Canada Closes Doors to Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship for Permanent Residence The Canadian government has announced a permanent halt to new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), effectively ending the pathway for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence. This decision, outlined in a July 15, 2026, government news release, marks a significant shift in immigration policy, with no immediate plans to resume the program. The move comes as part of broader efforts to manage immigration levels and address systemic challenges in processing applications. The PGP, a family reunification initiative, was last opened in 2020 to allow eligible Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians to sponsor their parents or grandparents. The program operated on a lottery system due to high demand and limited capacity. During its initial intake in 2020, the government received 203,213 unique submissions, highlighting the program’s popularity. However, as applications surged, the federal government introduced a randomized invitation process, sending out invitations to sponsors who had submitted interest during the 2020 intake. Those invited could then apply to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence. Since 2020, no new interest forms have been accepted for the PGP lottery, leaving a backlog of applications. As of the time of the announcement, the immigration department reported 50,900 PGP applications in inventory, with 40,400 intended for settlement outside Quebec and 10,500 for Quebec. The government aims to process 15,000 applications annually through the PGP until 2028, though processing times vary significantly.#canada #quebec #canadian_government #parents_and_grandparents_program #super_visa
