The Canadian Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Ministry (IRCC) announced that it will begin this week sending invitations to thousands of citizens and permanent residents in Canada to submit official applications to sponsor their parents and grandparents under the "Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship" program (PGP).

According to the ministry, the invitation process will be carried out gradually starting from mid-July, and applicants will be selected from those who previously expressed their interest in sponsorship during the registration period that opened in 2020.

The government aims to accept up to 15,000 new applications in 2025 under this program, which is considered one of the most demanded family immigration programs in the country.

The ministry clarified that those who receive invitations must submit their completed applications within the specified deadline and meet the income requirements necessary to sponsor the concerned family members.

IRCC confirmed that those who did not receive an invitation this year can still consider applying for a "long-term visitor visa" for parents or grandparents, which may allow them to stay in Canada for up to 10 years.

This procedure comes as part of the Canadian government's commitment to family reunification policies, despite the challenges related to capacity and resources allocated for processing applications.