Canada launches a lottery: the kin of country residents have a chance to get a residence permit

On September 20, 2021, Canada is planning a new immigration lottery to select 30,000 random candidates (including permanent residents) who will be allowed by authorities to sponsor their parents and grandparents to come to Canada. The state's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced this at a press conference July 21.

The lottery will be drawn beginning Sept. 20 among applicants, who have already applied for the program between October and November 2020. Successful applicants will receive invitations over the next two weeks.

The government imposes certain requirements on candidates:

• no criminal record and a clean credit history;
• signing a declaration that proves the applicants' ability to provide for dependents for 20 years.

Quebec's requirements are more stringent. The local authorities want to make sure that applicants have a regular income to participate in the program.

The Canadian government has held such a lottery before. Last time, 10,000 permanent residents and citizens were allowed to support their elderly relatives. This time the authorities decided to triple the number of applicants. Under the law, parents and grandparents of applicants will be allowed to come to Canada to obtain a residence permit, which gives them the right to full medical care and employment. Residents will then be able to apply for Canadian citizenship.

Source: UGlobal