Canada’s Parents & Grandparents Visa To Accept Applications In October

By Iyojo AMEH

In an official announcement, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have revealed their plans for the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship program in October 2023.

They will be accepting a maximum of 15,000 complete applications.

This development is particularly significant for eligible applicants from Nigeria who have obtained Canadian citizenship.

They now have the opportunity to apply for a visa on behalf of their parents or grandparents, granting them permanent residence in Canada.

Starting October 10, 2023, the IRCC will initiate the process by sending out invitations to apply.

A total of 24,200 prospective sponsors will receive these invitations, but only 15,000 fully completed applications will be accepted. These invitations will be distributed over several weeks.

What’s interesting is that instead of introducing a new interest-to-sponsor form, IRCC will select potential sponsors from the existing pool of submissions from 2020. This approach mirrors the strategy used in both the 2021 and 2022 intakes. If you submitted an interest-to-sponsor application in 2020 but didn’t receive an invitation in the past two years, it’s essential to check the email address you provided.

For those fortunate enough to be invited to apply in 2023, the submission of applications will be done electronically, either through the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal.

To sponsor parents and grandparents for Canadian Permanent Residency (PR), there are specific eligibility criteria to meet. Sponsors must be at least 18 years old and fall into one of these categories: Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act. Additionally, they must demonstrate the financial means to support the family they wish to sponsor, meeting the financial requirements set by IRCC. The required amount of money for each family member is outlined on the IRCC website.

For individuals who have been unable to participate in the sponsorship program since 2020, there’s an alternative solution – applying for a super visa. This visa is valid for up to 10 years and allows for multiple entries. It’s a flexible option that eases the process for Canadian citizens and permanent residents looking to reunite with their parents and grandparents in Canada.