Canada pauses Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship for 2026 — third year without a new Interest to Sponsor opening

Does this affect Pakistanis specifically, or everyone? This applies to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents, including Pakistani-Canadians — it is not targeted at Pakistan. It is directly relevant to Segment 3 (Settlement Seeker) readers who treat "eventually sponsor my parents" as part of the long-term case for choosing Canada. What is changing On 15 July 2026, IRCC announced it is pausing intake of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). It will not receive new Interest to Sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice. IRCC says it is focused on clearing the existing backlog — roughly 60,500 applicants already in the system — with a target of approving up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through PGP in 2026, in line with the Immigration Levels Plan. Precision on "third year" This is the third consecutive year without a new Interest to Sponsor form opening for people outside the existing pool. That is not the same as "zero PGP activity." In 2025, IRCC still invited and processed applications from the existing 2020 Interest to Sponsor pool. What has not reopened for years is a fresh window for new sponsors to enter that pool. If you never submitted an Interest to Sponsor form in 2020, you have been locked out of that mechanism — and this pause keeps that door closed for now. The Super Visa remains available as a temporary alternative. It allows parents and grandparents to visit for up to five years per stay, with multi-entry validity of up to 10 years. It does not lead to permanent residence. Who is not affected the same way If you already have a PGP application in process, IRCC has said it will continue processing existing files. Confirm your file status through official IRCC channels — do not rely on a consultant's verbal summary alone. What this means if you are working with a consultant If a consultant is telling you that sponsoring your parents is a straightforward next step after you settle in Canada, ask them when a new Interest to Sponsor opening is actually expected. The honest answer right now is that nobody knows. Factor that into your destination decision now — not after you have already moved. Questions to ask your consultant 1. Am I (or will I be) eligible to sponsor under PGP only if a new Interest to Sponsor window opens — and is there any open path for me today? 2. If my parents need to visit sooner, is the Super Visa appropriate for their situation, and what are the income and insurance requirements right now? 3. How should I weight "sponsor parents later" in a Canada vs elsewhere comparison given this pause has no reopening date? 4. If I already have a relative in the PGP backlog, what is the realistic processing outlook against the 15,000 annual approvals target? Uncertainty / subject to change IRCC has not given a date for reopening new PGP Interest to Sponsor intake. We will update this post if that changes. Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada notice — "Canada takes steps to responsibly manage the Parents and Grandparents Program," 15 July 2026 (canada.ca).