The Canadian government has announced an indefinite pause on accepting new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), effectively closing the pathway for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence until further notice.
The decision, announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on July 15, means the department will no longer accept new Interest to Sponsor forms or issue invitations to prospective sponsors unless the policy is reversed.
Existing Applications to Proceed
Despite the suspension of new intake, IRCC said it will continue processing applications already in its inventory, targeting 15,000 permanent resident admissions through the PGP in 2026.
According to the department, the current inventory stands at approximately 50,900 applications, comprising 40,400 applications for applicants intending to settle outside Quebec and 10,500 for those destined for Quebec.
Processing times vary significantly by destination. Applications submitted in July 2025 are expected to take about 18 months for destinations outside Quebec and up to 54 months for Quebec-bound applicants.
Canada’s latest Immigration Levels Plan maintains annual admissions targets of 15,000 parents and grandparents under the PGP for each of 2026, 2027 and 2028.
However, with no new applications being accepted, future admissions will be drawn exclusively from the existing inventory.
Lottery System Frozen
The Parents and Grandparents Program has not accepted new expressions of interest since 2020, when more than 203,000 Canadians submitted sponsorship requests during a three-week intake period.
Since then, IRCC has relied on annual lotteries, inviting eligible sponsors from the 2020 pool between 2020 and 2025. No new sponsors have been allowed to enter the lottery during that period.
The latest announcement now suspends even those invitation rounds until further notice.
Government Promoting Super Visa Alternative
IRCC is encouraging families unable to use the PGP route to consider Canada’s Super Visa program, which allows parents and grandparents to visit relatives in Canada for up to five years per visit, with visas valid for as long as 10 years.
Applicants must receive an invitation letter from a qualifying Canadian host, purchase private medical insurance, and demonstrate they meet Canada’s temporary resident requirements. Hosts must also satisfy minimum income thresholds and commit to financially supporting their visiting relatives.
Unlike permanent residence through the PGP, the Super Visa provides long-term temporary residence and does not offer a pathway to Canadian permanent resident status.
