Is Parent Sponsorship Canada Open Right Now?

Parent sponsorship in Canada usually means permanent-residence sponsorship through the Parents and Grandparents Program, but new PGP applications and interest-to-sponsor submissions are paused as of July 15, 2026. The Super Visa remains a temporary alternative for eligible parents and grandparents and can allow stays of up to five years at a time, subject to program rules and an officer’s decision.

Your first decision is whether your family needs permanent residence, an extended temporary visit, or a shorter family visit.

Start with the route: permanent residence, an extended visit or a short visit?

Permanent-residence sponsorship and a Super Visa solve different problems. Sponsorship is intended to bring an eligible parent or grandparent to Canada as a permanent resident when the relevant program accepts applications. A Super Visa is a temporary resident visa for extended family visits.

Eligible sponsors may sponsor their own parents and grandparents who are related by blood or adoption, along with certain partners of those parents or grandparents in the permanent-residence process. See the rules for sponsoring parents and grandparents.

For broader permanent-residence context, review this family sponsorship guide. It does not change the current PGP intake status.

If a parent wants to live in Canada permanently, a temporary visa is not a substitute for sponsorship. If the immediate goal is time together while permanent residence is unavailable or pending, assess the temporary route that matches the intended length and purpose of the visit.

What is the current status of parent sponsorship in Canada?

New Parents and Grandparents Program applications are not currently being accepted. On July 15, 2026, IRCC announced that new PGP intake is paused, while existing applications continue to be processed and up to 15,000 people are planned for approval through the program in 2026. Read the current PGP intake notice.

An interest-to-sponsor submission or confirmation number does not guarantee an invitation to apply. Only invited sponsors can submit a complete application during the relevant intake.

If your family already has an existing PGP application, preserve the application record and respond to IRCC requests on time. If you do not have an existing application, do not assume that submitting an interest form now will create one while intake is paused.

Should you wait for PGP to reopen?

There is no confirmed reopening date in the current notice, so do not plan around a predicted intake date. Monitor official IRCC announcements, but base today’s decision on the family’s actual objective and the route currently available.

If permanent residence is the priority and no PGP application is already in progress, use this pause to prepare the information that a future intake may require: proof of the family relationship, the sponsor’s status in Canada, household details, income records and the applicable undertaking information. Preparation does not create an application or reserve a place in a future intake.

What does the permanent-residence pathway involve when intake is available?

When the Parents and Grandparents Program accepts applications, the process generally involves an invitation or other intake step, a sponsorship application, proof of the relationship and the sponsor’s qualifying status, financial evidence, an undertaking, and permanent-residence forms and supporting documents for the parent or grandparent.

The sponsor should first confirm that the program is accepting applications and that the correct intake instructions apply. The family then needs to match the sponsor, applicant and dependent-family information across the forms, relationship records, income evidence and civil documents. Medical examinations, police certificates and other documents may be required for permanent residence under the applicable instructions.

Families with an existing application should follow the document requests and deadlines attached to that file. Families without an application should monitor official IRCC announcements and avoid treating a Super Visa application as a permanent-residence submission.

When does the Super Visa make sense?

A Super Visa is the route to assess when an eligible parent or grandparent wants an extended, temporary stay with family in Canada. It can allow visits of up to five years at a time and multiple entries for up to 10 years, subject to the applicable rules and the officer’s decision.

The applicant must be the parent or grandparent of a qualifying host. The host must be the applicant’s biological or adopted child or grandchild, be at least 18, live in Canada, be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian, meet the applicable minimum income requirement, and provide a signed invitation letter. See the Super Visa eligibility requirements.

• Prioritize permanent residence if the family’s goal is settlement and a PGP application is already in progress or a future intake becomes available.
• Assess a Super Visa if the goal is a longer temporary visit and the host can meet the current income framework and insurance requirements.
• Assess a visitor visa if a shorter visit is enough and the family does not need the Super Visa’s extended-stay framework.

How much money do you need to sponsor a parent?

There is no single income amount for every parent-related route. The figure depends on the pathway, applicable income year, household size and current IRCC instructions.

For a Super Visa, count the host’s household and the visiting parent or grandparent, then compare the relevant income evidence with the current Minimum Necessary Income, often called MNI or LICO, table. Do not rely on a figure copied from an older guide.

IRCC changed Super Visa family-income calculations effective March 31, 2026, including two alternative ways for hosts to meet the requirement. An eligible spouse or common-law partner may co-sign and contribute income evidence. Check the current Super Visa income calculation changes before finalizing the calculation.

Insurance, medical exams and biometrics

Super Visa applicants must address requirements that do not apply in the same way to a PGP application. These include qualifying private medical insurance, and depending on the application, an immigration medical examination and biometrics.

Applicants must provide private health insurance valid for at least one year from the date of entry, from an eligible insurer, with the required proof of coverage and payment arrangement. The official Super Visa application instructions set out the current insurance, application and examination requirements.

For route selection, the practical point is simple: these Super Visa requirements support a temporary visit and do not turn that visit into a permanent-residence application. Insurance and income also do not guarantee approval. The officer still assesses admissibility, the purpose and circumstances of the visit, temporary intent and the overall evidence.

What if the parent or grandparent was refused?

Begin with the refusal letter and the officer’s concerns, not with a fresh application form. A meaningful reapplication identifies the concern, shows what has changed and connects new evidence to it.

If the refusal involved a temporary visit, review the stated purpose, proposed length of stay, personal and financial ties, travel compliance and return explanation. If it involved a PGP application, follow the correspondence and requirements for that permanent-residence file instead of switching pathways without understanding the original concern.

Do not resubmit the same package with only a new date. The correct next step depends on whether the family is dealing with a paused PGP intake, an existing permanent-residence application or a refused temporary-visit application.

Questions families ask

Will parent sponsorship reopen in 2026?

There is no confirmed reopening date in the current official notice. New PGP intake is paused as of July 15, 2026, while existing applications continue to be processed.

How much money do you need to sponsor a parent?

The amount depends on the pathway, income year, household size and current instructions. For a Super Visa, calculate household size first and apply the current MNI framework. A universal number without those details is unreliable.

What is the 28-year rule?

The so-called 28-year rule is not a current parent-sponsorship requirement verified for this guide. Use current PGP instructions for permanent residence or current Super Visa instructions for a temporary visit.

Can a parent apply for a Super Visa while permanent-residence sponsorship is pending?

A parent may be able to seek a temporary visa while a permanent-residence matter is pending, but approval is not automatic. The Super Visa application must still satisfy its requirements and demonstrate compliance with temporary conditions.

Choose the next review that matches your family’s goal

Decide whether your family is pursuing permanent residence, an extended temporary visit or a shorter visit. If a PGP application already exists, follow its requests and deadlines. If no application exists, monitor the official intake position and use the pause to organize relationship, status, household and income information for the appropriate future or temporary pathway.

For help assessing an extended temporary visit from Brampton, Simmi Immigration provides Super Visa application support.