Canada Freezes Parent-and-Grandparent Sponsorships for 2026

Canada has announced a freeze on new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) starting January 1, 2026. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed that no new sponsorship applications will be accepted until further notice, as the government focuses on clearing a backlog of up to 10,000 files from the limited 2025 intake.

The decision is expected to have a major impact on Indian families, as India remains the largest source country under the PGP. In 2024–25, more than 34 per cent of invitations were issued to sponsors of Indian origin. With processing times already ranging between 24 and 48 months, the freeze could delay first-time sponsorship opportunities until 2027, disrupting long-term settlement and family reunification plans.

As an alternative, the federal government continues to promote the super visa program. This visa allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years per visit on a multiple-entry basis. However, the super visa is a temporary solution and comes with strict conditions, including mandatory private medical insurance costing around CAD 1,000 per year, no access to public health care, and no right to work, making it less attractive for many families.

The freeze also affects businesses and employers that rely on family reunification to support Indian employees relocating to Canada. Human resources teams are now being advised to plan around extended family visits through super visas and adjust relocation budgets, insurance coverage, and duty-of-care policies accordingly.

Politically, the move aligns with Canada’s revised Immigration Levels Plan, which reduces permanent resident targets amid housing and affordability concerns. Critics argue the decision prioritizes temporary immigration streams over family reunification, an issue likely to resonate strongly within Canada’s large Indo-Canadian community ahead of future federal elections.