Your Parents and Grandparents Can Still Come to Canada in 2026

• IRCC paused the intake of new PGP applications on July 15, 2026, and will not accept new interest to sponsor (ITS) forms or send new invitations until further notice.

• Applications already in the queue keep moving. IRCC plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the PGP in 2026.

• The super visa is unaffected. Parents and grandparents can still visit for up to 5 years per stay, with multiple entries over a visa valid for up to 10 years.

• IRCC recently made the super visa easier to qualify for by updating both the income and health insurance rules.

• Family reunification is still a stated priority of Canada’s immigration system, so this is a management decision about intake, not the end of the program.

IRCC paused the intake of new PGP applications on July 15, 2026. It will not accept new ITS forms or invite new sponsors to apply until further notice. IRCC has not opened a new ITS process since 2020, and the most recent invitations to apply went out in a round which ended in August 2025.

The pause applies to prospective sponsors who have not yet started. IRCC has framed it as a step to reduce processing times and improve predictability for families already in the system. As the department puts it, “Family reunification remains an important pillar of Canada’s immigration system.”

Yes, if you already submitted a PGP application.IRCC has confirmed it will keep processing existing applications. Only brand new applications are paused, so families already in the system do not need to reapply or restart.

IRCC plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the PGP in 2026, in line with the 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan (as of July 15, 2026). Those admissions come from the existing inventory. IRCC has reported an inventory of about 60,500 applications, which is the backlog the pause is meant to work through.

Yes, through the super visa. The super visa is a long stay visitor visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. It allows visits of up to 5 years per entry, with multiple entries over a visa that can stay valid for up to 10 years. It is not permanent residence, but it is an open route to be together while you plan.

For many families we work with, the super visa was already the faster, more practical option long before this pause.

Yes, in two ways. IRCC updated the income rules effective March 31, 2026, so a host may now qualify using either of the two tax years before the application, and may add the visiting parent’s or grandparent’s income to help meet the threshold. IRCC also updated the health insurance rule, so applicants may now buy qualifying coverage from IRCC approved insurers outside Canada, not only Canadian providers.

“For many families, the super visa is the faster way to be together,” says Karun Samra, immigration lawyer at BorderPass.

IRCC has not given a reopening date. The pause runs until further notice, and any future intake would follow new ministerial instructions. If you hope to sponsor a parent or grandparent, the practical move is to plan around the super visa now and watch for official updates, rather than waiting for a date that has not been set.

A pause on intake is not a closed door. In the meantime the super visa can keep your family together. The rules on income, insurance, and eligibility changed recently, so a careful review of your situation matters more than usual right now.

Whether you are helping clients weigh their options or planning a visit for your own family, BorderPass pairs smart application guidance  with a licensed immigration lawyer who reviews your case. Talk it through with BorderPass, and get a clear read on the fastest route for your family. For more policy updates as they land, follow the BorderPass news feed.

• Q: Is the Parents and Grandparents Program cancelled? A: No. IRCC paused the program  on July 15, 2026, which means it is not accepting new applications or sending new invitations. The program still exists; existing applications continue to be processed, and IRCC plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the PGP in 2026.

• Q: Can I still sponsor my parents or grandparents in 2026? A: Not through a new PGP application while intake is paused. You cannot submit a new interest to sponsor form or receive a new invitation to apply (ITA) until further notice. If your family wants to be together sooner, an eligible parent or grandparent may apply for the super visa, which stays open and can allow long visits to Canada.

• Q: What happens to my PGP application if I already submitted it? A: The pause does not affect files already in the system. If you submitted a PGP application, or were invited to apply and have an active file, IRCC has confirmed it will keep processing your case. You do not need to reapply. Only brand new applications are paused.

• Q: Can my parents visit Canada while the PGP is paused? A: Yes. The super visa is unaffected by the pause. It lets parents and grandparents of citizens and permanent residents visit for up to 5 years per entry, with multiple entries possible during a visa valid for up to 10 years. IRCC recently eased the income and insurance rules, so more families may now qualify. Other routes also exist, including traditional short-term visitor visas.

• Q: When will the Parents and Grandparents Program reopen? A: IRCC has not set a reopening date. The pause is in place until further notice, and any new intake would follow future ministerial instructions. Rather than wait for a date that has not been announced, families should plan the super visa route for now and watch canada.ca for official updates.