Canada Extends Pause on New Parents and Grandparents Program Applications

IRCC will not accept new interest to sponsor forms and will not invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice. If you were planning to sponsor your parent or grandparent to Canada as a permanent resident, that pathway is unavailable until further notice.

Key Takeaways

• IRCC has paused new PGP intake as of July 15, 2026.
• No new interest to sponsor forms or applications for PR will be accepted until further notice.
• Up to 15,000 people will still receive permanent residence through the PGP in 2026, all from applications already in the processing queue.
• Parents and grandparents can still visit Canada through the super visa, which allows stays of up to five years at a time and multiple entries for up to 10 years.

No New Interest to Sponsor Forms Accepted Since 2020

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) involves two distinct steps: The sponsor in Canada submits an Interest to Sponsor, then IRCC randomly selects applicants from this pool and issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs). Once you receive an ITA, you can submit a complete application, which includes your sponsorship application and your parent’s or grandparent’s permanent residence application.

The last time IRCC accepted new interest to sponsor forms was between October 13 and November 3, 2020. Every year since then, IRCC has drawn from that same pool of registrations and issued ITAs.

The most recent intake for PGP was in 2025. Starting July 2025, IRCC sent 17,860 invitations to randomly selected applicants in the 2020 pool. The department’s goal was to receive 10,000 complete applications by October 9, 2025.

In December 2025, IRCC issued instructions essentially freezing new applications. The instructions also limited processing in 2026 to up to 10,000 applications submitted as part of the 2025 intake.

The July 15 announcement reiterates that IRCC will not accept any new interest to sponsor applications or invite potential sponsors until further notice. According to a report by Toronto Star, the pause is expected to last until at least the end of this year.

According to the department, demand that continues to exceed the PGP spaces available under the levels plan. IRCC states that family reunification remains a priority and that the pause will help reduce processing times and improve predictability for families already in the system.

The Super Visa Is Still an Option

For Canadian families hoping to invite their parents or grandparents for longer than six months, the super visa remains the only viable option. It allows parents and grandparents to visit their children or grandchildren for up to five years at a time and provides multiple entries to Canada for up to 10 years.

IRCC recently made the super visa more accessible by implementing changes to the income and health insurance requirements for sponsors. If you qualify, the super visa allows for longer stays in Canada than a regular visitor visa.

However, the super visa is a temporary residence program and does not lead to permanent residence. While it is a good stop-gap arrangement for families waiting for the next PGP intake, it does not qualify your parents or grandparents for provincial healthcare. Instead, super visa applicants are required to purchase private health insurance for at least one year. Our trusted partner, BestQuote Travel Insurance Agency, can help with your super visa insurance requirements.

No Clarity on When PGP Applications Will Be Accepted Again

IRCC has said that details on the next intake will be shared when they are available. No date has been given. It is unclear whether the next intake will use the same interest to sponsor pool or if new potential sponsors will be allowed to enter the pool.

For anyone planning to sponsor a parent or grandparent, the only thing to do right now is wait for an update from IRCC. In the meantime, temporary residence pathways such as the super visa and visitor visa remain available to your family.