2023 Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Rules

Summary#

The government published new Ministerial Instructions under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that set rules for how parent and grandparent sponsorship files are handled in 2023. They allow up to 16 000 sponsorship applications (including some received in 2022), require most applications to be filed online, and were signed on July 7, 2023 and published on September 9, 2023.

What it does#

• Authorizes a maximum of 16 000 sponsorship applications for parents and grandparents to be accepted for processing in the 2023 calendar year. That total includes both applications carried over from 2022 and new ones submitted in 2023.
• Limits who can apply: only people who filed an “interest to sponsor” between October 13, 2020 (noon EDT) and November 3, 2020 (noon EST) and who later received an invitation may submit a sponsorship application. Invitations are chosen by a randomized selection from non-duplicate interests.
• Requires most sponsorship and permanent resident visa applications to be submitted electronically (“apply online”). Alternative formats are available only for people who cannot apply online (for example, due to disability) or if the Minister specifies another option.
• Requires applications to match the information provided in the original interest-to-sponsor form, or to explain and document any differences. Applicants must use the forms and supporting documents listed in the department’s application package (see Guide 5772 — Application to Sponsor Parents and Grandparents).
• Sets a minimum deadline structure: sponsors must submit their application by the deadline on their invitation, which will be at least 60 calendar days from the date the invitation was sent. If fees and the main application arrive within that period but some documents are missing, the department will ordinarily allow an extra 30 calendar days to supply them.
• Says applications that meet the conditions will be processed in the order received; those that don’t will be returned. Humanitarian and compassionate requests made from outside Canada that accompany an unaccepted application will not be processed.
• Repeals the earlier set of instructions published in 2022.

Who's affected#

• People who submitted an interest to sponsor a parent or grandparent during the October 13–November 3, 2020 intake and who later received an invitation.
• Parents and grandparents seeking permanent residence under the family class who are connected to those invitations.
• Sponsors in Canada who must meet the documentary, form, and deadline requirements.
• Immigration representatives who help prepare and submit these files, and staff at the Department of Citizenship and Immigration who process them.

Why it matters#

• The cap of 16 000 places limits on how many parents and grandparents can move forward in 2023, so not everyone who hoped to sponsor a relative will be processed this year.
• If you weren’t in the 2020 “interest to sponsor” pool or didn’t receive an invitation, these instructions do not create a new intake route.
• The online filing rule means applicants and sponsors need reliable internet access or must qualify for an exception.
• Missing forms, mismatched information, or missed deadlines can lead to an application being returned, which delays family reunification.