The Canadian government has suspended the intake of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), halting an important method that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence.
The decision, announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently, is aimed at reducing a large application backlog and improving processing times. Until further notice, Canadians will no longer be able to submit new “Interest to Sponsor” forms under the program.
The move is expected to affect thousands of families, particularly Canada’s large Indian diaspora, many of whom rely on the program to reunite with elderly parents.
According to IRCC, the pause will allow immigration officials to focus on applications already in the system. Despite annual immigration targets, the program continues to face significant processing delays.
According to IRCC, around 60,500 applications are currently being processed. The government plans to admit 15,000 permanent residents through the program each year between 2026 and 2028.
