IRCC Parents and Grandparents Program 2026 Update: New Intake Paused
Official Announcement: No New Intake for 2026
Under the newly effective Ministerial Instructions 89 (MI89), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has officially paused the intake of new sponsorship applications for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) as of January 1, 2026.
These instructions specify that no new permanent resident visa applications or related sponsorship applications from parents or grandparents will be accepted for processing until further notice. This move is categorized as an administrative measure to manage the existing inventory and align with the government's broader 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
Processing the 2025 Backlog
While new entries are paused, the department is not stopping PGP activity entirely. In 2026, IRCC has the authority to accept and process up to 10,000 complete applications that were received during the 2025 intake period.
- Randomized Selection: These 10,000 applications come from the pool of potential sponsors who submitted an "Interest to Sponsor" form back in 2020.
- Deadline for 2025 Invitees: Those who received an invitation in late 2025 but faced documentation delays may still have their applications finalized in this 2026 cycle, provided they meet the 60-day submission window and subsequent 30-day extension for missing files.
Eligibility and Financial Requirements (Recap)
For the 10,000 applications moving into processing this year, sponsors must strictly adhere to the financial criteria set out in the 2025 instructions:
- Income Requirement: Sponsors must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the three consecutive tax years preceding their application (2022, 2023, and 2024).
- The 20-Year Undertaking: Sponsors (and co-signers) must commit to a 20-year period of financial responsibility for their parents or grandparents (10 years in Quebec).
- Electronic Submission: All applications must have been submitted via the Permanent Residence Portal unless a disability accommodation was granted.
| Family Size | 2024 Required Income (Estimated) |
| 2 People (Sponsor + Parent) | $47,549 |
| 3 People (Sponsor + Spouse + Parent) | $58,456 |
| 4 People | $70,972 |
The Super Visa: The Primary Alternative for 2026
With the PGP intake closed for new applicants, IRCC is pointing families toward the Super Visa as a faster alternative for family reunification.
- Stay Duration: Allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time.
- Extensions: Eligible for a 2-year extension while still in Canada.
- Availability: Unlike the PGP, the Super Visa remains open year-round and does not use a lottery or randomized selection system.
Looking Ahead to 2027
The government’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan aims to stabilize permanent resident admissions at 380,000 annually. While the family class remains a "cornerstone" of the policy (accounting for approximately 22% of admissions), the current pause suggests a focus on clearing older files before opening new windows.
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