- The Parents and Grandparents Program remains closed to new applicants as of April 2026.
- Canada has reduced family class admissions to 94,500 for 2026 under the latest immigration plan.
- The Super Visa is the primary bridge for reunification, offering five-year stays while sponsorship stays frozen.
(CANADA) Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program remains closed to new interest-to-sponsor forms in April 2026, and no invitations have gone out from the 2020 pool. For families hoping to reunite long term, that means the wait for permanent residence is still blocked, while the Super Visa remains the main route for extended stays.
The freeze matters because the Parents and Grandparents Program is still the country’s main family sponsorship path for aging parents and grandparents. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has kept the focus on clearing older cases first, while family class admissions stay under tighter limits in the 2025-2028 Immigration Levels Plan. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the result is a system that favors backlog reduction over new intake.
Why the program is still stalled
The federal government planned to issue 10,000 invitations in 2025 from the 2020 pool, but that did not happen. By April 2026, no fresh invitations had been sent. IRCC has said it remains committed to family reunification, while also managing sustainable growth and a large queue of older files.
That queue is still heavy. More than 35,000 applications were pending in early 2026, and the backlog reached 37,200 by the first quarter of 2026. IRCC processed 24,500 approvals in 2025, yet the line remained long. Families in the 2020 pool now face another problem: expressions of interest expire after six years.
The broader immigration picture also explains the delay. Canada’s 2025-2028 plan cut overall permanent resident admissions to 395,000 in 2026, down from 500,000 in 2025. Family class admissions fell to 94,500 landings, a 15% cut. PGP landings are projected at 20,000 in 2026, but new applications are still frozen.
Sponsors still face strict financial rules
People who want to sponsor under the Parents and Grandparents Program still have to meet the same core rules. The sponsor must be at least 18 years old, and must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian Act member living in Canada or planning to return.
The Minimum Necessary Income test remains central. Sponsors must show income above the government threshold for their household size, using the Low Income Cut-Off plus 30%. For 2026, the figures are:
- 2 people: $55,800
- 3 people: $68,700
- 4 people: $83,400
- 5 people: $94,600
- 6 or more: add $11,200 for each extra person
Income must be proven with Notices of Assessment for the last three tax years, covering 2023, 2024, and 2025 filings. A spouse or common-law partner’s income can count if the couple has lived together for at least 12 months.
Sponsors also sign a long legal promise. They must support the parent or grandparent for 20 years, or 10 years in Quebec, and cover basics such as food, housing, and health costs not paid by public insurance. They also cannot have received social assistance in the last 36 months, except for disability support, and they must not owe certain government debts.
Quebec adds another layer. Sponsors there need a Certificat de sélection du Québec and must meet separate income rules. Quebec’s annual limit is tight, and that has pushed processing times even higher.
Processing times stretch well past two years
The waiting period is still long even after a file is accepted. As of March 31, 2026, IRCC reported 26 months for 80% of applications outside Quebec. In Quebec, the figure was 52 months. That gap reflects provincial limits and separate selection procedures.
For many families, the delay is more than paperwork. It means grandparents miss births, children grow up without daily help, and adult children keep making plans around uncertain timelines. Enhanced security checks and staffing shortages have also slowed movement through the queue.
After an invitation is issued, applicants usually see an electronic acknowledgment within about 30 days. Biometrics can add another 2 to 4 weeks. Medical exams and police certificates remain part of the file, and they should be prepared early because they expire.
Super Visa applications are now the practical bridge
With the Parents and Grandparents Program stalled, the Super Visa has become the main alternative for families that want time together now. It is not permanent residence, but it gives parents and grandparents much longer visits than a regular visitor visa.
The visa allows up to 5 years per entry on a 10-year multiple-entry permit. That is the biggest difference from a standard visitor visa, which usually allows only 6 months at a time. In 2025, Canada issued 35,000 Super Visas, up 12% from the year before.
The basic process is straightforward. The sponsor must show the same income level used for PGP, but only for one year. The applicant must also buy private health insurance with at least $100,000 coverage for one year from an approved Canadian insurer. IRCC expanded the list of approved insurers to 15 firms in 2026. Applicants can review the official Super Visa requirements on IRCC.
Processing is faster than family sponsorship. IRCC is now handling Super Visa cases in 8 to 12 weeks globally, compared with about 14 weeks in 2025. Fees are $C100 for the application and $C85 for biometrics. Online renewals are now allowed in Canada up to 90 days before expiry.
For many families, that makes the Super Visa the only realistic bridge while they wait for a future PGP opening. The trade-off is clear. It brings family together sooner, but it does not lead to permanent residence.
What families can do now
Families waiting on a future reopening should keep their documents ready and watch IRCC updates closely. The official PGP page at IRCC’s Parents and Grandparents Program page remains the best place to check for changes, and any new intake would likely move fast.
A careful plan usually has five parts:
- Check your Minimum Necessary Income for the last three tax years.
- Prepare tax records and Notices of Assessment before any intake opens.
- Apply for a Super Visa if the goal is near-term reunification.
- Collect police certificates and medical paperwork early.
- Quebec sponsors should confirm CSQ steps first, since provincial quotas fill quickly.
IRCC’s February 2026 report also showed 2.1 million applications in queue, with PGP making up about 2% of that total. That wider backlog helps explain why family files are moving slowly across the system. The policy direction is clear: Canada still supports family reunification, but it is doing so under tighter numbers, longer waits, and stricter income checks.
