Parental Sponsorship
Suppose you have moved to Canada but left your parents or grandparents behind in your country of origin. In that case, a system in place in Canada will allow you to sponsor your parents or grandparents and have them come to Canada as permanent residents. This is Parental Sponsorship.
As of the beginning of 2017, IRCC started to use the online lottery system to submit an “Interest to Sponsor” form. Then Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will invite you to apply. This form is available to submit only in the first month of each year.
In 2021, if you are among the 30,000 potential sponsors selected by IRCC, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). The 2020 interest to sponsor form was closed by Nov. 3, 2020.
If you are not selected to receive an ITA, you will have the opportunity to show your interest in sponsoring your parent or grandparent again the following year.
Another option you may have is to apply for a super-visa to have your parents or grandparents visit you in Canada for an extended period (two years). However, this will not result in their obtaining Canadian permanent residence.
If you do receive an ITA, you will have 90 days from the date you receive the invitation to complete your application and submit all the supporting information and documentation to IRCC. Your application will need to satisfy IRCC that you have the financial means to support your parents or grandparents when they arrive in Canada, and you will be asked to sign an undertaking committing to the same.
If you aren’t invited to apply
If you’d like your parents and grandparents to come to Canada, they may be eligible to apply for a super visa which could let them
- stay in Canada for up to 2 years at a time
- apply to extend their stay by up to 1 year at a time