Canada Adjusts Minimum Income for PGP Applications
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced updated income thresholds for sponsoring parents or grandparents under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for 2025. Canadian citizens and permanent residents who wish to sponsor family members must now demonstrate an annual income of at least $47,549 for the year 2024, which is an increase of approximately $3,000 compared to the previous year.
2025 PGP Income Requirements: What You Need to Know
To be eligible to sponsor under the PGP in 2025, sponsors must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the three tax years prior to applying—that is, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
The required income varies based on family size. Here’s a breakdown:
| Family size | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| 2 people | $47,549 | $44,530 | $43,082 |
| 3 people | $58,456 | $54,743 | $52,965 |
| 4 people | $70,972 | $66,466 | $64,306 |
| 5 people | $80,496 | $75,384 | $72,935 |
| 6 people | $90,784 | $85,020 | $82,259 |
| 7 people | $101,075 | $94,658 | $91,582 |
| Each additional person | $10,291 | $9,636 | $9,324 |
Sponsors may meet the MNI on their own or combine their income with a co-signer, such as a spouse or common-law partner.
Sponsors need to provide Notices of Assessment (NOAs) from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for proof To authorize IRCC to verify these, sponsors must check “Yes” on the CRA authorization section of the IMM 5768 form and provide their SIN.
Invitation to Apply: Only 2020 Pool Eligible
IRCC will issue Invitations to Apply (ITAs) starting July 28, 2025, aiming to invite approximately 17,860 sponsors to reach a cap of 10,000 complete applications over about two weeks
Only individuals who submitted an Interest to Sponsor form in 2020, and haven’t yet been invited, are eligible
No new interest forms will be accepted in 2025.
Processing Times & Undertaking
Processing times remain lengthy: approximately 24 months for applications outside Québec, and 48 months for Québec-bound applications
Upon inviting, sponsors must sign an undertaking to financially support their parents/grandparents for 20 years (or 10 years if residing in Québec)
What Is the Parents and Grandparents Program?
The PGP is part of Canada’s family reunification stream, allowing eligible Canadians and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residency. Because demand for this program far exceeds the number of available spots, IRCC uses a randomized lottery system to issue invitations.
The last time the form to express interest in sponsoring under this program was open was in 2020.
Super Visa: A Practical Alternative
For those who don’t receive an ITA, the Parents and Grandparents Super Visa is a viable option:
- Allows stays of up to 5 years per entry with multiple entries over 10 years
- Recent updates relaxed health insurance requirements, including acceptance of non-Canadian providers, reducing costs
- Sponsors must still meet basic income criteria (LICO-based) and secure insurance coverage
Canada’s 2025 updates to the Parents and Grandparents Program reinforce the importance of family unity while ensuring that sponsors have the financial capacity to provide for their loved ones. By tightening income verification and limiting access to the 2020 pool, IRCC intends to manage demand and delivery effectively under national immigration targets.