Canada pauses new parent and grandparent sponsorship applications for 2026

The Canadian government has announced a temporary pause on accepting new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for 2026 as part of efforts to manage immigration levels and reduce processing backlogs. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said it will continue processing applications already in the system while focusing on creating a more efficient and sustainable immigration process.

According to IRCC, Canada plans to admit up to 15,000 permanent residents through the Parents and Grandparents Program in 2026, all from applications already submitted. The move aligns with the country's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which aims to balance immigration targets with available resources and improve processing times.

Authorities stressed that family reunification remains a key priority despite the temporary suspension of new applications.

Officials also noted that parents and grandparents can still travel to Canada under the Super Visa programme, which allows eligible family members to stay in the country for extended periods. The government said it will review the programme's future intake based on operational capacity and immigration objectives.