PGP paused in 2026: what parents-and-grandparents sponsors can do now

If you were waiting for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) to reopen so you could sponsor your mom, dad, or grandparents, the news from July 2026 is hard to hear. On July 15, 2026, IRCC confirmed it is pausing new PGP intake. There is no new "interest to sponsor" form and no fresh invitations to apply for now. But a pause is not a cancellation, and it does not leave you without options. Here is an honest look at where things stand and what you can actually do right now to keep your family close.

What the PGP pause actually means

Two things are true at once, and it helps to keep them separate.

First, new intake is closed. IRCC will not accept new interest-to-sponsor forms, and it will not invite new potential sponsors to apply, "until further notice." So if you have not already been invited, there is currently no way to start a brand-new PGP sponsorship.

Second, applications already in the system keep moving. IRCC has said it will continue to process the roughly 60,500 PGP applications already received. Those files are not being cancelled. Processing is slow, though. Historically it has run around 33 months, and up to about 66 months for applications processed in Quebec, so patience is still part of the deal.

For 2026, Canada's Levels Plan sets a target of 15,000 permanent-resident admissions through the PGP. That is how many parents and grandparents are expected to become permanent residents this year from the existing pool, not a new intake number.

One more piece of context: no new interest-to-sponsor form has opened since 2020. So while this pause is disappointing, it fits a pattern of the program running mostly on its older pool rather than fresh invitations.

Option 1: The Super Visa for long visits

If your goal is simply to have your parents or grandparents with you in Canada for long stretches, the Super Visa is the strongest alternative, and it is the one IRCC itself points to.

The Super Visa is a long-stay visitor visa built specifically for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. What makes it different from an ordinary visitor visa:

• Your parent or grandparent can stay up to 5 years at a time on a single entry.
• It can be issued as a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 10 years (in practice, limited by the passport's expiry date).

To qualify, a few things need to line up:

• Medical insurance. Your parent or grandparent needs emergency medical coverage of at least CAD $100,000, valid for at least one year from the date of entry, covering health care, hospitalization, and repatriation. As of 2026, that policy can come from a Canadian insurer or an OSFI-authorized foreign insurer. Proof is required each time they enter Canada.
• Your income as the host. You, the child or grandchild in Canada, must meet a minimum income based on the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for your family size. Note that this is plain LICO, which is lower than the LICO-plus-30% that full PGP sponsorship requires.
• An immigration medical exam for the visiting parent or grandparent.

As a rough guide, the LICO minimums (in Canadian dollars, from the table IRCC updated in July 2025) run from about $30,526 for a family of one up to $80,784 for a family of seven, with roughly $8,224 added for each additional person. From March 31, 2026, there are two ways to prove it: show the full amount in either of your two most recent tax years, or show at least 75% in the prior year and add the visiting parent's or grandparent's own income. Always check the current figures before you apply.

You can dig into the details in our Super Visa requirements and insurance guide.

Option 2: A regular visitor visa or eTA

The Super Visa is not the only way to visit. Your parents or grandparents can also apply for a standard visitor visa (a temporary resident visa) or, if they hold a passport from a visa-exempt country, travel on an electronic travel authorization (eTA).

The trade-off is length of stay. A regular visitor is usually admitted for up to six months per entry, with no Super Visa insurance requirement and no host-income test. That makes it simpler and often cheaper for shorter or more flexible visits, but it does not give you the multi-year stays the Super Visa allows. For families who just want to gather for a few months, a wedding, or the birth of a grandchild, it is frequently the most practical choice.

If you are weighing the two, our comparison of the Super Visa versus the PGP walks through which fits which situation.

Option 3: Stay ready for a future intake

A pause with no end date is frustrating, but it also means you can prepare now so you are not scrambling if intake reopens. Being ready costs nothing and puts you ahead of families who would start from zero.

A few sensible steps:

• Keep your income documentation current. PGP sponsorship uses LICO-plus-30% for the three tax years before you apply, so file your taxes on time and hold on to your Notices of Assessment.
• Gather and update family documents, including birth certificates, marriage certificates, and identity documents for the parents or grandparents you would sponsor, with certified translations where needed.
• Watch official announcements only. Because the pause runs until further notice, no one can promise a reopening date. Rely on IRCC's own updates rather than rumors or agents charging for "guaranteed" spots.

You can review how the program works, so you are ready to move quickly, in our family sponsorship overview.

What not to assume

A pause is not the end of the program. Keep these points in perspective:

• The PGP has not been cancelled. Intake is closed for now, but the program still exists and is still admitting permanent residents from the existing pool.
• Your in-progress application is safe. If you were already invited and applied, your file continues to be processed.
• The Super Visa is not a shortcut to permanent residence. It is a visitor status. It lets your family stay long-term, but on its own it does not lead to PR.
• No one can sell you an intake spot. There is currently no interest-to-sponsor form to submit, so treat any offer to "register you now" with suspicion.

If bringing your parents to Canada is the goal, do not put life on hold waiting for the PGP. For more paths, see our roundup of alternatives when the PGP is closed.

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