Canada’s Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program, commonly called the Parents and Grandparents Program or PGP, allows eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor qualifying parents and grandparents for permanent residence.
However, an important policy change now affects anyone hoping to apply.
On July 15, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada paused new intake under the PGP. IRCC is not currently accepting new interest-to-sponsor forms or issuing new invitations to apply. Applications already received will continue to be processed.
This does not necessarily mean parent and grandparent sponsorship has been permanently abolished. The official status is “paused until further notice.” Families should therefore distinguish between the closure of the current intake process and the permanent cancellation of the immigration category.
Important: This article provides general immigration information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, processing priorities, fees and documentary requirements can change. Applicants with previous refusals, inadmissibility issues or complex family situations should consult a Canadian immigration lawyer or Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant.
What Is the Current Status of Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship?
As of July 2026:
| PGP question | Current position |
| Can a new interest-to-sponsor form be submitted? | No |
| Is IRCC issuing new invitations? | No |
| Can an uninvited person submit a full PGP application? | No |
| Will existing applications continue to be processed? | Yes |
| Is the program permanently cancelled? | Not confirmed; it is paused until further notice |
| How many PGP admissions are planned for 2026? | Up to 15,000 people |
| Is the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa still available? | Yes |
IRCC plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the PGP in 2026, using applications already in the inventory. The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan also sets a target of 15,000 parent and grandparent admissions for each of 2026, 2027 and 2028, although future targets can be revised.
Does the Pause Mean the PGP Is Permanently Closed?
No permanent cancellation has been announced.
IRCC’s wording is important. The department says it will not accept new interest forms or issue invitations “until further notice.” This leaves open the possibility that the program could resume, reopen under a different selection system or receive revised ministerial instructions in the future.
Families should be cautious about headlines describing the program as permanently closed. At present, the more accurate description is:
The PGP is closed to new intake for an unspecified period, while existing applications continue to be processed.
Why Was Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Paused?
IRCC says demand for the program continues to exceed the number of available places under Canada’s immigration levels plan. The pause is intended to reduce the existing inventory, shorten processing times and make family-class admissions more predictable.
The current PGP selection pool dates back to 2020. During that intake, more than 200,000 potential sponsors expressed an interest in sponsoring a parent or grandparent. Invitations issued in later years, including 2025, were selected randomly from eligible interest forms submitted during that 2020 window.
This created several structural problems:
- Demand substantially exceeded annual admission targets.
- Many eligible sponsors never received an invitation.
- No new interest-to-sponsor intake was opened after 2020.
- Existing applications accumulated while annual PGP admission targets remained limited.
- Processing times became considerably longer, particularly for applicants intending to settle in Quebec.
What Changed Between January and July 2026?
The 2026 position developed in two stages.
January 1, 2026: Processing Was Restricted to Existing Files
Ministerial instructions published in the Canada Gazette stated that, from January 1, 2026, new PGP permanent-residence and related sponsorship applications would not be accepted until further instructions were issued.
The instructions allowed IRCC to accept up to 10,000 sponsorship applications received during the 2025 intake for processing in 2026. They also confirmed that the 2025 invitations had been selected from uninvited, non-duplicate interest forms submitted in 2020.
July 15, 2026: IRCC Announced an Indefinite Intake Pause
IRCC then publicly confirmed that:
- No new interest-to-sponsor forms would be accepted.
- No additional potential sponsors would be invited.
- Existing applications would continue to be processed.
- The intake pause would remain in effect until further notice.
Why Are There Both 10,000 and 15,000 Figures?
These figures measure different things.
The 10,000 figure refers to the maximum number of qualifying sponsorship applications received in 2025 that the ministerial instructions authorized for acceptance into processing during 2026.
The 15,000 figure is an admissions target referring to the number of individual parents, grandparents and accompanying family members expected to become permanent residents in 2026.
One sponsorship application may include more than one person. For example, an application could include a parent as the principal applicant and the parent’s spouse as an accompanying dependant. Application totals and permanent-resident admission totals should therefore not be treated as interchangeable.
Who Would Normally Be Eligible to Sponsor Parents or Grandparents?
Although new applications cannot currently be submitted, understanding the eligibility rules can help potential sponsors prepare for a future intake.
A sponsor would generally need to:
- Receive an official invitation to apply.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Live in Canada when applying and continue living in Canada until IRCC makes a decision.
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person registered under the Indian Act.
- Meet the applicable income requirement.
- Provide the required proof of income.
- Sign a sponsorship agreement and financial undertaking.
- Meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations.
A spouse or common-law partner may co-sign the sponsorship application, allowing the couple’s qualifying incomes to be combined.
Who May Be Ineligible to Sponsor?
A person may be unable to sponsor a parent or grandparent if they:
- Are in prison.
- Have failed to repay certain immigration loans or performance bonds.
- Have not paid court-ordered child support or alimony.
- Previously failed to meet a sponsorship undertaking.
- Are an undischarged bankrupt.
- Receive social assistance for a reason other than disability.
- Have certain violent, sexual or family-related criminal convictions.
- Are subject to a removal order.
Additional grounds may apply depending on the sponsor’s circumstances.
Who Can Be Included in a Parent or Grandparent Sponsorship Application?
A person may normally sponsor their own biological or adopted:
- Parents
- Grandparents
The application may also include qualifying family members of the principal applicant, such as:
- The parent’s or grandparent’s spouse or common-law partner
- A qualifying dependent child
- A qualifying dependent child of that dependent child
This means a sponsor’s sibling, half-sibling or step-sibling can only be included when that person meets the legal definition of a dependent child. An adult sibling who does not qualify as a dependant cannot obtain permanent residence through the parent’s PGP application.
Can You Sponsor Your In-Laws?
You cannot use an invitation issued in your name to sponsor your spouse’s parents or grandparents.
Your spouse or common-law partner would need to receive their own invitation to sponsor their parents. You could then potentially act as the co-signer on that application. Invitations are personal and cannot be transferred between spouses or other family members.
What Happens When Parents Are Divorced or Separated?
Divorced parents usually require separate applications because they are no longer one married couple.
If parents are separated but remain legally married, IRCC may require them to be dealt with in one application, subject to their current family circumstances.
The choice of principal applicant is also important. Once an application is submitted, the parent or grandparent named as the principal applicant generally cannot be changed.
How Much Income Is Required for Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship?
PGP sponsors outside Quebec must normally prove that they met the required income for each of the three taxation years immediately before applying.
A spouse or common-law partner can co-sign to combine qualifying income. Proof is normally based on Canada Revenue Agency Notices of Assessment or tax information obtained directly from the CRA with the sponsor’s consent.
The following table applied to the 2025 intake:
| Family size | 2024 income | 2023 income | 2022 income |
| 2 people | $47,549 | $44,530 | $43,082 |
| 3 people | $58,456 | $54,743 | $52,965 |
| 4 people | $70,972 | $66,466 | $64,306 |
| 5 people | $80,496 | $75,384 | $72,935 |
| 6 people | $90,784 | $85,020 | $82,259 |
| 7 people | $101,075 | $94,658 | $91,582 |
| Each additional person | Add $10,291 | Add $9,636 | Add $9,324 |
These are not confirmed thresholds for a future intake. IRCC would publish the applicable years and income figures if the program reopens.
How Is Family Size Calculated?
Family size is more complex than simply counting the sponsor and the parent being sponsored.
Depending on the year, it may include:
- The sponsor
- The sponsor’s spouse or common-law partner
- The sponsor’s dependent children
- People covered by previous sponsorship undertakings
- The parent or grandparent being sponsored
- The principal applicant’s spouse or partner
- Their dependent children
- Certain family members who are not accompanying them to Canada
One commonly missed rule is that non-accompanying dependants may still need to be included in the calculation.
For example, a single person sponsoring their married mother may need to count:
- The sponsor
- The mother
- The mother’s spouse
The mother’s spouse may count even when that person does not plan to immigrate to Canada. Separated spouses may also count while the marriage legally continues, depending on whether either spouse has entered another qualifying common-law relationship.
Why Must Family Size Be Calculated Separately for Each Year?
Family size can change from one tax year to another because of:
- Marriage
- Divorce
- Birth or adoption of a child
- A child ceasing to qualify as a dependant
- A previous sponsorship undertaking ending
- Death of a family member
Sponsors should calculate the applicable family size independently for each required taxation year instead of automatically using the current household size for all three years.
What Financial Responsibility Does a Sponsor Accept?
PGP sponsorship involves a long-term legal commitment known as an undertaking.
Outside Quebec, the undertaking period for parents and grandparents is 20 years, beginning on the day they become permanent residents. In Quebec, the undertaking period is generally 10 years.
During this period, the sponsor agrees to provide basic needs such as:
- Food
- Clothing
- Housing
- Everyday living expenses
- Dental care not covered publicly
- Eye care not covered publicly
- Other health-related needs outside public coverage
The undertaking normally continues even if:
- The sponsor loses their job.
- The sponsor experiences financial problems.
- The sponsor and family member stop speaking.
- The sponsor or parent moves to another province or country.
- The sponsored person becomes a Canadian citizen.
- The sponsor divorces the co-signer.
- The family relationship changes.
If the sponsored person receives repayable social assistance during the undertaking period, the sponsor may be required to reimburse the government. The sponsor may also be prevented from sponsoring another person until the debt is repaid.
How Much Does Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Cost?
New applicants should not pay PGP fees while the program is paused unless IRCC has formally invited and authorized them to apply.
For existing files and future planning, IRCC’s July 2026 fee list states:
| Fee | Amount |
| Sponsor a parent or grandparent, including the right of permanent residence fee | $1,260 |
| Sponsor without paying the right of permanent residence fee initially | $660 |
| Include the parent or grandparent’s spouse or partner | $1,260 |
| Include spouse or partner without the right of permanent residence fee | $660 |
| Include a dependent child | $180 per child |
For example, sponsoring one parent as the principal applicant together with their accompanying spouse would generally involve $2,520 in core government processing and permanent-residence fees, before biometrics and third-party expenses.
Additional costs may include:
- Biometrics
- Immigration medical examinations
- Police certificates
- Certified translations
- Passport photographs
- Document delivery
- Legal or immigration-consultant fees, if professional assistance is used
Fees can change, so applicants should verify the official fee list before making any payment.
How Would the PGP Application Process Work If Intake Reopens?
Although IRCC may change the system, the recent process involved the following stages:
1. Submit an Interest-to-Sponsor Form
Potential sponsors first submitted an online expression of interest. The last open interest period ran from October 13 to November 3, 2020.
2. Wait for an Invitation
IRCC randomly selected potential sponsors from eligible, non-duplicate forms. Receiving an invitation allowed the person to proceed, but it did not guarantee approval.
3. Submit Two Connected Applications
The sponsor submitted a sponsorship application, while the parent or grandparent submitted their permanent-residence application.
These applications were assessed together.
4. Prove Sponsor Eligibility
IRCC assessed the sponsor’s status, residence in Canada, income, family size and any factors that could make the sponsor ineligible.
5. Complete the Permanent-Residence Assessment
The principal applicant and qualifying family members could be asked for:
- Medical examinations
- Police certificates
- Biometrics
- Passports
- Civil-status records
- Proof of relationship
- Additional background information
The parent or grandparent must also be admissible to Canada. A financially eligible sponsor does not overcome criminal, medical, security or misrepresentation concerns affecting the applicant.
6. Receive a Final Decision
When approved, the sponsored family member receives the documents required to become a permanent resident, including a Confirmation of Permanent Residence and, where necessary, a permanent-resident visa.
What Should Existing PGP Applicants Do During the Pause?
The pause does not cancel applications already accepted by IRCC.
Existing applicants should:
- Continue checking their IRCC account and application tracker.
- Respond promptly to requests for documents.
- Complete medical, police-certificate and biometric requests by the stated deadline.
- Update IRCC after changes to an address, marriage, divorce, birth, death or family composition.
- Keep passports valid.
- Avoid completing a new medical examination unless IRCC requests one.
- Retain copies of all submitted forms, supporting documents and payment receipts.
An application can be delayed or refused when IRCC cannot verify family relationships, receives inconsistent information or is not informed about a material family change.
Existing PGP applicants may also apply for a Super Visa while waiting for the sponsorship decision. Applying for a Super Visa does not require them to withdraw the permanent-residence application.
What Can Families Do If They Were Never Invited?
Families who were not invited cannot presently submit a PGP application.
The main temporary options are:
- A Parent and Grandparent Super Visa
- A regular visitor visa
- An electronic travel authorization for eligible visa-exempt travellers
The attached parent-visitor guidance also highlights an important distinction: a regular visitor visa and a Super Visa are temporary-residence options. Neither automatically converts into permanent residence or guarantees a future PGP invitation.
Is the Super Visa the Best Alternative to PGP Sponsorship?
For many families seeking extended visits, the Super Visa is now the principal alternative.
It allows eligible parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time. The visa can provide multiple entries for up to 10 years, subject to passport validity and admissibility requirements. Eligible visitors may also apply to extend their status while inside Canada.
PGP vs Super Visa vs Regular Visitor Visa
| Feature | PGP sponsorship | Super Visa | Regular visitor visa |
| Current availability | Paused for new intake | Open | Open |
| Immigration status | Permanent residence | Temporary visitor | Temporary visitor |
| Typical stay | Permanent once approved | Up to 5 years per entry | Usually up to 6 months |
| Income test | Three tax years under recent PGP rules | Host must meet Super Visa income rules | No fixed host-income threshold |
| Private medical insurance | Not a standard PGP application requirement | Mandatory | Usually optional, but strongly recommended |
| Immigration medical exam | Required during PR processing | Required | May be requested |
| Right to work | Permanent residents may work | No automatic work authorization | No automatic work authorization |
| Guaranteed entry | Subject to final immigration formalities | No; border officer decides entry | No; border officer decides entry |
| Automatic route to PR | It is a PR pathway | No | No |
The visitor and Super Visa distinctions are also consistent with the detailed supporting material supplied for this article.
What Are the 2026 Super Visa Income Changes?
From March 31, 2026, IRCC introduced more flexible methods for meeting the Super Visa income requirement.
Hosts and eligible co-signers may now qualify using income from either of the two taxation years preceding the application, rather than being assessed only against the immediately preceding year.
In some cases, income belonging to the visiting parent or grandparent may also be added when the host and co-signer already meet the required minimum proportion of the income threshold.
These changes do not remove the income requirement. Applicants must still provide the required evidence and calculate family size correctly.
What Other Super Visa Requirements Apply?
The parent or grandparent must generally:
- Apply from outside Canada.
- Prove their relationship to the Canadian host.
- Be admissible to Canada.
- Complete an immigration medical examination.
- Prove they are a genuine temporary visitor.
- Show proof of qualifying private health insurance.
- Satisfy the officer that they will leave Canada at the end of their authorized stay.
The host must:
- Be the applicant’s biological or adopted child or grandchild.
- Be at least 18.
- Live in Canada.
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian.
- Meet the applicable income requirement.
- Provide a signed invitation letter.
The host’s spouse or common-law partner may co-sign the invitation and provide income evidence. Siblings and other relatives cannot act as Super Visa co-signers.
What Insurance Is Required for a Super Visa?
The applicant must have private medical insurance that:
- Is valid for at least one year from the date of entry.
- Provides at least $100,000 in emergency coverage.
- Covers health care, hospitalization and repatriation.
- Is paid in full or through accepted instalments with a deposit.
- Is valid for every entry.
- Can be shown to a border officer when requested.
A quotation alone is not accepted.
Insurance may come from a Canadian insurer or from an eligible foreign insurer authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions to provide accident and sickness insurance through its Canadian insurance business.
How Should Potential Sponsors Prepare for a Future PGP Intake?
There is no guarantee about when or how the next intake will operate. Nevertheless, potential sponsors can take practical steps now.
File Canadian Tax Returns Every Year
Recent PGP intakes assessed three taxation years. Missing tax filings or insufficient declared income may prevent a person from qualifying even if their current salary is high.
Keep CRA Notices of Assessment
Maintain accessible copies of Notices of Assessment and correct any inaccurate CRA information promptly.
Calculate Family Size Before Making Plans
Include existing undertakings, dependants, the sponsored family unit and non-accompanying family members where required.
Maintain Accurate Family Records
Collect birth certificates, adoption records, marriage certificates, divorce orders and name-change documents. Records not written in English or French may require compliant translations.
Avoid Paying for Guaranteed Invitations
No consultant, lawyer or agency can create a PGP place, transfer an invitation or guarantee selection. An invitation should come through IRCC’s official process.
Monitor the Official IRCC Page
Families should rely on the dated PGP status page and official IRCC notices rather than social-media claims about secret application windows or guaranteed reopenings.
Common Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Mistakes
Assuming Citizenship Alone Is Enough
Being a Canadian citizen does not automatically make a person eligible. Residence, invitation, income and admissibility requirements still apply.
Miscalculating Family Size
Leaving out a non-accompanying spouse, dependent child or person covered by an earlier undertaking can result in the wrong income threshold being used.
Confusing Applications With Admissions
Government announcements may refer to sponsorship files, principal applicants or total permanent-resident admissions. These numbers measure different things.
Treating a Super Visa as Permanent Residence
A Super Visa permits extended temporary visits. It does not grant permanent residence, guarantee entry or improve the host’s chances of receiving a future PGP invitation.
Using an Invitation for the Wrong Family
An invitation cannot be transferred to a spouse so that the spouse can sponsor their own parents.
Ignoring the 20-Year Undertaking
Sponsors should consider possible changes in employment, housing, health and family finances before accepting a financial responsibility that may last two decades.
Final Considerations
Parent and grandparent sponsorship remains an important Canadian family-reunification pathway, but it is not currently open to new applicants.
The July 2026 announcement means families cannot submit new interest forms or rely on another invitation round taking place soon. Existing applications remain active, and Canada still plans to admit parents and grandparents from the accumulated inventory.
Families who were not invited should consider whether a Super Visa or regular visitor visa meets their immediate needs. At the same time, potential future sponsors can protect their eligibility by filing taxes, preserving income records, understanding family-size calculations and following official IRCC announcements.
Most importantly, the current policy should be described accurately: the Parents and Grandparents Program is paused until further notice, not confirmed as permanently abolished.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is parent and grandparent sponsorship open in Canada in 2026?
No. IRCC paused new PGP intake on July 15, 2026. New interest-to-sponsor forms and invitations are not being issued until further notice. Existing applications continue to be processed.
Can I submit a PGP application without an invitation?
No. Under the recent PGP system, a full application could only be submitted after IRCC issued an invitation.
Will my 2020 interest-to-sponsor form remain in the pool?
The 2025 invitation round selected people from eligible 2020 forms, but IRCC has not promised that a future intake will continue using the same pool. No new invitations are currently being issued.
Can I sponsor my spouse’s parents?
Not using an invitation issued to you. Your spouse would need to receive an invitation for their own parents. You may then be eligible to co-sign their application.
Can a brother or sister be included with a parent?
Only when the sibling qualifies as a dependent child under Canadian immigration rules. An independent adult sibling cannot normally be included.
Can my spouse help me meet the PGP income requirement?
Yes. An eligible spouse or common-law partner may co-sign the application so that qualifying incomes can be combined.
Does a Super Visa lead to permanent residence?
No. The Super Visa is a temporary visitor category and does not automatically convert into permanent residence.
Can parents apply for a Super Visa while their PGP application is processing?
Yes. IRCC states that a parent or grandparent may apply for a Super Visa while waiting for a decision on an existing sponsorship application.
Can parents work in Canada on a Super Visa?
A Super Visa does not automatically authorize employment. The parent or grandparent would need separate authorization to work.
What happens if a sponsored parent receives social assistance?
The sponsor may have to repay the government for assistance received during the undertaking period. Unpaid sponsorship debt can affect the sponsor’s ability to sponsor another family member.
