Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) 2026: Current Status & Super Visa Alternative

The single most important update for anyone tracking the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP): as of January 1, 2026, IRCC is not accepting any new PGP applications, and there’s no confirmed date for the program to reopen. If you’re hoping to sponsor a parent or grandparent right now, the Super Visa is your realistic near-term option — here’s exactly where things stand.

What Happened to the 2025 Intake

The PGP intake this post originally covered did go ahead in 2025, just later than planned:

• IRCC began inviting sponsors from the 2020 interest-to-sponsor pool starting July 28, 2025.
• It issued 17,860 invitations over about two weeks, aiming to land roughly 10,000 complete applications.
• The deadline to submit a complete application was October 9, 2025. IRCC is no longer accepting applications from that round.

If you received an invitation and missed the deadline, or were never invited, you cannot submit a new PGP application right now — there is currently no public Interest to Sponsor form open, including for people who never submitted one back in 2020.

Is There a 2026 PGP Intake?

Not yet, and IRCC hasn’t confirmed when one might open. The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan does allocate 15,000 Parents and Grandparents admissions per year for 2026, 2027, and 2028 — down from the 24,500 originally targeted for 2025 — but a planned admissions number is not the same as a new intake. Those 15,000 spots can be filled entirely by applications already in process from prior intakes. Watch IRCC’s official PGP page directly for any new intake announcement.

The Super Visa: Your Current Alternative

Unlike the PGP, the Super Visa doesn’t grant permanent residence — it’s a long-stay temporary visa, but it has no annual quota and remains open year-round.

• Duration: up to 5 years per visit, with multiple entries over a 10-year validity period; a 2-year extension can be requested from within Canada.
• Sponsor income requirements (2026 LICO thresholds): roughly $41,000 for a household of 2, $50,000 for 3, $61,000 for 4, and $69,000 for 5 — confirm the exact current figures for your household size on IRCC’s site, since these are updated annually.
• Major change effective March 31, 2026: sponsors can now meet the income requirement using either of the two tax years preceding their application (not just the most recent one), and if Canadian income falls slightly short, it may be combined with the visiting parent’s own verifiable foreign income.
• Insurance: a minimum of $100,000 CAD in coverage for at least one year, from a Canadian or IRCC-approved foreign insurer, typically costing $1,200–$3,500 CAD per year depending on the applicant’s age and health.
• Processing time: varies significantly by visa office; check IRCC’s live processing time tool rather than relying on a fixed estimate, since recent figures have ranged from roughly 6 weeks to several months.

Other Options While PGP Is Closed

• Regular visitor visa: for shorter stays (typically up to 6 months), costing $100 CAD per person or $500 CAD for a family of up to five — no income test or insurance requirement, but no multi-year stay either.
• Keep your contact details current with IRCC if you’re still in the 2020 pool, in case any further invitations are issued from it in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for the Parents and Grandparents Program right now?

No. IRCC stopped accepting new PGP applications as of January 1, 2026, and hasn’t confirmed when the program will reopen.

I’m in the 2020 interest-to-sponsor pool but wasn’t invited in 2025 — what happens now?

There’s no confirmed timeline for further invitations from that pool. Keep your contact information current with IRCC and watch for official announcements.

What’s the fastest way to reunite with my parents while PGP is closed?

The Super Visa is the most practical option for extended stays, since it has no annual quota and remains open continuously.

Did the Super Visa income rules change recently?

Yes. As of March 31, 2026, sponsors can qualify using either of the two most recent tax years, and may combine their Canadian income with the visiting parent’s own foreign income if needed.

Does the Super Visa lead to permanent residence?

No. It’s a long-stay temporary resident visa only. Permanent residence for parents and grandparents requires a future PGP intake.

Conclusion

The Parents and Grandparents Program is currently closed to new applicants, with no confirmed 2026 reopening date, even though the federal government has budgeted admissions for the program through 2028. Until a new intake is announced, the Super Visa remains the most realistic way to bring parents or grandparents to Canada for an extended stay. Check the official IRCC Parents and Grandparents Program page directly for any updates.