Canada Pauses New Parents and Grandparents Program Applications

Canada has closed the front door to its Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), at least for now. On July 15, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said it will not accept new interest-to-sponsor forms or send fresh invitations to apply until further notice. For the many families hoping to sponsor a parent or grandparent this year, the waiting continues.

Here is what the pause does and does not mean, and what you can do while the program is on hold.

What actually changed on July 15

IRCC is pausing new intake into the PGP. In plain terms:

• No new interest-to-sponsor forms are being collected.
• No new invitations to apply are going out.
• There is no set reopening date. The department says the pause runs until further notice.

This is a decision about who can newly enter the queue. It is not a cancellation of the program, and it does not affect people who are already in the system.

Existing applications are still moving

If you already have a PGP sponsorship application on file, IRCC has been clear that it "will continue to process" applications already received. Roughly 60,500 applications are in progress, and they are not affected by the pause.

Processing is slow, though. Current timelines run around 33 months, and applications handled in Quebec can take up to 66 months. If you are already in that queue, keep your file current: respond quickly to any request from IRCC, and let them know if your address, income, or family situation changes.

For 2026, Canada still plans to welcome 15,000 parents and grandparents as new permanent residents under its multi-year immigration plan. Those admissions come from the existing pool of applications, not from any new intake.

A pattern, not a one-off

The pause fits a longer trend. No new interest-to-sponsor form has opened since 2020. In recent years, IRCC has issued invitations from that 2020 pool rather than reopening the form to fresh applicants. The July 2026 decision means that, for now, even those invitations are on hold.

The Super Visa is still open

IRCC continues to point families toward the Super Visa as the main alternative for reuniting with parents and grandparents. It does not lead directly to permanent residence, but it allows long visits, and it is available now.

Key features as of 2026:

• Stays of up to five years per entry, on a visa valid for up to 10 years.
• Proof of private medical insurance with at least CAD $100,000 in emergency coverage, valid for at least one year.
• A host (you, the sponsoring child or grandchild) who meets a minimum income threshold based on the Low Income Cut-Off.
• An immigration medical exam for the visiting parent or grandparent.

Confirm the current requirements and income figures on the official Canada.ca Super Visa page before you apply, since insurance and income rules are updated periodically.

What sponsors-in-waiting should do now

If you were hoping to sponsor this year, a few practical steps:

• If you submitted an interest-to-sponsor form in 2020, keep your contact details and documents ready in case you are invited from that pool.
• Consider the Super Visa if your goal is to have a parent or grandparent live with you for extended periods soon.
• Watch for official updates rather than third-party rumours about a reopening date. None has been announced.
• Review the broader rules for family sponsorship so you are ready to act quickly if intake reopens.

For a deeper walk-through of your options, see our guides on what PGP applicants can do now and the Super Visa's 2026 requirements.

This is general information, not legal advice — for your situation, consult an authorized immigration representative (an RCIC or a Canadian immigration lawyer).