Alternatives to the sponsorship of parents and grandparents

by Michael Scott

The sponsorship of parents and grandparents has been a source of frustration for many Canadian sponsors since the major intake of 2020. The submission of thousands of intentions to sponsor created a vast inventory that provided IRCC with applications for following years. Sponsors who were not part of the 2020 inventory were excluded year after year. The selection was limited to the fortunate few who were part of the existing 2020 inventory and issued an invitation to apply.

The same situation may be used this year if there is an announcement, but the status for 2026 as announced on the IRCC official website is that no new applications will be accepted under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for the current year. This means that Canadian citizens and permanent residents do not have a route to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence (PR) but there are pathways that they can pursue to bring these loved ones to Canada for up to years at a time.

Canadian families should be aware of two practical options open to them at this time: (1) the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa, which is the best option for longer stays; and the Regular Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or eTA, best for shorter stays. The following is a brief description of how they work and the differences in outcomes and requirements.

Option 1: Super Visa

The Super Visa is a multiple-entry visitor visa that can be valid for up to 10 years and will allow the parent or grandparent to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time. The option is preferred to the PGP intakes, which are limited to once a year. The Super Visa remains an available option for extended family visits but has a different immigration outcome. Under the PGP, for those invited from the inventory, the successful applicants can become permanent residents and are available to work, study and settle in Canada permanently. The Super Visa provides temporary residence for applicants and subjects cannot work, or study inside Canada without a work permit or study permit. It is not a substitute for Permanent Residence through the PGP program. However, given the limitation which has been primarily persons taken from the 2020 inventory it remains a practical and effective way to bring in parents and grandparents.

Eligibility requirements

• Sponsors must be the child or grandchild of the applicant;
• Sponsor(s) must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or registered Indians who provide a copy of ONE of the following: proof of citizenship, permanent residence or certificate of Indian Status (status card). The sponsor or sponsors must be 18 years of age;
• Sponsor(s) must provide evidence of minimum necessary income (MNI) for the previous three taxation years which meet or surpass the income requirement under the PGP based on the number of family members including both applicant and sponsors. The income requirement, updated on July 29, 2025, included $46,720 for a Fo3, $56,724 for a Fo4, $64,336 for a Fo5, $72,560 for a Fo6, $80,784 for a Fo7, and for families over 7 members add $8,224 for each additional family member;
• Sponsor(s) must obtain health insurance for the parent/grandparent (s) for a minimum cover of $100,000 CND from the of entry, paid in full or by instalments, which cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation. The applicants should show proof of paid insurance at time of entry;
• Parent/grandparent should be admissible to Canada and provide evidence of passing an immigration medical examination as well as meeting other conditions.

Option 2: Temporary Resident Visa or eTA

The first question is to determine the home country of the applicant, from visa required to visa exempt. The Philippines was a visa required country for many years but the requirements for visitors changed in 2023. On June 6, 2023 IRCC relaxed some of the entry requirements for visitors from the Philippines. On that date IRCC offered applicants from the Philippines, who held an American entry visa or had visited Canada in the previous 10 years the option of applying for an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization), which was much cheaper and faster alternative than the standard Temporary Resident Visa.

The question is whether the proposed parent or grandparent applicant meets the requirements for an eTA or, if not, then meets the more demanding application for a Temporary Resident Visa. Parents or Grandparents (visitors) showing up at a port of entry with a visitor visa or an ETA are usually allowed to stay six months per visit, but the CBSA officer can allow less or may issue a visitor record document allowing more with a specific departure date.

The eTA is a travel document available to certain countries, and in the case of the Philippines under certain conditions, such as possession of an American entry visa or history of visiting Canada within the last 10 years.

The application process is far less strict than the temporary resident visa and often can take minutes to complete. The approval process is completed online with e-mail notification, and the cost is $7.00 compared with $100 for the TRV. Some may take longer and additional questions or requirements are communicated via the e-mail.

If however, the visitor from the Philippines does not have the requisite 10-year history of visiting Canada or holding an American entry visa, they have to submit an application for a Temporary Resident Visa and the submission is screened by admission officers who determine if the applicant is a bona fide visitor or a risk to remain inside the country.

The decision is largely at the discretion of the officer and they check the submission to see if basic requirements are met such as: a valid passport or travel document cover the time inside the country; being in good health and not representing a medical risk to the country; ensuring that the applicant is not criminally inadmissible to Canada nor a security risk to the country; proving that ties to the home country, such as the Philippines, are greater than Canada and that they will leave the country at the end of their visit; having sufficient fund for the visit even if they are parents or grandparents of the hosts; possibly present a recent medical examination by a panel physician authorized by Canada; and finally if they present an invitation letter from their host family and proof of the relationship.

Option #1 or #2 could be better options for you depending upon several factors. The Super Visa is the better option for hosts who want to bring parents and grandparents into the country for a longer period. The requirements for Super Visa hosts are higher, such as income requirements and medical insurance, but the chances of approvals are greater. However, the TRV or eTA makes more sense if your income is less and especially if the proposed trip is shorter. The challenge under #2 is to demonstrate strong ties to the home country. The short duration challenges applicants to show sufficient funds for the trip and a clear pan and intent to leave Canada at the end of the visit.

Visitor visas also benefit from shorter processing times than Super Visas, but this can vary greatly by the visa office to which they apply. The eTAs can be approved as little as a few minutes in some cases. If you are considering the options open to you, determine which fits your situation best and meets your ability to pay for the additional costs. Good luck in your endeavours.

Michael Scott is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC, R525678) who has 30 years of experience with Immigration Canada and the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. He currently works as a licensed consultant with Immigration Connexion International Ltd. Contact him at 204-691-1166 or 204-227-0292. E-mail: mscott.ici@gmail.com.