Yes, you can absolutely sponsor only one divorced parent to Canada through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). By doing so, you reduce your required Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) threshold, as you are only adding one sponsored adult to your family size calculation instead of two.
When families navigate the Canadian immigration system, their living situations back in their home countries rarely fit perfectly into standard IRCC forms. A very common question among immigrants in Canada is: Can I sponsor only one parent to Canada if they are divorced? Whether your parents have been separated for decades or recently went their separate ways, you are fully permitted to sponsor just one of them for Permanent Residence under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
Sponsoring a single divorced parent actually changes the entire financial dynamic of your application. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) calculates your mandatory income based strictly on the number of people you must support. Sponsoring one parent instead of a couple makes meeting the three-year Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) significantly easier for families living in expensive cities like Vancouver, Toronto, or Victoria. In this detailed guide, we will walk you through how to properly declare a divorced parent on your application without triggering delays.
Step-by-Step Process in Canada
The PGP rules apply federally, meaning a sponsor living in Regina follows the exact same procedures as someone living in Halifax. 🇨🇦 When handling a sponsorship for separated or divorced parents, strict attention to legal status is required. Here is how you prepare your case.
Step 1: Defining Your Family Unit and MNI
Your first step is accurately calculating your family size. 📍 If you are single, have no children, and are sponsoring just your divorced mother, your family size is 2 (you + your mother). You must look at the IRCC MNI tables to ensure your CRA Notice of Assessment meets the minimum income required for a family of 2 for the past three consecutive tax years.
Step 2: Addressing the Non-Accompanying Parent
Even though you are only sponsoring one parent, IRCC requires full transparency about your entire family tree. On the IMM 5406 Additional Family Information form, your sponsored parent must list their ex-spouse (your other parent). They must clearly indicate the marital status as “Divorced” or “Separated” and explicitly state that the ex-spouse will not be accompanying them to Canada.
Step 3: Providing Proof of Divorce or Separation
IRCC will not simply take your word that the parents are no longer together. You must provide legal documentation. 📝 This typically involves submitting a certified translation of their official divorce certificate, an annulment document, or a legal separation agreement from their home country. If they are informally separated without court documents, you may need a specialized law firm to help draft statutory declarations proving the separation.
Step 4: Handling Dependent Siblings
If the parent you are sponsoring has custody of any dependent children (your younger siblings under the age of 22), those children must be included in the application. This automatically increases your family size and, consequently, the MNI you need to prove. The non-accompanying parent (the one not coming to Canada) will usually need to sign an official IMM 5604 form consenting to the minor children immigrating to Canada.
Step 5: Submitting the Application
Once you are invited to apply from the randomized PGP lottery, you will upload all these documents to the Permanent Residence Portal. Because the other parent is completely excluded from the sponsorship undertaking, they will not undergo medical exams, they will not submit police certificates, and you will not pay government processing fees for them.
How Much Does it Cost in Canada?
Sponsoring one parent is significantly cheaper than sponsoring a couple, as all government processing fees are per person. All fees must be paid in Canadian Dollars (CAD) directly through the IRCC online payment portal. Here is a general breakdown:
- Sponsorship Fee: $75 CAD.
- Principal Applicant Processing Fee: $545 CAD (for the one parent you are sponsoring).
- Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF): $575 CAD.
- Biometrics Fee: $85 CAD for one adult.
- Dependent Children: If your sponsored parent is bringing your sibling (under 22), add $175 CAD per child.
- Translation & Lawyer Fees: Getting foreign divorce certificates legally translated and hiring an immigration lawyer to ensure the separation is documented correctly can cost between $1,500 and $3,500 CAD.
| Sponsorship Scenario | Impact on Family Size | IRCC Gov Fees Required |
| Sponsoring Married Parents | Adds 2 to family size | Pay for 2 adults (approx. $2,160 CAD) |
| Sponsoring 1 Divorced Parent | Adds 1 to family size | Pay for 1 adult (approx. $1,080 CAD) |
| Sponsoring 1 Parent + 1 Sibling | Adds 2 to family size | Pay for 1 adult + 1 minor |
How Long Does the Process Take?
The processing time for sponsoring a single divorced parent is exactly the same as sponsoring a married couple. ⏲ First, you must wait in the lottery pool until you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), which can take several years. Once the complete application is submitted online, IRCC’s standard processing time for the Parents and Grandparents Program is currently hovering around 20 to 24 months. Providing clear divorce documents upfront prevents IRCC from sending procedural fairness letters, which can delay the application by months.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I sponsor my other parent later?
Yes. If you decide to sponsor your other divorced parent in the future, you must submit a completely separate PGP application for them during a future lottery intake, assuming you still meet the MNI requirements for your new, larger family size.
What if my parents are separated but not legally divorced?
If they are merely living apart without legal documents, IRCC may still consider them common-law or married depending on the exact timeline. You must provide strong evidence (separate utility bills, tax returns) to prove a genuine breakdown of the relationship.
Do I need the other parent’s permission to sponsor my mom?
No, you do not need the ex-spouse’s permission to sponsor an adult parent. You only need their signed, notarized consent if your sponsored parent is bringing a minor child (your sibling) under the age of 18 to Canada.
If my parent remarried, do I have to sponsor the step-parent?
Generally, yes. If your parent is legally married to a new spouse, that step-parent must be included as an accompanying dependent (adding them to the family size and MNI) or explicitly declared as non-accompanying, which requires a medical exam anyway.
Can my divorced parent come on a Super Visa instead?
Absolutely. Sponsoring a single parent for a Super Visa is a fantastic, much faster alternative to the PGP. The income requirement (LICO) for just one visiting parent is quite low and easily achievable for most Canadian sponsors.
Will IRCC interview my divorced parent?
Interviews for the PGP are incredibly rare. IRCC typically makes a decision based entirely on the paper evidence. However, if the divorce documents appear fraudulent, an officer may request an interview at the local visa office.
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