested in sponsoring their parents and grandparents, while recognizing that this immigration pathway exists within the larger context of Canada’s immigration strategy where all immigration programs operate under a limit, based on the admissions targets under the Immigration Levels Plan.