PGP intake status as of January 2026 — read this first:
The Parents and Grandparents Program is closed to new applications. As of January 1, 2026, IRCC is not accepting any new PGP sponsorship or permanent residence applications until further instructions are issued. IRCC is processing only applications submitted in 2025 under invitations issued from the 2020 Interest to Sponsor pool, up to a maximum of 10,000 complete files. No new Interest to Sponsor forms are being accepted. There is no confirmed date for the program to reopen or for a new intake to be announced.
What the PGP Is — and Why It Matters
There are parents who raised their children, made every sacrifice, and watched those children build lives in Canada. And now there is distance. Holidays spent on video calls. Grandchildren who speak to their grandparents through a screen. A parent whose health is changing and whose family is thousands of kilometres away.
The Parents and Grandparents Program is Canada’s answer to that distance. It is the only federal immigration pathway that grants parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents full permanent residence — the right to live in Canada permanently, to access healthcare, to be present not just for the big events but for the ordinary days.
It is also, in 2026, a program that you cannot apply to. The intake is closed. No new applications are being accepted. For the majority of Canadian families who want this outcome for their parents, the only paths available right now are the Super Visa — which provides long-stay visitor status, not permanent residence — and preparation for whenever the program reopens.
Why we still dedicate a full guide to this program:
Because the families who need the PGP do not stop needing it just because the intake is closed. And because the next time it opens — whenever that is — the families who are prepared will be the ones who succeed. This page tells you everything about how the program works, what will be required of you, and what you should be doing right now. None of it is wasted if you are ready when the door opens.
How the PGP Works
The Parents and Grandparents Program is not a standard application stream. It does not accept applications year-round. It does not operate on a first-come, first-served basis. It runs through a lottery — and the lottery determines who gets to apply, not who gets approved.
The process has four stages. First, IRCC announces an intake period and accepts Interest to Sponsor (ITS) submissions from eligible Canadians who want to sponsor a parent or grandparent. Second, IRCC conducts a randomised lottery from the pool of ITS submissions and sends invitations to apply to a limited number of selected sponsors. Third, invited sponsors submit their full application — including all supporting documents, income evidence, and the sponsored person’s information — within a 60-day deadline. Fourth, IRCC processes the file and, if approved, the parent or grandparent becomes a permanent resident.
The 2025 intake — what happened and what it means:
In 2025, IRCC chose not to open a new ITS intake. Instead, it drew 17,860 invitations to apply from the remaining 2020 ITS pool — the Interest to Sponsor forms submitted five years earlier. Those invitations were sent July 28–30, 2025, and the deadline for full applications was 60 days from the invitation date. A maximum of 10,000 complete applications were accepted. IRCC is now processing those 10,000 files. No new ITS forms were accepted in 2025 and none are being accepted in 2026. Families who did not submit an ITS in 2020 have not yet had an opportunity to enter the lottery.
Who Can Sponsor Under the PGP
When the program next opens, these are the requirements that will determine your eligibility. Use the current pause to assess your position honestly.
The Sponsor
Status required
Canadian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 or older
Residency (PRs)
Must reside in Canada to sponsor. PRs living outside Canada are not eligible.
Income requirement
Must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for 3 consecutive tax years immediately before the application
No social assistance
Cannot receive social assistance for reasons other than disability
No prior default
Cannot be in default on a previous sponsorship undertaking
No active sponsorships
Cannot have a prior sponsorship in process that has not been finalised
Criminal admissibility
Certain criminal convictions, particularly those involving violence or offences against family members, may disqualify the sponsor
Quebec residents
Additional MIFI provincial requirements apply; Quebec has its own income thresholds and processing
The Minimum Necessary Income
The MNI is the income threshold that distinguishes PGP sponsorship from spousal sponsorship. Unlike the spousal program, which has no minimum income requirement, the PGP requires the sponsor to prove they have earned above a specific threshold for 3 consecutive years before applying. The threshold is based on the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30%, adjusted for the size of the household including the parents or grandparents being sponsored.
The MNI is verified through Notices of Assessment (NOAs) from the Canada Revenue Agency for the 3 most recent tax years. If your income in any of those 3 years falls below the threshold, you do not qualify — regardless of your current income. This is the requirement that eliminates the most potential sponsors and the one that requires the most advance planning.
Start building your income record now:
If you are planning to sponsor a parent or grandparent when the program reopens, your MNI eligibility is based on tax years you are filing right now. A sponsor who has 3 consecutive years of qualifying income when the next intake opens can act immediately. A sponsor who has one year of qualifying income will need to wait. The preparation that happens during the pause is what determines who can move quickly when the door opens.
Who Can Be Sponsored
Eligible relatives
Biological parent, adoptive parent, grandparent, and their spouse or common-law partner
Step-parents
A step-parent can be sponsored if the sponsor was raised by them as their own child
Spouse or partner of parent
The spouse or common-law partner of the parent or grandparent can be included in the same application
Dependent children
Dependent children of the sponsored parent can also be included
Age
No minimum or maximum age for the person being sponsored
Admissibility
The sponsored person must be medically and criminally admissible to Canada
The Undertaking — A 20-Year Commitment
The undertaking for PGP sponsorship is the longest in Canadian immigration. When you sponsor a parent or grandparent, you commit to financially supporting them for 20 years from the date they become permanent residents. This means ensuring they have food, shelter, clothing, and basic healthcare without needing to rely on social assistance.
20 years is not a typo:
This is the longest legal financial commitment in Canadian family immigration. It does not pause if your financial circumstances change. It does not end if your relationship with your parent deteriorates. It survives your separation, your job loss, your own family’s financial pressures. Every sponsor must understand this commitment fully before the application is submitted. It is also the reason the MNI test over 3 years exists — IRCC needs evidence that the sponsor can sustain this commitment over the long term.
Processing Times
For the 10,000 applications currently in IRCC’s 2025 processing queue, the published timelines as of February 2026 are:
Outside Quebec
Approximately 24 months from the date the complete application was received
Quebec-destined
Approximately 48 months — significantly longer due to the separate MIFI provincial assessment
When the clock starts
From the date IRCC receives the complete application, not the date the ITS was submitted or the invitation was sent
IRCC update frequency
Processing times are updated regularly at canada.ca — always check the current figure
For families whose applications are already in the 2025 queue, the 24-month figure means decisions are expected late 2027 for most non-Quebec files. For families outside the queue, there is no processing timeline to reference because there is no application in progress.
Government Fees (When the Program Reopens)
These are the official IRCC fees effective April 30, 2026, sourced from the IRCC fee schedule. These apply to PGP applications when the program next opens for intake.
| Fee | $CAD | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor your parent or grandparent — all-in | $1,260.00 | Includes sponsorship fee + processing fee + Right of Permanent Residence Fee |
| Sponsor your parent or grandparent (without RPRF) | $660.00 | Sponsorship fee + processing fee only |
| Include spouse or partner of parent/grandparent — all-in | $1,260.00 | Includes sponsorship fee + processing fee + RPRF |
| Include spouse or partner (without RPRF) | $660.00 | Sponsorship fee + processing fee only |
| Include dependent child of parent/grandparent | $180.00 | Per child |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) | $600.00 | Increased April 30, 2026 — payable on approval or upfront |
| Biometrics — per person | $85.00 | Family of 2 or more: $170 maximum |
| Quebec provincial undertaking fee (MIFI) | Additional | Confirm current MIFI amount |
Source: IRCC Fee List — last updated April 30, 2026. Fees may change without notice. Always verify with IRCC before submitting your application.
What to Do Right Now While the Intake Is Closed
The pause is not wasted time if you use it correctly. The families who will be best positioned when the PGP next opens are the ones doing the following right now.
- Build and document your income record. — Your MNI eligibility looks back 3 consecutive tax years from the date of application. File your returns on time, every year, and retain your Notices of Assessment. If your income in any of those years falls below the threshold for your family size, you do not qualify. Start building the record that will matter when the intake opens.
- Assess and manage admissibility issues. — Does your parent or grandparent have health conditions that might raise an “excessive demand” concern? A prior criminal matter in any country? Prior immigration violations? These do not automatically disqualify — but they need to be assessed and, where possible, addressed before the application is submitted. Some take time to resolve.
- Consider the Super Visa for interim visits. — If the goal is to have your parents with you while you wait for the PGP to reopen, the Super Visa allows them to stay in Canada for up to 5 consecutive years. It is not permanent residence. But it is meaningful, extended presence in your life, and it is available now.
- Stay informed about the next intake. — IRCC has not confirmed when the next PGP intake will open or what form it will take. The next announcement could be a new ITS pool, a draw from an existing pool, or a redesigned demand-managed model. Subscribe to IRCC updates and ensure your contact information with any prior ITS submissions is current.
→ Super Visa — the interim option for extended visits while PGP is closed
PGP vs Super Visa — The Practical Comparison
While the PGP is closed, the Super Visa is the most meaningful alternative for families who want their parents in Canada. Understanding the difference helps families make the right choice for their situation.
| Feature | PGP Sponsorship | Super Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Status granted | Permanent residence | Temporary visitor status |
| Right to stay | Indefinitely | Up to 5 years per entry, up to 10 years total |
| Access to work | Yes — as a PR | No (unless separately eligible for work permit) |
| Access to healthcare | Full public access as PR | Requires private insurance ($100K minimum) |
| Current availability | CLOSED — no new intake in 2026 | OPEN — can apply now |
| Income requirement (sponsor) | MNI for 3 years (LICO+30%) | LICO+30% current year |
| Processing | ~24 months (non-QC) | ~132 days |
| Leads to PR? | Yes | No |
| Undertaking period | 20 years | Not applicable |
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Disclaimer: The information on this page is intended as a general guide and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws and policies change frequently. Final decisions on all immigration applications are made solely by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and other Canadian immigration authorities. No outcome can be promised. For advice specific to your situation, please book a consultation with our RCIC-licensed team.