- IRCC has officially paused new sponsorship intake for the Parents and Grandparents Program effective July fifteenth, twenty twenty-six.
- Applicants already in the existing processing queue will continue to have their files reviewed and processed.
- The Super Visa remains available as an alternative, offering multi-entry stays for up to five years at a time.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada paused new sponsorship intake for the Parents and Grandparents Program on July 15, 2026. The department said it will not accept fresh interest-to-sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice. It also marked the program page modified the same day. The halt took effect immediately.
That leaves new sponsors outside the queue. Canadians and permanent residents who had not already filed an interest form cannot enter now. Families already in the pipeline stay in line. Earlier applicants do, too. The line did not reopen.
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IRCC says the pause is meant to reduce processing times and improve predictability for families. Demand still runs ahead of space. In its release, the department said:
"Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is pausing the intake of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP Program). We will not receive new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice."
The wording points to pressure on the file. It is a management step, not a reset.
The department is still drawing from the applications it already holds. That matters because the file has grown large enough to strain the system. The pause changes who can join the line, not who is already in it. The queue keeps moving.
Canada's wider immigration plan also frames the decision. The 2026 to 2028 plan keeps permanent resident admissions at 380,000 a year through 2028. Quebec sponsors face the longest waits, which makes the backlog harder to clear there. The department is juggling a crowded family stream. Very crowded.
Existing files already stretch the system
| Measure | Official figure | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Applications already in progress | 60,500 | As of July 2026 |
| Processing time in most of Canada | 33 months | Current estimate |
| Processing time in Quebec | 66 months | Current estimate |
| Immigration Levels Plan ceiling | 380,000 | Permanent resident admissions per year through 2028 |
The Super Visa stays open. It allows stays of up to 5 years at a time and multiple entries for up to 10 years. IRCC also says host families can combine their income with the visiting relative's income to meet the minimum income requirement. That makes the visitor route easier to use while the sponsorship window stays shut. It keeps visits open.
Canada still plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the PGP in 2026 and 2027, using the applications already in the pool. The pause keeps new sponsors out, but the old queue is still active. It stays that way until further notice.
