1. Learn about sponsoring parents and grandparents
Question and answer
Which relatives can be sponsored to become permanent residents?Canada has a program that lets some Canadian citizens and permanent residents sponsor their parents or grandparents to become permanent residents. To do this:
- they must qualify to be a sponsor, and
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) must invite them to apply.
But this program is currently paused. Starting July 15, 2026, IRCC is not accepting any new applications to sponsor parents or grandparents. They're reviewing the applications they already have.
Apply for a super visa instead
Your parents and grandparents may be able to apply for a super visa to visit Canada instead. A super visa allows them to visit for 5 years at a time. They can also apply to extend their stay. And with a super visa, they can enter Canada multiple times for up to 10 years.
Read more about applying for a super visa in Step 2.