As of July 15, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has stopped accepting new interest-to-sponsor forms under the Parents and Grandparents Program. For Canadian citizens and permanent residents hoping to bring a parent or grandparent to Canada permanently, this closes off the only entry point into the program for the time being, though it does not affect anyone already in the queue.
The Parents and Grandparents Program has always been oversubscribed relative to the number of spots IRCC sets aside for it each year, and this pause is being framed as a way to work through the existing backlog rather than a program cancellation. IRCC has confirmed that roughly 60,500 people currently have applications in the system, and that it intends to finalize permanent residence for up to 15,000 parents and grandparents in 2026, consistent with the 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan. Anyone with a file already open, whether at the interest-to-sponsor stage or further along, stays in that queue and does not need to take any new action because of this announcement.
What this pause does affect is anyone who has not yet entered the system and was hoping to submit an interest-to-sponsor form this year. IRCC has not given a timeline for when new intake will reopen, so families in this position are left waiting without a clear date to plan around. The department has pointed to the Super Visa as the practical alternative in the meantime. A Super Visa allows a parent or grandparent to visit Canada for up to five years at a time, with multiple entries permitted over a period of up to ten years, and does not require the applicant to qualify as a permanent resident.
For families weighing their options right now, the Super Visa is worth a closer look even though it is a temporary visitor status rather than a path to permanent residence. It allows extended, multi-year stays without the years-long wait that has become typical for PGP applications, and it remains fully open regardless of this pause. Families who already have a PGP application in process should focus on keeping their documents current and responding promptly to anything IRCC requests, since existing files continue to move forward on their own timeline.
This is a program worth watching closely. IRCC has not said when it will reopen new intake, and prior PGP cycles have sometimes shifted quickly once the government decided to open a new invitation round.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly did IRCC pause?
IRCC has stopped accepting new interest-to-sponsor forms for the Parents and Grandparents Program as of July 15, 2026. No new invitations to apply are being issued until further notice.
Does this affect applications already submitted?
No. IRCC has confirmed it will continue processing existing PGP applications and still plans to finalize permanent residence for up to 15,000 people through the program in 2026.
Is the Parents and Grandparents Program being cancelled?
Not according to IRCC. The department has described this as a temporary pause tied to managing application volume and processing times, not a cancellation of the program.
What can a parent or grandparent do while the pause is in effect?
The Super Visa remains open and allows a parent or grandparent to visit Canada for up to five years at a time, with multiple entries over as long as ten years, without needing to qualify for permanent residence.
When will IRCC start accepting new PGP applications again?
IRCC has not announced a timeline for reopening intake. Families waiting to apply should watch for updates, since PGP intake windows have opened with limited notice in the past.
If you have questions about the Parents and Grandparents Program, the Super Visa, or another family sponsorship pathway to Canada, our attorneys are available to help you understand your options.
Reach out to our team at info@visaserve.ca or call 905-203-2266 to speak with an experienced Canadian immigration lawyer today.
