Parents And Grandparents Program Pause 2026: What's Next

Parents and Grandparents Program Paused in 2026: IRCC Rules, Processing Times, and Super Visa Options

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is Canada’s main permanent residence pathway for sponsoring parents and grandparents to live in Canada long‑term.

Your parents just got closer to Canada, or that’s what you thought last week. Then the news broke. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) paused the intake of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) on July 15, 2026, and now you’re stuck wondering what happens to your file or whether you even have a shot at starting one.

Take a breath. This is not the end of family reunification in Canada. It’s a policy update with real numbers attached, and those numbers tell you exactly where you stand. Below, you’ll find out what changed, what stays the same, and what to do next depending on where your application sits today. Canada’s family class admissions are planned to remain around 21–22% of all permanent resident admissions under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, so family reunification is still a core priority.

1. Key Takeaways

PGP intake is paused, not cancelled. IRCC will not receive new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice.
Around 50,000–60,000 PGP applications are still in the pipeline. IRCC plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the program in 2026, in line with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
There is no way to start a new PGP application right now. IRCC has not opened a new round of interest to sponsor forms since the 2020 lottery intake, and the program remains paused in 2026.
The Super Visa is open and improved. March 2026 income rule changes make it easier to qualify, and it’s the only active path to reunite with parents or grandparents today.
Nobody knows when PGP reopens. IRCC gave no timeline. Build a plan around the Super Visa instead of waiting.

This guide is for Canadian citizens and permanent residents across Canada who want to sponsor parents or grandparents, or bring them to Canada on a long‑stay Super Visa in 2026.

What Did IRCC Just Announce?

On July 15, 2026, IRCC announced it is pausing the intake of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) to manage the program responsibly. IRCC will not receive new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice. According to the official IRCC program update published on July 15, 2026, the government will continue processing the applications already in its system. (Official IRCC program update)

This wasn’t a total surprise to anyone who has tried to enter the PGP recently. IRCC hasn’t accepted a fresh round of interest in sponsoring forms since the original intake window back in 2020.

The pause is tied directly to Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which sets a target of 15,000 permanent resident admissions per year through the Parents and Grandparents category. In 2026, IRCC plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through PGP and will draw those approvals from existing applications already in inventory.

Family reunification hasn’t disappeared from Canada’s immigration priorities. IRCC’s own notice calls it “an important pillar” of the system, and points directly to the Super Visa as the tool still open to parents and grandparents right now. We’ll walk through that option later in this article.

Why Is IRCC Pausing New PGP Applications?

Demand for the Parents and Grandparents Program has outpaced the spaces set aside for it for years. IRCC ties the pause directly to the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which caps how many people can be approved through this stream. The department says the goal is to reduce processing times and give families already in the system a more predictable timeline. (IRCC, July 15, 2026)

This isn’t really a new restriction. The PGP has run as a lottery since 2020, when more than 200,000 people submitted interest to sponsor forms in a single intake window.

IRCC has invited a fraction of that pool each year since, through short two-week rounds. This announcement formalizes what was already happening on the ground: there is no active queue to join.

Does This Affect My Application?

Whether this news changes anything for you depends entirely on where you stood before July 15, 2026. There are three groups here, and each one has a different reality right now.

Your Status	What Happens Now
Pending PGP application	Still being processed. IRCC continues to process existing PGP applications and aims to approve up to 15,000 people in 2026 and a similar number in 2027.
Never submitted an interest to sponsor form	No PGP path is currently open. IRCC has not accepted new interest to sponsor forms since the 2020 intake and will not reopen intake until further notice.canada+2
Considering PGP for the future	No timeline for reopening. The program is paused “until further notice,” so families should monitor official IRCC updates and plan around the Super Visa in the meantime.

What If I Already Have a PGP Application In Progress?

Your file keeps moving. Based on Government of Canada reporting from July 2026, the current pipeline looks like this:

Target PGP Approvals (2026): 15,000 people approved for permanent residence, in line with Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan.
Total Applications in Pipeline: public reporting in mid‑2026 shows an inventory of around 50,000–60,000 parent and grandparent sponsorship applications.
Average Processing Time: roughly three years on average from submission to decision, depending on whether the parents intend to settle inside or outside Quebec.

IRCC plans to draw its 2026 approvals from the existing backlog. Applications submitted in July 2025 show remaining processing times of about 18 months for families settling outside Quebec and 54 months for those settling in Quebec.

You don’t need to do anything differently because of this announcement. IRCC has not said pending files will be reassessed or delayed by the pause. If anything, fewer new applicants in the system may help existing files move a little faster over time.

What If I Never Submitted an Interest to Sponsor Form?

There is currently no way to enter the PGP queue. IRCC is not accepting new interest to sponsor forms and is not issuing new invitations to apply, a freeze that has effectively been in place since the original 2020 intake closed. (IRCC, July 15, 2026)

This is the group that needs a plan B today, not a waiting game. The Super Visa is your realistic option for getting a parent or grandparent physically in Canada while the PGP stays closed. We cover that path in detail below.

Not sure whether the Super Visa fits your family? Book your Strategy Assessment, and we’ll map out your fastest realistic path.

How Long Will My Pending PGP Application Take Now?

Current PGP applications are taking roughly three years on average from submission to decision. IRCC’s 2026 target is 15,000 approvals, with a similar volume expected in 2027 from the existing pool of 60,500 files. (Government of Canada reporting, July 2026)

When Will the Parents and Grandparents Program Reopen?

IRCC has not announced a reopening date. The notice states new applications are paused “until further notice,” and the department has given no fixed timeline for when interest in sponsoring forms will be accepted again. (IRCC, July 15, 2026)

I won’t guess at a date, because nobody outside IRCC actually knows one yet. What you can do is watch the Amir Ismail & Associates immigration blog for updates and build a Super Visa plan in the meantime, so you’re not stuck waiting on a program with no confirmed timeline.

What Are Your Options Right Now?

You have one real option today if you want your parents or grandparents in Canada: the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa. It’s not a permanent residence, but it gets your family together while the PGP stays closed. Nothing in this week’s announcement affects new Super Visa applications.

Is the Super Visa a Good Alternative to PGP?

The Super Visa will not get your parents permanent residence, but it lets them stay in Canada for up to five years per entry while you wait. The Parents and Grandparents Super Visa remains open for new applications in 2026 and is not affected by the pause on permanent residence sponsorships.

The visa itself stays valid for up to 10 years, with multiple entries during that period. That’s a real difference from a standard visitor visa, which typically caps stays at six months and needs fresh approval every trip. For most families, it’s the only practical bridge until PGP intake reopens.

How Have Super Visa Income Rules Changed in 2026?

As of March 31, 2026, hosts can meet the Super Visa income requirement using either of their last two tax years, instead of only the most recent year.

If the host and co‑signer meet most of the Minimum Necessary Income, the visiting parent or grandparent’s recurring income (such as a pension) can now be added to cover the remaining amount. We broke down the full income table and every threshold by family size in our Super Visa income changes explainer.

Want your exact Minimum Necessary Income number calculated? Book your Strategy Assessment and send us your last two Notices of Assessment.

Step-by-Step: What to Do Next

Step 1: Confirm your current PGP status. Check whether you have a pending application, an old interest to sponsor form from 2020, or nothing filed at all. This determines everything else you do.

Step 2: If you have a pending application, sit tight. IRCC is still processing files toward its 15,000-approval target for 2026. No action is required on your end unless IRCC contacts you directly.

Step 3: If you have no application, evaluate the Super Visa. Calculate your family size, check your last two Notices of Assessment against the MNI table, and confirm whether your parents’ recurring income can help you qualify.

Step 4: Book a Strategy Assessment before you file anything. A licensed consultant can confirm your income calculation, catch document gaps, and build the right application the first time, whether that’s a Super Visa now or a PGP application whenever intake reopens.

Parents and Grandparents Program Pause 2026 – Decision Tree

Book a Strategy Assessment before you file anything.

Frequently Asked Questions – Parents and Grandparents Program pause 2026

Is the Parents and Grandparents Program closed in 2026?

Yes. New intake for the Parents and Grandparents Program is paused in 2026. IRCC stopped receiving new interest to sponsor forms and new applications on July 15, 2026, and will not reopen intake until further notice.

Can I still apply to sponsor my parents to Canada right now?

You cannot apply through the PGP in 2026, as there is no active intake. However, the Parents and Grandparents Super Visa remains open and allows stays of up to five years per entry, with the visa itself valid for up to ten years.

What happens to my PGP application if intake is paused?

Nothing changes for your file. IRCC is continuing to process existing applications, targeting up to 15,000 approvals in 2026 and a similar number in 2027 from the roughly 60,500 applications already submitted.

How long is the wait for parent sponsorship in Canada in 2026?

Current PGP applications are taking roughly three years on average from submission to decision, based on the existing backlog of about 50,000–60,000 files and recent processing time reports.

Is the Super Visa a good alternative to PGP right now?

It’s the only practical option while PGP intake is closed. The Super Visa doesn’t lead to permanent residence, but it allows stays of up to five years per entry, with the visa itself valid for up to 10 years.

When will Canada reopen the Parents and Grandparents Program?

IRCC has not given a date. The notice says new applications are paused “until further notice,” with no committed timeline for reopening.

How many PGP applications will be approved in 2026?

IRCC aims to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the Parents and Grandparents Program in 2026, in line with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.

Did the Super Visa income rules change alongside this announcement?

Yes. Effective March 31, 2026, hosts can qualify using income from either of the two tax years before the application, and a parent’s or grandparent’s recurring income can be added to meet the Minimum Necessary Income. These rules apply to new and in‑process Super Visa applications.

This article is written by Amir Ismail, a licensed Canadian immigration consultant based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with experience advising thousands of families on parent and grandparent sponsorship and Super Visa strategies since 1991.