By: Surjit Singh Flora
In a move that impacts thousands of families hoping to reunite with their loved ones, Canada has officially paused the intake of new applications for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on July 15, 2026, that it will no longer accept new “interest to sponsor” forms or invite additional potential sponsors to apply until further notice, effectively freezing the primary permanent residence pathway for these relatives.
While the doors are temporarily closed to new applicants, the federal government confirmed it will continue processing the program’s substantial backlog. According to the immigration department, approximately 50,900 applications remain in the current PGP inventory. This includes roughly 40,400 applications for individuals planning to settle outside of Quebec, and 10,500 applications destined for Quebec.
From this existing pool, immigration officials are targeting the approval of 15,000 parents and grandparents for permanent residence in 2026. This aligns with Canada’s broader immigration levels plan, which sets an identical target of 15,000 PGP admissions for both 2027 and 2028. However, the government clarified that these future admission targets will be met using the current backlog, rather than through the acceptance of new sponsorship applications.
The indefinite pause highlights the persistent imbalance between the program’s immense popularity and the number of available spaces. The last opportunity for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to submit an interest to sponsor form was in 2020. During that brief three-week window, the federal government received more than 203,000 submissions. For the last several years, invitations have been issued exclusively through random lotteries drawn from that original 2020 pool, leaving anyone who missed that specific window without an opportunity to sponsor their family members.
Even for those already in the system, processing times remain lengthy. Applicants who submitted files in July 2025 intending to settle outside Quebec face an estimated remaining wait of about 18 months, while those applying to Quebec face an estimated processing time of 54 months.
To accommodate families locked out of the permanent residence pathway, the federal government is encouraging the use of the parent and grandparent Super Visa. This temporary immigration option allows eligible relatives to remain in Canada for up to five years per visit, with the visa itself valid for up to 10 years. However, the Super Visa comes with strict financial prerequisites; Canadian hosts must meet minimum income requirements, agree to financially support their visiting relatives, and purchase qualifying private health insurance. Applicants must also demonstrate their intent to leave Canada when their authorized stay expires.
The decision to pause new applications serves as a significant setback for families who have waited years for a chance to enter the sponsorship lottery. Until the federal government reopens the intake process or introduces a new selection system, many Canadians will have to rely solely on temporary measures to keep their families together.
