Open
Super Visa
A visa that lets parents and grandparents of citizens and permanent residents stay up to five years at a time.
Open all year, with easier income rules since March 31, 2026.
Family
Parents and Grandparents Program
Sponsorship of parents and grandparents for permanent residence, through invitations to eligible sponsors.
PausedStatus checked Nov 7, 2026
Not accepting new applications in 2026; new intake is paused until further notice. Applications from the 2025 intake are still being processed.
How it worked while it was open
This pathway is not taking new applications. The rules below describe how it worked, for reference and for anyone whose application is still being processed.
- The sponsor is a citizen or permanent resident, invited after submitting an interest to sponsor form.
- The sponsor must meet the minimum income for three tax years in a row.
- A 20-year undertaking to support the parent or grandparent (10 years in Quebec).
- New intake is paused; 2025 applications continue to be processed.
What you can do instead
Open
Visitor visa
A visa to visit family, travel or do business for up to six months at a time, for citizens of visa-required countries.
Open all year.
Open
Other relatives sponsorship
Sponsorship of an orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild under 18, or of one relative if you have no close family who could be sponsored or who is already in Canada.
Open all year. The rules are narrow, so read them closely before you apply.
All pathways
Statuses change, sometimes with little notice. Always confirm on the official page before you apply. This is general information, not legal advice.