Canada Halts New Parent/Grandparent Sponsorships

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a major change to the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), pausing the intake of new applications until further notice.

This means Canadian citizens and permanent residents will not currently have a new opportunity to submit an interest-to-sponsor form or receive an invitation to apply under the PGP.

Existing Applications Will Continue to Be Processed

While no new applications are being accepted, IRCC will continue processing applications already in its inventory. The department has set a goal of approving 15,000 Parents and Grandparents Program applications in 2026.

The current inventory includes approximately 50,900 applications, including applications from sponsors intending to settle both inside and outside Quebec.

Why Has the Program Been Paused?

The Parents and Grandparents Program has historically faced extremely high demand. Since the last new interest-to-sponsor intake in 2020, invitations have been issued from the existing pool of potential sponsors.

During the 2020 intake period alone, more than 200,000 individuals submitted expressions of interest to sponsor their parents or grandparents.

With demand continuing to significantly exceed the number of spaces available, the program has operated through a lottery-style invitation system.

Super Visa Remains an Alternative

For families who are unable to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence, the Super Visa remains an option for extended visits to Canada.

Eligible parents and grandparents may be able to visit their family in Canada for extended periods, subject to meeting the program’s requirements, including medical insurance, financial support requirements and other eligibility conditions.

However, the Super Visa is a temporary resident option and does not provide permanent residence.

What This Means for Families

The pause represents a significant change for Canadian citizens and permanent residents hoping to bring their parents or grandparents to Canada permanently.

For now, individuals who have already submitted applications will continue to have their files processed. However, there is no new opportunity to submit an interest-to-sponsor form or receive an invitation under the PGP until further notice.

At Method Immigration, we continue to monitor the latest IRCC developments and help families understand the immigration options available to them.

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