Canada halts new parent, grandparent sponsorship applications until further notice

Canada has announced that it is pausing the intake of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) as part of its efforts to maintain a sustainable immigration system. The move means there will be no new sponsor applications or invitations under the program until further notice.

However, the government said it will continue processing applications already in the system and plans to grant permanent residence to up to 15,000 parents and grandparents in 2026, in line with its 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.

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Here's what the announcement means.

What has Canada announced?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said it is pausing the intake of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).

As part of the pause, IRCC will:

• Not accept new Interest to Sponsor forms.
• Not issue new invitations to potential sponsors.
• Continue processing applications already in its inventory.

The pause will remain in place until further notice.

Why has Canada taken this step?

According to IRCC, the number of people who want to sponsor their parents and grandparents continues to be much higher than the number of permanent residence spots available each year.

The department said pausing new applications will:

• Reduce processing backlogs.
• Improve processing times.
• Make the system more predictable for applicants.
• Keep immigration in line with Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.

Who is affected?

The announcement mainly affects Canadian citizens and permanent residents who were planning to sponsor their parents or grandparents but have not yet entered the PGP process.

These prospective sponsors will have to wait until IRCC reopens the program.

Who is not affected?

The pause does not affect people who:

• Already submitted a PGP application.
• Were invited to apply in an earlier intake and have an application under processing.

IRCC said it will continue processing these existing cases.

Will Canada still approve parent sponsorship applications?

Yes.

The government said it plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the Parents and Grandparents Program in 2026.

These approvals will come from applications that are already in the processing queue.

Can parents still visit Canada?

Yes.

Parents and grandparents can still apply for a Super Visa, which remains available despite the pause in the PGP.

The Super Visa allows eligible parents and grandparents to:

• Stay in Canada for up to five years per visit.
• Make multiple entries for up to 10 years.

IRCC also noted that it has recently made the Super Visa more accessible by changing certain income and health insurance requirements.

What is the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)?

The Parents and Grandparents Program allows eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence in Canada.

Because demand has consistently exceeded available spots, IRCC has used an Interest to Sponsor system, inviting selected potential sponsors to submit full applications.

What happens next?

IRCC has not announced when it will begin accepting new Interest to Sponsor forms again.

Until a future announcement is made:

• No new sponsor applications will be accepted.
• No new invitations will be issued.
• Existing applications will continue to be processed.
• The Super Visa will remain the main pathway for parents and grandparents wishing to spend extended periods with their families in Canada.