Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Sparks Hope—and Frustration
So, here’s something a lot of families in Canada have been waiting for—but not without mixed emotions. The federal government has officially reopened the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program, and it’s already drawing criticism and heartbreak from families who’ve been waiting, in some cases, for more than a decade.
Starting July 28, invitations to apply—known as ITAs—are being sent out to Canadians and permanent residents who want to sponsor their parents or grandparents to come live in Canada permanently. But here’s the catch: these invitations are only going out to people who filled out an interest-to-sponsor form back in 2020 and haven’t received an invitation in the past few years. That’s five years of waiting, and for many, it’s been a painful wait.
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This year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will send out 17,860 invitations, aiming to approve about 10,000 applications in total. Families who are selected will have to submit two sets of applications: one for the sponsor, and one for the parent or grandparent applying for permanent residence. It all has to be done online using the PR Portal, and there’s a pretty detailed list of forms and documents involved—including proof of income, travel history, and in some cases, police and medical clearances.
The fees aren’t small either. Sponsoring just one parent can cost over $1,200, and the price goes up if you’re including a spouse or dependent child.
While this news is a relief for some who finally made the cut, many others are still left out—feeling forgotten and frustrated. People like Maria Torres, who’s been waiting a decade to bring her elderly mother to Canada, are once again watching the process move forward without them. It’s not that they didn’t apply—it’s just that the lottery system continues to leave many families in limbo.
And Alberta’s immigration minister has even raised concerns about the program, saying the influx could strain provincial resources and services, especially when housing and healthcare systems are already under pressure.
So while some families may finally get the reunion they’ve been hoping for, thousands of others are stuck in uncertainty, just hoping their turn will eventually come. For a country that champions family reunification, the path remains long—and often painful—for many.
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