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Ottawa Pauses New Applications for Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program
Immigration department says the freeze aims to cut wait times as backlog tops 60,000 cases
Published: July 27, 2026
Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada department has announced it will not accept new applications this year for the Parent and Grandparent Program, which allows Canadians and permanent residents to sponsor family members for permanent residence. Officials say the pause is meant to help the department manage a growing backlog and bring down processing times, which currently average around 33 months nationally and stretch past five years in Quebec.
The program has been oversubscribed since it relaunched in 2020, when more than 200,000 people expressed interest in sponsoring a parent or grandparent, far outstripping the number of spots available each year. Despite the freeze on new applications, the government says its plan to admit up to 15,000 parents and grandparents as permanent residents in 2026 and 2027 remains unchanged.
The move comes as Canada's broader immigration levels plan aims to keep population growth flat for a second consecutive year, with sharply reduced targets for temporary workers and international students. Families hoping to sponsor a parent or grandparent can still apply for a super visa, which allows extended visits without permanent residence.
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