Canada Pauses Parents and Grandparents Program to Reduce Backlogs

The Government of Canada has indefinitely paused the intake of new applications and invitations for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated the measure is necessary because demand continues to exceed available spaces, with approximately 60,500 applicants in the system as of January 1, 2026, far outstripping the 15,000 annual permanent residence spots allocated under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.

This decision aims to reduce processing wait times, which currently average 33 months and reach up to 66 months in Quebec. While new sponsorships are halted, IRCC will continue processing existing files to meet its 2026 and 2027 quotas. As an alternative for family reunification, the government highlighted the super visa, which allows parents and grandparents to visit for up to five years per entry with multiple entries over a 10-year period.

The pause follows a broader trend of tightening immigration controls under Prime Minister Mark Carney, including March legislation restricting asylum eligibility and reduced quotas for student and temporary work visas. These moves come amid declining public support for immigration and criticism from the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, which claims the current system is broken. Additionally, IRCC issued a separate advisory warning citizens and permanent residents against marriage fraud when sponsoring partners.