The Canadian government has announced a temporary pause on accepting new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) to help keep its immigration system sustainable.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), applications that have already been submitted will continue to be processed.
Under the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada aims to grant permanent residence to 15,000 people in 2026 through the PGP. The government says this decision will help reduce processing times.
Canada Pauses New PGP Applications
IRCC said that family reunification remains an important part of Canada’s immigration system. However, no new interest-to-sponsor forms will be accepted, and potential sponsors will not be invited to apply until further notice.
The department has introduced this temporary pause while continuing to process existing applications more efficiently.
Super Visa Still Available for Families
Although new PGP applications are on hold, parents and grandparents can still reunite with their families in Canada through the Super Visa.
The Super Visa allows eligible visitors to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time and for up to 10 years through multiple visits.
Recent changes have also made the program easier to access by simplifying the income and health insurance requirements.
IRCC Warns About Marriage Fraud
IRCC has also recently urged Canadian citizens and permanent residents to be careful about marriage fraud when sponsoring a spouse or partner for immigration.
In a post on X, the department advised people to think carefully before marrying someone and sponsoring them to come to Canada, especially if they have only recently met the person, the person wants to get married quickly, has been married several times before or has been in a common-law relationship, or has shared very little information about their background or family.
