PGP Sponsorship Calculator Canada 2026

Check Parents and Grandparents Program eligibility. 3-year MNI income assessment, estimated fees, undertaking period, and processing times.

Key Takeaways

  • All three consecutive tax years must meet the MNI (LICO + 30%) — failing even one year means you do not qualify until you have three passing years.
  • The total family unit size includes your household plus all sponsored persons and their dependents, which can significantly raise the income threshold.
  • The sponsorship undertaking is 20 years — you are legally and financially responsible for the sponsored persons' basic needs for two decades after they become permanent residents.
  • PGP intake is limited annually. IRCC uses an interest-to-sponsor process where potential sponsors submit interest and are selected through a randomized lottery.
  • Quebec residents follow separate rules under the Quebec-Canada immigration agreement, with different income requirements and undertaking conditions.

Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) Sponsorship Calculator

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence in Canada. Unlike the Super Visa, which permits extended visits, PGP leads to permanent resident status with full rights to live, work, and access public health care in Canada.

Important — 2026 intake: Under Ministerial Instructions effective January 1, 2026 (Canada Gazette, Part I, Vol. 159 No. 52), IRCC is not accepting new PGP sponsorship or permanent resident visa applications in 2026. Only the limited pool of sponsors invited from the 2020 interest-to-sponsor list (up to 10,000 applications received in 2025) is being processed in 2026. If you were not previously invited, you cannot submit a new PGP application this year. Use the Super Visa as an interim pathway, and continue building a 3-year MNI history so you are ready when a future intake opens.

PGP sponsorship comes with significant requirements: sponsors must demonstrate they meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for three consecutive tax years, commit to a 20-year financial undertaking, and navigate a limited-intake process. This calculator assesses your income against MNI thresholds, estimates total fees, and outlines the undertaking and processing timeline.

How It Works

1. Enter your current household size — count yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, and all dependent children. Do not include the parents or grandparents you plan to sponsor at this step.

2. Enter the number of parents or grandparents you wish to sponsor, plus any of their dependents. The calculator adds these to your household to determine the total family unit size.

3. Enter your gross income from each of the last three tax years, as shown on your Notices of Assessment (NOAs) from the Canada Revenue Agency.

4. The calculator checks each year's income against the MNI threshold (LICO + 30%) for your total family unit size. All three years must meet the threshold — failing even one year disqualifies you.

5. Results show your pass/fail status for each year, the MNI threshold amounts, estimated fees (sponsorship application, PR processing, right of permanent residence fee, biometrics), and the 20-year undertaking period.

The Three-Year Income Requirement

PGP sponsorship requires the sponsor to meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for each of the three most recent consecutive tax years. The MNI is calculated as the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30% for the total family unit size. Income is verified using Notices of Assessment (NOAs) issued by the Canada Revenue Agency.

The three-year requirement is strictly enforced — all three years must meet the threshold. If your income dipped below the MNI in any of the three years, you must wait until you have accumulated three consecutive qualifying years. Income from both spouses can be combined if filing jointly. Self-employment income, rental income, and investment income are all counted, provided they appear on your NOA. The total family unit includes your existing household plus the persons being sponsored and any of their dependents.

The 20-Year Undertaking

When you sponsor parents or grandparents under PGP, you sign a legally binding undertaking committing to provide for their basic needs — food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities — for 20 years from the date they become permanent residents. During this period, if your sponsored family members receive social assistance, the government may seek repayment from you.

The 20-year period is the longest sponsorship undertaking in Canada's immigration system (spousal sponsorship is 3 years). It continues even if your relationship with the sponsored person changes, if you experience financial hardship, or if you move to a different province. The undertaking is a serious financial commitment that should be carefully considered. In Quebec, the undertaking period is 10 years under provincial rules.

Interest-to-Sponsor Process and Intake Limits

PGP has a limited annual intake, meaning not all eligible sponsors can submit applications each year. IRCC uses an interest-to-sponsor process: potential sponsors submit an expression of interest during an open intake period, and IRCC randomly selects a set number of sponsors from the pool. Selected sponsors are then invited to submit a complete application.

The number of invitations issued each year is determined by IRCC based on processing capacity. In recent years, IRCC has invited between 10,000 and 24,000 potential sponsors per round. If you are not selected, you must resubmit your interest in the next intake period — there is no carryover. The randomized selection means that meeting the income requirement does not guarantee selection; it only qualifies you to enter the lottery.

Fees and Processing Timeline

PGP sponsorship involves multiple government fees per sponsored person: the sponsorship application fee, the permanent residence processing fee, the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF), and biometrics fees. The total cost per sponsored person is typically in the range of $1,000-$1,500 CAD in government fees, depending on current fee schedules.

Processing times for PGP applications have historically ranged from 20 to 24 months from submission to final decision, though times can vary based on IRCC capacity, the volume of applications, and whether additional documents or medical exams are required. The overall timeline from interest-to-sponsor submission to the sponsored person receiving permanent residence can be two to three years when accounting for the intake wait, application preparation, and processing.

Key Facts

  • Sponsors must meet MNI (LICO + 30%) for three consecutive tax years. The MNI threshold increases with family unit size.
  • The sponsorship undertaking is 20 years — the longest in Canada's immigration system. In Quebec, it is 10 years.
  • PGP intake is limited annually through a randomized interest-to-sponsor lottery. Not all eligible sponsors are selected.
  • Processing times average 20-24 months from complete application submission to final decision.
  • Quebec residents follow separate income requirements and undertaking conditions under the Quebec-Canada immigration agreement.

FAQ

Can I apply to the PGP in 2026?

No. Under the Ministerial Instructions effective January 1, 2026 (Canada Gazette, Part I, Vol. 159 No. 52, December 27, 2025), IRCC is not accepting any new PGP sponsorship or permanent resident visa applications in 2026. Only sponsors who submitted an interest-to-sponsor form in 2020 and were invited to apply in 2025 — up to a maximum of 10,000 applications — are having their applications processed in 2026. If you were not previously invited, your option is to wait for the next intake to open and, in the meantime, use the Super Visa for extended visits. Continue building three consecutive tax years of MNI-qualifying income so you are ready when IRCC announces a new intake.

How much income do I need to sponsor my parents to Canada?

You must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) — LICO + 30% — for your total family unit size for each of the three most recent consecutive tax years. The family unit includes your household (you, spouse, children) plus all persons being sponsored and their dependents. Use this calculator with your specific family composition to see the exact threshold for each year.

How long does PGP sponsorship processing take?

PGP applications typically take 20-24 months to process from the time a complete application is submitted to the final decision. However, the total timeline is longer when you include the interest-to-sponsor waiting period (which can be a year or more if you are not selected in the first round) and the time needed to gather documents after selection. From start to finish, expect two to three years in most cases.

Can I sponsor my parents if my income was low in one of the three years?

No. All three consecutive tax years must meet the MNI threshold. If your income dipped below the MNI in any one of the three years, you do not qualify and must wait until you have accumulated three consecutive qualifying years. For example, if your 2023 income was below the threshold but 2024 and 2025 met it, you would need to wait until 2026 to have three consecutive passing years (2024, 2025, 2026).

What happens if I am not selected in the PGP interest-to-sponsor lottery?

If you are not selected in a given year's intake, you must resubmit your expression of interest in the next intake period. There is no carryover or priority for previous applicants. The selection is randomized, so meeting the income requirement does not improve your chances of selection — it only qualifies you to participate. Many families apply the Super Visa as an interim measure while waiting for PGP selection.

Can my spouse and I combine our incomes to meet the MNI?

Yes. If you are married or in a common-law relationship, you can combine both spouses' income to meet the MNI threshold. The income is verified using Notices of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency. Both NOAs should be submitted. The combined income must meet the MNI for each of the three consecutive tax years.

Updated April 2026. Information on this page is provided for educational purposes only. Tax rules, rates, and government programs may change — verify details with the CRA or a qualified financial advisor.