Canada Pauses Parent and Grandparent Immigration Program
What the pause means for applicants
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced it will halt new applications for the Parents and Grandparents Program, saying demand outstrips the spaces available.
Processing of existing applications continues
The department says it will keep processing applications that have already been submitted, with a target of approving up to 15,000 people for permanent residence this year, after about 10,000 were approved in 2025.
Background on the program
The Parents and Grandparents Program was introduced in 2020 to let Canadian citizens and permanent residents sponsor their biological or adoptive parents and grandparents, enabling them to live and work in Canada.
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, reside in Canada and demonstrate sufficient funds to support their relatives, while the sponsors must be citizens, permanent residents or Indian‑law registered persons.
Why the pause was needed
IRCC said the volume of interest “continues to exceed available spaces,” and the broader immigration plan now limits overall temporary and permanent resident numbers to address housing and cost‑of‑living pressures.
Family reunification remains a priority
Despite the suspension, officials stress that family reunification is a core pillar of Canada’s immigration system, and parents and grandparents can still visit on the super visa, which permits stays of up to five years per entry and multiple entries for ten years.
Immigration caps for 2026‑2028
Under the new Immigration Levels Plan, the number of temporary residents is capped at 386,000 this year and 370,000 annually in 2027 and 2028, while permanent resident admissions are limited to 380,000 per year from 2026 through 2028, down from 395,000 in 2025.
