2025 PGP Invitations are the most important step for families hoping to sponsor their parents or grandparents under Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). Understanding how invitations are issued, who qualifies, and the total number of invitations is critical for potential sponsors. The 2025 intake is strictly limited, regulated by Ministerial Instructions, and restricted to those who submitted an Interest to Sponsor form in 2020. This article explains how the 2025 PGP invitations process works, including eligibility, invitation numbers, what the 2025 Ministerial Instructions mean, and what we know about future intakes.

Only 2020 Applicants Are Eligible for 2025 PGP Invitations

The key rule for 2025 is that only applicants who submitted an Interest to Sponsor (ITS) form in 2020 are eligible. IRCC confirmed this in their official operational instructions on the “Intake process – Parents and Grandparents,” available here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/permanent-residence/non-economic-classes/family-class-parents/intake-process.html

This means:

  • No new Interest to Sponsor forms were accepted in 2021–2025.

  • Only ITS forms submitted during the October–November 2020 window remain valid.

  • Applicants who did not submit in 2020 or have already received a previous invitation are not eligible.

IRCC continues to use the 2020 pool due to high demand and limited processing capacity.

How Many 2025 PGP Invitations IRCC Issued

According to IRCC’s 2025 intake announcement and the 2025 Ministerial Instructions published in the Canada Gazette on March 22, 2025:
https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2025/2025-03-22/html/notice-avis-eng.html#na4

  • On July 28, 2025, IRCC issued 17,860 invitations for the 2025 intake.

  • IRCC expects 10,000 complete sponsorship applications to be submitted.

  • A cap of 25,000 total PGP sponsorship applications (including 2024 + 2025) can be processed in 2025.

Not all invitations result in completed applications — some may be incomplete, refused, or not submitted.

How IRCC Sends 2025 PGP Invitations

  • Invitations began on July 28, 2025, over a roughly two-week period.

  • Invitations are sent only to the email provided on the 2020 ITS form.

  • Duplicate or invalid 2020 submissions are removed.

  • Selection is randomized, using a lottery-style draw that has been standard since 2017.

What Receiving a 2025 PGP Invitation Means

An invitation grants permission to submit:

  1. A Sponsorship Application, and

  2. A Permanent Residence Application for the parent(s) or grandparent(s).

Both applications must be submitted together online through the Permanent Residence Portal. The Ministerial Instructions guarantee at least 60 days to submit. Submitting without an invitation will result in the application being returned or refused.

What If You Didn’t Submit an ITS in 2020?

You are not eligible to participate in the 2025 PGP. The only alternative family reunification option is the Super Visa, which allows parents or grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years.

When Is the Next PGP Intake?

As of now, IRCC has not announced a new “Interest-to-Sponsor” intake beyond the 2020 pool. The 2025 round relied entirely on 2020 entries.

  • IRCC has not provided any date for a future intake.

  • Future invitations would depend on whether IRCC decides to open a new ITS window or continue clearing remaining 2020-pool applicants.

  • Until an official announcement is made, there is no way to know when the next intake will occur.

What you can do now:

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If you need assistance with PGP applications, LMIA, Spousal Sponsorship, Work Permits, or Study Permits, contact RS Immigration:

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RS Immigration can guide you through eligibility assessments, document preparation, and application strategy based on the latest immigration rules and 2025 PGP process as outlined by official IRCC sources:

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