PGP vs Super Visa Canada: What's the difference?

Manmeet Kaur
[Published 15 Feb, 2024 | 02:44 PM]
About Author - 7 min read
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Are you planning to bring your parents and grandparents to Canada? You have two options - Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) and Super Visa.

“Which one should I apply for?’

Well, this is the common question that troubles a lot of individuals. While both options allow the parents and grandparents of permanent residents or citizens to come to Canada, the program has significant differences - in terms of eligibility, processing times, and duration of stay.

What is the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)?

If you wish to sponsor your parents and grandparents for Canada PR, apply for the Parents and Grandparents Program - which is a part of Family Sponsorship Canada. For that, you must meet the eligibility requirements and submit an interest-to-sponsor form. PGP selects sponsors through a lottery system, once a year, and if selected, you will be invited to submit a complete sponsorship application. 

Along with the sponsor, the sponsored individual must also fulfill the requirements like medical examinations, security checks, and more. If your application gets approved, your parents and grandparents will soon be on their way to Canada as permanent residents.

In fact, under the new Immigration Levels Plans 2024-2026, IRCC is planning to welcome 32,000 immigrants through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) - in 2024 alone. This number will rise to 34,000 immigrants for 2025 and 2026 each.

Who is eligible?

The sponsor must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be a PR holder, a Canadian citizen, or a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must be living in Canada.
• Exceed the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirements for PGP.
• Show proof of income to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
• Must sign an undertaking to financially support the sponsored individual(s) for 20 years.
• Commit to the Canadian government that you will repay any social assistance benefits paid to the sponsored family members for 20 years.
• If living in Quebec, sign an additional agreement.

How to Apply?

Here are the steps to apply for a Parents and Grandparents Program from India:

Step 1: Check your eligibility to become a sponsor.

Step 2: Fill out the Interest to Sponsor form. The Canadian authorities will run a random draw and pick candidates to apply for the Parents and Grandparents Program.

Step 3: If your profile gets selected in the draw, go ahead and submit a complete sponsorship application to IRCC.

Processing time: About 24 months

What is a Super Visa?

Coming to Canada Super Visa, it is also for sponsoring parents and grandparents to Canada - but only temporarily. Super Visa is a Temporary Residence Visa (TRV), a type of “visitor visa”, allowing parents and grandparents of citizens and permanent residents of Canada to visit their family.

The validity of a Super Visa is for 10 years. This allows parents and grandparents to enter Canada multiple times and stay for 5 years at each entry - without renewing their visitor status.

Who is eligible?

For Super Visa Canada, the spouse or common-law partner of the sponsored individual may be included in the application, but no dependents.

The sponsored individuals must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Get a letter of invitation from their host (child or grandchild) in Canada.
• Provide proof of parental relationship with the host - a copy of the birth certificate of the host, baptismal certificate, and other documentation where the sponsored individual is mentioned as a parent.
• Provide proof of medical insurance, valid for at least one year. It must have:
• Approval from a Canadian insurance company
• Coverage of health care, hospitalization, and repatriation
• Minimum $100,000 of emergency coverage
• Validity for each entry to Canada
• Accessibility to review at Canadian port of entry

• Must show that they meet the minimum income criteria
• Are willing to take financial responsibility for the visitor during their stay in Canada.

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How to Apply?

Here are the steps to apply for a Super Visa from India:

Step 1: Gather the supporting documents like a letter of invitation from the sponsor in Canada, relationship proof, medical insurance proof, and others.

Step 2: Complete the application form on the official website of the Canadian government. Also, pay the application fees.

Step 3: Submit the complete application with supporting documents online or at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) and wait for IRCC to review it.

Processing time: About 52 days

Now, the decision is yours!

If your parents and grandparents wish to become permanent residents, the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is the ideal pathway. If they’re planning to visit Canada for a vacation or meet family, then Super Visa would be the way to go. You can do one thing  - apply for a Super Visa as well as try to get selected for the PGP.

The process to apply might seem complex if you are applying for the first time. In such a case, it would be ideal to talk to the best immigration consultants in Hyderabad. Our team will assess your case and offer advice for you to make an informed decision. 

Read more: How do I apply for a super visa for Canada?