Canada Pauses New Parent And Grandparent Sponsorships

Canada pauses new Parent and Grandparent sponsorships, i.e., Canada has announced a major change to its family sponsorship program. On July 15, the federal government confirmed that it is pausing new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).

According to the official announcement, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will not accept new Interest to Sponsor forms or issue invitations to potential sponsors until further notice.

However, the department will continue reviewing applications that have already been submitted. In 2026, IRCC plans to approve 15,000 permanent residence applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program.

PGP Admission Targets

At the time of the announcement, IRCC reported that there were 50,900 Parent and Grandparent Program applications waiting to be finalized.

Applicants who submitted their sponsorship applications in July 2025 are currently expected to receive decisions after approximately 18 months if they plan to settle outside Quebec. For applicants intending to settle in Quebec, the estimated timeline is 54 months.

How The Parents And Grandparents Program Has Worked?

The Parents and Grandparents Program allows eligible Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians to sponsor their parents or grandparents for Canadian permanent residence.

The program last accepted new Interest to Sponsor forms in 2020.

Because the number of interested sponsors has always been much higher than the number of available spots, the government has used a lottery system to select applicants.

During the three-week intake period in 2020, the government received 203,213 unique Interest to Sponsor submissions.

Between 2020 and 2025, IRCC held yearly invitation rounds. Instead of opening a new intake each year, the department randomly selected sponsors from the same pool created in 2020.

The government allowed only invited sponsors to submit a complete sponsorship application.

Since the 2020 intake closed, there has been no new opportunity for Canadian citizens or permanent residents to submit an Interest to Sponsor form. With the latest announcement, that situation will continue until the federal government decides to reopen the program.

Super Visa Remains Available

The federal government continues to encourage families to use the Super Visa as an alternative, even though it has paused the Parents and Grandparents Program.

The Super Visa allows eligible parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years per visit. The visa itself can remain valid for up to 10 years, making it a long-term option for families who want to spend extended time together.

By comparison, a regular visitor visa generally allows foreign nationals to stay in Canada for up to six months at a time.

To qualify for a Super Visa, applicants must receive an invitation letter from their child or grandchild living in Canada.

The host family member must agree to provide financial support during the visitor’s stay and must also meet the required minimum income level.

Applicants must also purchase valid health insurance covering the length of their visit.

Like all temporary residents, Super Visa holders must satisfy Canadian border officers that they meet all entry requirements & that they will leave Canada before the end of their authorized stay.

The Super Visa does not provide permanent residence, but it allows parents and grandparents to spend longer periods with their families while living temporarily in Canada.

The latest government decision means that families hoping to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence will have to wait until IRCC announces any future reopening of the Parents and Grandparents Program. Until then, the department will continue focusing on applications already in its inventory while the Super Visa remains the main option for family reunification.

Note: The current inventory includes 40,400 applications for applicants planning to settle outside Quebec and 10,500 applications for those intending to settle in Quebec.

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