The federal government confirmed on July 15, 2026, that it will not accept any new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship program for the remainder of 2026.
Thousands of Canadian citizens and permanent residents just lost their shot at bringing parents and grandparents to Canada this year.
This pause affects every prospective sponsor who hoped to file a new interest to sponsor form or receive a fresh invitation to apply this year.
The announcement lands on top of an already massive backlog of 60,500 applications still sitting in the processing pipeline.
Families across the country now face a difficult question about when, or whether, the permanent residence pathway for older relatives will reopen.
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What IRCC Announced On July 15
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada published a formal web notice confirming the PGP intake pause on July 15, 2026.
The department stated that it is taking these steps to maintain a well-managed and sustainable immigration system.
IRCC confirmed it will continue processing existing applications and plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the PGP in 2026.
That 15,000 figure aligns with the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan targets for parent and grandparent admissions.
The department will not receive new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice from the government.
Humanitarian and compassionate requests tied to applications that fall outside these processing rules will also not be considered.
Why IRCC Paused The Program
The PGP program has been under intense pressure for years due to demand that far exceeds the available spaces under the levels plan.
When the program launched its interest to sponsor form in 2020, more than 200,000 permanent residents and citizens submitted their names to the pool.
Over 100,000 people from that original pool remain waiting for an invitation that may never arrive under the current structure.
There are currently 60,500 applications in progress across the country, representing a significant processing burden for IRCC officers.
Processing times outside Quebec currently sit at approximately 33 months for parent and grandparent sponsorship cases.
Quebec applicants face an even longer wait, with processing times stretching to approximately 66 months due to the province’s separate immigration approval system.
IRCC said the pause will help reduce those wait times and improve predictability for families already in the queue.
Current PGP Processing Times At A Glance
| Category | Estimated Wait |
| PGP outside Quebec | Approximately 33 months |
| PGP inside Quebec | Approximately 66 months |
| Applications in progress | 60,500 nationwide |
| 2026 PR admission target | 15,000 through PGP |
How PGP Admission Targets Changed Over Recent Years
The reduction in parent and grandparent admissions did not happen overnight.
Canada’s immigration levels plan has been gradually shifting its allocation priorities toward economic immigration streams.
Family class admissions remain at roughly 21% to 22% of total permanent resident intake, but the PGP share within that family allocation has dropped sharply.
| Year | PGP Target | Total Family Class |
| 2024 | 32,000 | 114,000 |
| 2025 | 24,500 | 88,000 |
| 2026 | 15,000 | 84,000 |
| 2027 | 15,000 | 81,000 |
| 2028 | 15,000 | 81,000 |
The PGP target dropped from 32,000 in 2024 to just 15,000 in 2026, representing a cut of more than 50% in just two years.
That 15,000 target will remain unchanged through 2027 and 2028 based on current federal planning documents.
Total family class admissions also declined from 114,000 in 2024 to 84,000 in 2026, reflecting a broader government pivot toward economic streams.
What Happens To Applications Already Submitted
IRCC will continue processing PGP applications that were submitted during the 2025 intake, up to a maximum of 10,000 complete applications.
Those applications must come from individuals who received an invitation to apply from the 2020 interest-to-sponsor pool.
IRCC sent 17,860 invitations over approximately two weeks beginning July 28, 2025, with the last day to apply being October 9, 2025.
Sponsors must ensure their application information matches the details from their original 2020 submission or provide an explanation for any differences.
All applications must be submitted online unless the applicant has a documented disability or another approved reason preventing electronic filing.
Applicants must include all required forms and documents and file within the 60-day deadline stated in their invitation letter.
This Is Not The First Time Canada Paused PGP
The 2026 freeze marks the third consecutive year the government has declined to open a new PGP intake round.
IRCC did not accept new applications in 2025 either, choosing instead to process the backlog from previous intake years.
In 2023, IRCC sent 24,200 invitations from the same 2020 pool, with a goal of accepting up to 15,000 complete applications.
No new interest to sponsor form has opened since the original 2020 submission window, leaving anyone who missed that deadline locked out of the system entirely.
IRCC has described the current situation as an administrative pause rather than a permanent cancellation of the program.
The Super Visa Remains The Best Available Alternative
With permanent residence sponsorship off the table for new applicants, the Super Visa stands as the most practical pathway for families wanting to bring parents and grandparents to Canada.
The Super Visa is a multiple-entry temporary resident visa designed specifically for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
It allows stays of up to five years per entry and provides multiple entries to Canada for up to 10 years, depending on passport validity.
Holders can also request a two-year extension after their initial five-year stay, meaning families can stay together for up to seven consecutive years.
IRCC recently made the Super Visa more accessible by implementing changes to the income requirement calculations effective March 31, 2026.
Hosts now have two alternative ways to meet the income requirement under the updated rules.
The first option lets hosts meet the income threshold using either of the two taxation years immediately preceding the application date.
The second option allows a visiting parent or grandparent’s own income to be added toward the requirement if the host meets a minimum percentage.
IRCC also eased the health insurance requirement in January 2025, permitting applicants to purchase coverage from international providers authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions.
Super Visa Versus PGP Sponsorship Comparison
| Feature | Super Visa | PGP Sponsorship |
| Status granted | Temporary resident | Permanent resident |
| Stay duration | Up to 5 years per entry | Indefinite once approved |
| Visa validity | Up to 10 years | Not applicable |
| Healthcare access | Private insurance required | Provincial healthcare eligible |
| Work rights in Canada | No | Yes |
| Path to citizenship | No | Yes after residency |
| Currently accepting apps | Yes | No (paused) |
What Families Should Do Right Now
Families who were planning to sponsor parents or grandparents in 2026 need to adjust their plans immediately.
The most practical step is to begin a Super Visa application, which provides the longest possible stay for parents and grandparents in Canada.
Prospective hosts should gather their Notice of Assessment documents from the Canada Revenue Agency early in the process.
The updated Super Visa income rules that took effect on March 31, 2026, may help families that previously fell short of the income threshold.
Private health insurance coverage of at least $100,000 from a Canadian or OSFI-authorized international provider remains mandatory for all Super Visa applicants.
Anyone with an existing PGP application in the system should monitor their IRCC portal regularly and respond promptly to any requests for additional documentation.
IRCC has indicated it will post updates on its official website and social media channels when new instructions regarding the PGP become available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can someone who missed the 2020 interest to sponsor submission window ever sponsor their parents through PGP?
IRCC has not opened a new interest to sponsor form since 2020, and there is no confirmed timeline for when or whether a new submission window will open. Anyone who did not submit their interest-to-sponsor form during the 2020 intake period remains outside the current pool entirely. Future intake rounds and their eligibility requirements will depend on instructions the immigration minister issues at a later date, and those instructions could adopt an entirely different selection mechanism than the lottery system used since 2020.
Does the PGP pause affect parents and grandparents who are already living in Canada on a Super Visa?
Super Visa holders are not directly affected by the PGP pause because their status is governed by temporary residence rules rather than the family sponsorship stream. However, the pause does remove the possibility of transitioning from a Super Visa stay into a pending PGP sponsorship application during 2026. Parents and grandparents currently in Canada on a Super Visa can continue their stay, apply for extensions, and leave and re-enter the country as their visa allows, but they cannot use the PGP pathway to convert their temporary status into permanent residence until the program reopens for new applications.
Will provinces like Quebec receive a separate PGP allocation or have their own sponsorship intake in 2026?
Quebec operates under a distinct immigration agreement with the federal government that gives the province authority over certain selection criteria, but PGP admissions are still allocated at the federal level through the Immigration Levels Plan. The 15,000 PGP target for 2026 covers all provinces and territories, including Quebec. Quebec does not run a separate PGP intake independently of IRCC, though applications involving Quebec residents undergo additional provincial review steps that contribute to the longer processing timelines observed in that province.
What happens if a sponsor’s income drops below the minimum requirement while their PGP application is still being processed?
IRCC assesses income eligibility based on the three tax years preceding the application submission date, not on income at the time of decision. A sponsor whose income declined after filing would not automatically have their application rejected, provided their income met the Low Income Cut-Off threshold during the required assessment period. However, if IRCC requests updated documentation or if the sponsor needs to re-demonstrate eligibility at any stage due to application updates, a current income shortfall could create complications. Sponsors in this situation should seek guidance from a qualified immigration professional.
Could the federal government replace the PGP with a different permanent residence pathway for parents and grandparents?
There has been no official proposal to replace the PGP with an alternative permanent residence stream for parents and grandparents. However, the broader direction of Canadian immigration policy toward economic selection and the growing emphasis on Super Visa enhancements suggests the government may be positioning the Super Visa as the long-term primary mechanism for family reunification with older relatives. The public consultations for the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan that closed on June 30, 2026, could influence whether a structural alternative to the PGP appears in future planning documents.
Fact Check: All figures cited in this article are sourced from the official IRCC web notice published on July 15, 2026; the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan; and IRCC processing time data updated in July 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Readers should consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or a licensed immigration lawyer for guidance specific to their individual circumstances.
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