Canada Raises Minimum Income Requirements for 2025 PGP Applications
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced updated income thresholds for Canadians wishing to sponsor their parents or grandparents under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in 2025. To be eligible, sponsors must now demonstrate a minimum annual income of $47,549 for the year 2024, reflecting an increase of approximately $3,000 from the previous requirement.
2025 PGP Sponsorship: Key Income Thresholds
To qualify for the PGP in 2025, sponsors must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the three consecutive tax years prior to applying—namely 2022, 2023, and 2024. The required income depends on the total number of family members supported.
| 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 these income levels individually or jointly with a co-signer, such as a spouse or common-law partner. Proof of income must be submitted via Notices of Assessment (NOAs) from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). To allow IRCC to verify this information, sponsors must select “Yes” in the CRA authorization section of the IMM 5768 form and include their Social Insurance Number (SIN).
2025 Invitations Limited to 2020 Sponsor Pool
Beginning July 28, 2025, IRCC will issue Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to individuals who submitted an Interest to Sponsor form back in 2020 and have not yet received an invitation. The department aims to issue 17,860 ITAs to meet a cap of 10,000 complete applications within approximately two weeks. No new interest forms will be accepted in 2025.
Processing Times and Undertaking Obligations
Applicants should be prepared for extended processing times:
- Outside Québec: ~24 months
- Inside Québec: ~48 months
Upon applying, sponsors must sign a formal undertaking committing to financially support their sponsored parents or grandparents for:
- 20 years (outside Québec)
- 10 years (within Québec)
About the Parents and Grandparents Program
The PGP is a vital part of Canada’s family reunification stream, allowing citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residency. Due to consistently high demand, IRCC uses a randomized lottery system to select eligible applicants.
The last opportunity to submit an Interest to Sponsor form was in 2020, and IRCC continues to draw from that pool in 2025.
Super Visa: A Strong Alternative for Family Reunification
For those not selected in the PGP draw, the Super Visa offers a flexible and accessible solution:
- Valid for up to 5 years per entry, with multiple entries allowed over 10 years
- Recent changes now allow non-Canadian health insurance providers, reducing overall costs
- Sponsors must still meet LICO-based income requirements and secure appropriate insurance
With these changes, IRCC aims to ensure that only financially stable sponsors can reunite with their families, while managing demand effectively under national immigration targets. The updated PGP requirements reflect Canada’s ongoing commitment to family unity, balanced with fiscal responsibility and program integrity.