The PGP Program Is Paused — And Thousands of Canadian Families Are Affected
In a development that has caught many Canadian families off guard, the federal government officially confirmed on July 15, 2026, that it will not accept any new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for the remainder of 2026. No new interest to sponsor forms will be accepted. No new invitations to apply will be issued. The door, for now, is firmly closed.
At Visarete Immigration Services, we understand how deeply disappointing and frustrating this news is for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have been waiting — sometimes for years — to bring their parents or grandparents to Canada as permanent residents. In this blog, we break down exactly what IRCC has announced, why this pause has happened, what it means for families already in the system, and most importantly, what your best options are right now.
What IRCC Announced on July 15, 2026
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada published a formal web notice on July 15, 2026, confirming the PGP intake pause. The department stated 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 — a figure that 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.
This announcement affects every prospective sponsor who was hoping to file a new interest to sponsor form or receive a fresh invitation to apply this year.
Why Has Canada Paused the PGP?
The pressures behind this pause have been building for years. 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 has stated that the pause will help reduce those wait times and improve predictability for families already in the queue. In short, the program cannot sustainably absorb new applications while tens of thousands of existing cases remain unresolved.
How PGP Targets Have Dropped Over Recent Years
The reduction in the number of parents and grandparents admitted through sponsorship did not happen suddenly. It has been a gradual and deliberate policy shift. The table below shows just how significantly the targets have changed:
| 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 — 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 immigration streams.
This context matters because it signals that the PGP is not simply experiencing a temporary administrative hiccup. The structural direction of Canada’s immigration policy is moving away from large-scale family class admissions and toward economic streams — and families planning for permanent sponsorship of parents and grandparents need to factor this into their long-term thinking.
This Is the Third Consecutive Year Without a New Intake
The 2026 freeze marks the third consecutive year the government has declined to open a new PGP intake round. 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.
For families who missed the 2020 submission window, this is a particularly difficult reality. There is currently no mechanism — and no confirmed timeline — for a new intake round that would allow them to enter the PGP pool.
What Happens to Applications Already in the System?
If your PGP application is already submitted and in processing, there is some reassurance here. 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.
If you have an active application in the system, monitor your IRCC portal regularly and respond promptly to any requests for additional documentation. Do not assume your file is progressing without checking.
The Super Visa — The Best Alternative Available Right Now
With the PGP closed to new applicants, the Super Visa is now the most practical and powerful tool available for Canadian families who want 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.
The Super Visa was also recently made more accessible. IRCC implemented changes to the income requirement calculations effective March 31, 2026. Hosts now have two alternative ways to meet the income requirement. 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 already meets a minimum percentage of the threshold.
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.
Here is a quick comparison to help families understand the difference between the two pathways:
| 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 |
While the Super Visa does not grant permanent residence or provide access to provincial healthcare, it offers a meaningful and extended period of time for families to be together — and right now, it is the only pathway that is actually open and accepting new applications.
What You Should Do Right Now
If you were planning to sponsor your parents or grandparents through the PGP in 2026, here is what Visarete Immigration Services recommends:
Start a Super Visa application immediately. This is the fastest and most accessible route to bringing your family members to Canada right now. Gather your Notice of Assessment documents from the Canada Revenue Agency early in the process and review whether the updated March 2026 income rules help you qualify. Ensure you arrange private health insurance coverage of at least $100,000 from a Canadian or OSFI-authorized international insurer — this remains a mandatory requirement for all Super Visa applications.
If you have an existing PGP application in the processing queue, continue to monitor your IRCC portal closely and keep your contact information updated.
And if you are unsure which pathway is right for your specific family situation, the most important step you can take is to speak with a qualified Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant who can assess your options and guide you through the process.
Book a consultation with Visarete Immigration Services today — our experienced team is ready to help you find the best available path to reuniting with your family in Canada, even in the face of this difficult news.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is the Parents and Grandparents Program cancelled permanently?
No — IRCC has described the 2026 pause as an administrative measure rather than a permanent cancellation of the program. However, no new interest to sponsor forms will be accepted and no new invitations to apply will be issued for the remainder of 2026. There is no confirmed date for when a new intake round will open, and any future intake could operate under entirely different rules or a different selection mechanism than the lottery system used since 2020. At Visarete Immigration Services, we are monitoring every government update and will keep our clients informed the moment any new developments are announced.
Q2. I missed the 2020 interest to sponsor window. Can I still sponsor my parents through the PGP?
Not at this time. No new interest to sponsor form has been opened since 2020, meaning anyone who did not submit during that original window is currently outside the PGP pool entirely. The government has not confirmed whether or when a new submission window will open. If this describes your situation, the Super Visa is the most practical available alternative — and the recent 2026 changes to the income calculation rules may make it easier for you to qualify than it was before. Speak with a consultant at Visarete Immigration Services to review your options.
Q3. My PGP application is already in the system. Will it continue to be processed?
Yes. IRCC has confirmed it will continue processing applications submitted during the 2025 intake, up to a maximum of 10,000 complete applications. These must be from individuals who received an invitation to apply from the original 2020 interest-to-sponsor pool. If your application is in the queue, make sure your information is current on your IRCC portal and respond promptly to any requests for documents. Contact Visarete Immigration Services if you need assistance managing your active file.
Q4. How does the Super Visa compare to PGP sponsorship?
The key difference is the type of status granted. The Super Visa is a temporary resident visa — it allows your parents or grandparents to visit and stay in Canada for up to five years per entry, with a possible two-year extension, but it does not grant permanent residence, access to provincial healthcare, or the right to work in Canada. The PGP, when open, grants full permanent residence which includes healthcare eligibility, work rights, and a path to citizenship. For families where permanent residence is the long-term goal, the Super Visa serves as a bridge — not a final destination. Our consultants at Visarete Immigration Services can help you use the Super Visa strategically while you wait for the PGP to reopen.
Q5. How long are current PGP processing times?
Processing times for PGP applications are currently very lengthy. For applicants outside Quebec, the estimated wait is approximately 33 months from the time of submission. For Quebec-based applicants, the processing time stretches to approximately 66 months due to the additional provincial review step required in that province. These timelines are one of the key reasons IRCC has paused new intake — the department needs to work through the existing backlog of 60,500 applications before it can responsibly take on new cases.
