Canadian immigration officials announced on 15 July 2026 that the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is being paused, meaning no new “interest to sponsor” forms will be accepted until further notice. Existing applications will continue to be processed, with a goal of approving 15,000 sponsorships in 2026.
Current backlog and processing timelines
- Total inventory: ≈ 50,900 applications
- 40,400 for applicants intending to settle outside Quebec
- 10,500 for applicants intending to settle within Quebec
- Estimated processing time for July 2025 submissions
- Outside Quebec: ~ 18 months
- Within Quebec: ~ 54 months
Admission targets (2026‑2028)
| Year | PGP admissions target |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 15,000 |
| 2027 | 15,000 |
| 2028 | 15,000 |
How the PGP works
- Launched in 2020 as a family‑reunification pathway for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians.
- Operates on a lottery system; invitations are sent randomly to sponsors who submitted an interest form during the designated intake period.
- The 2020 intake received 203,213 unique sponsor submissions.
- Since the 2020 intake, no additional intake periods have been opened, leaving prospective sponsors without a route to submit new interest forms.
Alternative option: the Super Visa
The government’s press release directs affected sponsors to consider the Super Visa for parents and grandparents:
- Validity: up to 10 years; each visit may last up to 5 years.
- Requirements:
- Letter of invitation from the Canadian host.
- Purchase of private health insurance covering the entire stay.
- Host must meet minimum income thresholds and agree to financially support the visitor.
- Applicant must satisfy standard temporary‑resident entry criteria, including proof of intent to leave Canada at the end of the authorized stay.
The Super Visa offers a longer stay than the standard visitor visa (which is limited to six months) but does not provide a pathway to permanent residence. Prospective sponsors should weigh the longer temporary stay against the inability to secure permanent residency under the paused PGP.
Source: Government of Canada news release, “Canada takes steps to responsibly manage the Parents and Grandparents Program.”
Source article: www.cicnews.com
