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Canada pauses new parent, grandparent immigration sponsorship
The pause on new PGP applications will remain in effect until further notice, the department said.
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Bhavana P - Fri, 17, Jul 2026
- 18:43 EDT
- 29
Canada’s flag. / Pexels
The Canadian government has paused accepting new applications under its Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), saying the move is aimed at reducing processing delays and maintaining a sustainable immigration system.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Department, Government of Canada announced on July 15 that it will not accept new interest-to-sponsor forms or issue invitations to prospective sponsors until further notice.
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The department said it will continue processing existing applications and plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the program in 2026, in line with Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
The Parents and Grandparents Program, launched in 2020, allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence. More than 200,000 people initially expressed interest in participating, with selected applicants invited each year to submit formal sponsorship applications.
The department said the temporary suspension is intended to improve processing times and provide greater predictability for families while ensuring the immigration system remains manageable.
The announcement comes as Canada continues to adjust its broader immigration policies. Under the federal government's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, the country aims to admit 380,000 permanent residents annually while reducing the number of temporary work and study permits issued compared with previous years.
Despite the pause, family reunification remains a priority, the government said. Parents and grandparents can still apply for a super visa, which allows eligible applicants to visit family members in Canada for up to five years at a time with multiple entries over a 10-year period. IRCC noted that recent changes to income and health insurance requirements have made the super visa more accessible.
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