The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) remains one of the most in-demand, and most bottlenecked, pathways in Canadian immigration. Here is where the program stands in 2026 and what families can do in the meantime.
The current status
New Ministerial Instructions for the PGP came into effect on January 1, 2026. These administrative steps allow IRCC to keep processing existing applications into 2026. Details of the next intake have not yet been announced. IRCC says they will be shared on its website and social media channels when available.
What happened in the 2025 intake
For the 2025 intake, IRCC invited potential sponsors who had submitted an interest-to-sponsor form back in 2020. It sent 17,860 invitations over roughly two weeks starting July 28, 2025, aiming to accept 10,000 complete applications. The intake closed on October 9, 2025. No new interest-to-sponsor forms have been accepted since 2020, which is exactly why so many families are waiting.
The super visa alternative
If you were not invited to apply, IRCC itself points to the super visa: a multi-entry visa that lets parents and grandparents stay in Canada for five years at a time, with the option to request a two-year extension from inside Canada. As of March 2026, the income requirement can also be met in two new ways, see our earlier article on the updated super visa income rules.
A lawyer’s note
Families ask me whether to wait for the PGP or apply for a super visa. My usual answer: do not put your family’s plans on hold for an intake that has no announced date. A well-prepared super visa application reunites most families faster, and holding a super visa does not prevent you from sponsoring later if an intake opens. The keys are meeting the income threshold, proper medical insurance coverage, and a clear plan of support. Learn more on our family sponsorship page.
Official source: IRCC: Sponsor your parents and grandparents.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change frequently and every case is different. For advice about your situation, book a consultation.
About the author
Miguel Martins Pereirinha is a Canadian immigration lawyer and partner at Slayen Immigration Law in Vancouver, British Columbia. He practises Canadian immigration law exclusively — work permits, permanent residence, family sponsorship, citizenship and inadmissibility — and works with clients in English and Portuguese.
