PGP vs. Super Visa: Which is best to Bring your Parents or Grandparents to Canada?

Are you looking to bring your parents or grandparents to Canada? Many families face this big decision, and figuring out the best way to do it can be a bit tricky. You have two options: the Super Visa and the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).

Each pathway has its features and benefits, and it all depends upon which one fits your family’s needs. Whether you want them to visit for a while or settle down permanently, understanding these programs will help you make the right choice.

The blog will discuss the ins and outs of these programs and help you determine which one best meets your family’s needs.

Feature Super Visa Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)

Feature	Super Visa	PGP
Duration of Stay	Up to 5 years per entry	Permanent
Work Authorization	Not allowed	Allowed
Study Authorization	Not allowed	Allowed
Tax Residency	May be considered a resident	Considered a resident
Social Programs Access	Limited; sponsor covers costs	Eligible for programs

About Super Visa

The Super Visa is designed for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents, allowing them to visit Canada for extended periods.

Key facts to note include the following:

1. Duration of Stay: Holders can stay in Canada for up to five years at a time without needing to renew their visa frequently.
2. Multiple Entries: The visa allows multiple entries over 10 years.
3. Eligibility Requirements: Sponsors must demonstrate sufficient income to support their relatives during their stay, provide proof of medical insurance coverage for at least one year, and establish relationships with the applicants.

About Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)

The Parents and Grandparents Program allows eligible sponsors to bring their parents or grandparents to Canada as permanent residents.

Important aspects include:

1. Permanent Residency: Successful applicants gain PR status, allowing them to live, work, and study in Canada indefinitely.
2. Eligibility Criteria: Sponsors must meet minimum income thresholds for the past three years and sign a sponsorship agreement committing financial support.
3. Application Process: The PGP operates through a lottery system, making it highly competitive and offering limited opportunities yearly.

For a quick and temporary visit, the Super Visa is the best choice. It offers faster processing compared to the Parent and Grandparent Program, which is limited by a lottery system and annual intake caps. However, if your relatives are looking for long-term residency, applying for PR through the PGP is a better option.

Who is Eligible for the Super Visa and Parents and Grandparents Program?

To qualify for a Super Visa, your parents or grandparents must meet the following criteria:

Host Requirements:

They need a host who is their child or grandchild who must be:

1. A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian
2. At least 18 years old
3. Lives in Canada.
4. Capable of meeting the minimum necessary income requirements as per the family size.
5. A sponsorship agreement saying they are willing to provide financial support for the duration of their visit.

Health Insurance:

The Super Visa requires your parents or grandparents to obtain health insurance from either:

1. A Canadian insurance company, or
2. An insurance provider outside Canada approved by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship.

Your parents or grandparents must purchase health insurance that meets these conditions:

1. Valid for at least one year from the entry date.
2. Purchased from either a Canadian insurance company or an approved foreign insurer.
3. Covers health care, hospitalisation, and repatriation
4. Provides at least $100,000 in emergency coverage

What are the minimum income requirements for a Super Visa?

To qualify for the Super Visa, sponsors must meet the minimum necessary gross income based on their family size.

Let us explore the income thresholds:

Family Size ( No. of Persons)	Minimum Gross Income (CAD)
1	29,380
2	36,576
3	44,966
4	54,594
5	61,920

These income levels ensure that sponsors have the financial capacity to support their parents or grandparents during their stay in Canada. You may contact us for more details and personalised needs.

Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) Eligibility

To be eligible to sponsor your parents or grandparents through the PGP, you must meet the following criteria:

1. RCC must invite you to apply.
2. At least 18 years old.
3. Live in Canada and be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
4. Meet minimum income requirements
5. A sponsorship agreement stating you are willing to provide financial support for the duration of their visit.

What are the Income Requirements by Family Size for PGP?

To sponsor parents or grandparents under the PGP for the 2024 intake, sponsors must meet specific minimum income requirements based on their family size over the past three years.

Let us find out the minimum income requirements needed:

Family Size (People)	2021 Income (CAD)	2023 Income (CAD)	2023 Income (CAD)
2	32,898	43,082	44,530
3	40,444	52,965	54,743
4	49,106	64,306	66,466
5	55,694	72,935	75,384
6	62,814	82,259	85,020
7	69,934	91,582	94,658

Beyond 7 members, you must add more to every Additional Member.

How to Apply for PGP?

As an applicant, you must submit a letter of invitation from your child or grandchild residing in Canada. This letter should include:

1. A promise of financial support for the duration of the visit
2. A list of individuals included in the family size calculation, including names and dates of birth.
3. The total number of people in the household.

For Quebec residents, if IRCC approves the sponsorship application, they will instruct you to submit an undertaking application to the Quebec immigration ministry. It is crucial to wait to submit this application until IRCC provides confirmation, as premature submissions will not be processed.

What is the Application process for a Super Visa?

To apply for a Super Visa, the applicant must:

1. Be outside Canada at the time of application.
2. Have a Visa printed by a visa office
3. Have a child or grandchild who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada.
4. Not be inadmissible to Canada for health or security reasons.
5. Provide documents such as birth certificates that establish the relationship between the applicant and their child or grandchild.
6. Undergo a medical examination, with instructions provided by the visa office after application submission.
7. Prove they will voluntarily leave Canada at the end of their stay.

What are the key aspects related to visitor status for Super Visa?

Visitor Status Granted by Super Visa

The Super Visa grants visitor status only; holders are not authorized to work or study in Canada during their stay.

However, they may be considered residents of Canada for tax purposes, which requires them to file Canadian income tax returns annually.

Permanent Resident Status through PGP

There are many benefits for Sponsored individuals, including:

1. Sponsored parents and grandparents gain the legal right to live permanently in Canada.
2. They can work in Canada without restrictions
3. They have access to healthcare services in Canada
4. After fulfilling residency requirements, sponsored individuals can apply for Canadian citizenship
5. They can enjoy access to various Canadian social programs.
6. Their sponsor is responsible for covering any social assistance costs they receive during the undertaking period (20 years outside Quebec; 10 years in Quebec)

What are the processing times for PGP?

1. The cutoff date to apply for the 2024 intake of the PGP was August 2, 2024. Applicants for this intake were randomly selected from those who submitted their interest to apply in 2020.
2. The IRCC reports a processing time of approximately 24 months for those who have submitted their PGP applications.
3. There have been long wait times, and submitting an interest to sponsor form does not guarantee that a family member will receive an invitation to apply.
4. The IRCC aims to accept 20,500 complete applications from the 35,700 invitations from May 21, 2024.

What are the processing times for Super Visa?

1. There is no yearly cutoff date for applying for the Super Visa.
2. Once an application is submitted, it typically takes about three months or less to process.

While the PGP involves a lengthy process with significant wait times and no guaranteed invitation, the Super Visa offers a more immediate option for parents and grandparents visiting Canada.

How to calculate Family size for the PGP?

Sponsor’s Family Members

1. The Sponsor: The individual applying to sponsor their parents or grandparents.
2. Spouse or Common-Law Partner:

• The sponsor’s spouse, even if they are separated (in most cases).
• If the spouse or common-law partner is co-signing the application, include them for all three years of the undertaking.
• If they are not co-signing, include them only for the years they meet the definition of a spouse or common-law partner.

Dependent Children

The sponsor’s dependent children.

• The dependent children of the spouse or common-law partner
• Any dependent children of the dependent children
• Only include children for the years they meet the definition of a dependent child.

People Being Sponsored

• Principal Applicant – The individual being sponsored (parent or grandparent)
• Their spouse or common-law partner and their separated spouse unless either is in a common-law relationship with another person.

Dependent Children:

• The principal applicant’s dependent children
• The dependent children of their spouse or common-law partner
• Any dependent children of the dependent children

Always remember that the calculation must encompass all family members of the principal applicant, even if they are not coming to Canada or are already permanent residents or Canadian citizens.

How to calculate Family size for the Super Visa?

Host and Their Family Members

• The host
• The host’s spouse or common-law partner, even if separated (usually).
• Dependent children of the host and their spouse or common-law partner
• You and any other Super Visa applicants applying at the same time (such as your spouse or common-law partner)
• Children who meet the definition of a dependent child must be included regardless of custody and child support arrangements.

Previously Approved Super Visa Applicants

Include any previously approved Super Visa holders who were part of another letter of invitation signed by the host or their spouse/common-law partner that is still applicable.

Previously Sponsored Individuals

Include individuals for whom the host or co-signer has previously sponsored (or acted as a co-signer) where the duration of the undertaking is still in effect.

By accurately calculating family size for both programs, sponsors can ensure they meet income requirements and provide a complete application. You may contact us for a detailed consultation.

What Qualifies as a Dependent Child?

As per IRCC, a dependent child is:

1. who is younger than 22.
2. cannot be married or with no Common-Law Partner.

However, individuals aged 22 or older can qualify if:

• They have depended on their parents for financial support before turning 22.
• They cannot financially support themselves due to a mental or physical condition.

What documents are accepted to prove dependency?

Usually, the following documents are accepted to prove the legitimacy of the dependent relationship:

For Spousal Relationships

1. Marriage Certificate: A valid government-issued marriage certificate.
2. Joint Ownership Documents: Mortgage statements, bank statements, or lease agreements showing both names
3. Tax Returns: The first page of the most recent federal tax return indicating marital status.

For Domestic Partnerships

1. Domestic Partnership Registration: Proof of registration as a domestic partner
2. Proof of Financial Interdependence: Any three documents such as joint bank accounts, joint leases, or shared utility bills issued within the last 12 months.

For Parent-Child Relationships

1. Government-issued birth certificate: Must show the child’s parent(s) name(s).
2. Adoption Papers: Court-issued adoption decree and additional notarized documents if applicable.
3. Court Child Support Order: Shows the child’s parent(s) and confirms dependency.

Additional Supporting Documents

1. Proof of Cohabitation: Documents showing both parties reside at the same address, like utility bills or bank statements.
2. Affidavits or Notarized Letters: Confirming relationships, especially in cases with stringent requirements.

Now that you have enough details about both PGP and Super visas, you may be thinking about the expected fees required to sponsor your parents or grandparents through a PGP or Super visa. Let us break down the expected total costs for both pathways.

What will be the Estimated Fees for PGP and Super Visa?

Program	Fee Description	Amount (CAD)	Payment Timing
Super Visa	Visitor visa fee	100	Paid when applying
PGP	Sponsorship fee	85	Paid when applying
	Principal applicant processing fee	$545	Paid when applying
	Right of permanent residence fee	$575	Paid when an application is approved

Note: These fees are subject to change. Before applying, it is essential to check the official IRCC website for the most up-to-date information.

In conclusion, deciding between the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) and the Super Visa depends on what you need for your family. Suppose you want your parents or grandparents to visit Canada for long periods without becoming permanent residents. In that case, the Super Visa is a great option, allowing stays of up to five years. On the other hand, if you wish for them to live in Canada permanently, the PGP is the way to go. Consider your goals and circumstances carefully to determine which option best fits your family’s situation.

ImmiLaw Immigration Law Professional Corporation offers exceptional legal representation in immigration matters, particularly for those looking to sponsor their loved ones. Whether you are seeking to reunite with family members or navigate other immigration pathways, our team is committed to supporting your immigration journey at every step. Contact us for personalised needs and assistance.

Read to Know: How to Sponsor Your Spouse or Partner for Canadian Immigration?