On July 15, 2026, IRCC paused new intake under the Parents and Grandparents Program; applications already received will still be processed.
What happened
On July 15, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that it is pausing new intake under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). Until further notice, IRCC will not accept new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply. Applications already in the system will continue to be processed, and IRCC plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the PGP in 2026, in line with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
Who is affected
The pause affects Canadian citizens and permanent residents who hoped to sponsor a parent or grandparent. According to CIC News, the last interest to sponsor window opened in 2020, and invitations in the following years were drawn at random from that pool. The notice means no new window and no further draws for now. People whose applications are already being processed are not affected.
What it means
IRCC points families to the super visa. It allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time, with multiple entries over a period of up to 10 years. The host child or grandchild must provide an invitation letter and meet a minimum income requirement, and the applicant must buy qualifying health insurance. IRCC says it recently adjusted the super visa income and insurance requirements, so check the current rules on its website before applying.
Key points
- No new PGP interest forms or invitations from July 15, 2026, until further notice
- Applications already received are still processed; target of up to 15,000 approvals in 2026
- The super visa remains open, with stays of up to five years at a time
Based on official information available at the time of the announcement. General information only, not legal advice. Immigration rules change often; IRCC and provincial websites prevail.