Parents and grandparents (and the super visa)
IRCC: not accepting new interest to sponsor forms “until further notice”. The super visa is a separate visitor option. Read on IRCC’s page on November 9, 2026.
The Parents and Grandparents Program lets citizens and permanent residents sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence. It is for sponsors who can meet a higher income test and a 20-year undertaking. IRCC currently isn’t accepting new interest-to-sponsor forms; the super visa remains a separate option for long visits.
Who is eligible
- Parents and grandparents are members of the family class (IRPR s 117(1)(c)–(d)).
- Sponsors need total income of at least the minimum necessary income plus 30% for each of the three tax years before filing (IRPR s 133(1)(j)(i)(B)).
- The undertaking lasts 20 years from landing (IRPR s 132(1)(b)(iv)).
- Status: IRCC says it will not accept new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply “until further notice”, and keeps processing existing applications.
- Super visa (IRCC): lets parents and grandparents visit for up to 5 years at a time, with multiple entries over up to 10 years; IRCC lists proof of income among the documents.
Steps
- For sponsorship: check IRCC’s page for any new intake.
- For a super visa: check IRCC’s super visa eligibility page, including its income and insurance requirements.
Documents you’ll usually need
- Proof of income for three tax years (sponsorship).
- For a super visa: the documents IRCC lists, including proof of income.
What the law says
“the mother or father of the sponsor’s mother or father”
Parents and grandparents are in the family class.
“has a total income that is at least equal to the minimum necessary income, plus 30%, for each of the three consecutive taxation years immediately preceding the date of filing”
The income test for parents and grandparents: minimum necessary income plus 30%, for three years.
“on the last day of the period of 20 years following the day on which the foreign national becomes a permanent resident”
The 20-year undertaking.
Official IRCC pages
Program rules not written in the statute, plus current fees and processing times, are on IRCC’s own pages:
- IRCC: Sponsor your parents and grandparents
- IRCC: Parent and grandparent super visa
- IRCC fee list (current fees)
- IRCC processing times (live)
Common mistakes
- Counting income the Regulations exclude (for example, Employment Insurance regular benefits or provincial social assistance) — see IRPR s 134.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sponsor my parents right now?
IRCC says it isn’t accepting new interest to sponsor forms until further notice (checked 2026-11-09). Existing applications continue to be processed.
How long can parents stay on a super visa?
IRCC says up to 5 years at a time, with multiple entries over a period of up to 10 years.
Policy analysis
- Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan: what changed, and what it means if you’re already here
The 2027–2029 plan holds permanent admissions at 380,000 a year and new temporary arrivals at 370,000, and adds a one-time 2027 measure for up to 200,000 people already in Canada.
Related streams
- Visitor visa and eTA Check IRCC
Which document a visitor needs — a temporary resident visa or an electronic travel authorization.
- Spousal, common-law and conjugal sponsorship Open
A citizen or permanent resident sponsors their spouse or partner for permanent residence.
- Sponsoring dependent children Open
Sponsoring a child under 22 (or older and dependent because of a condition) for permanent residence.