Canada suspends new parent, grandparent sponsorship applications indefinitely

Canada has indefinitely suspended new applications under its popular Parents and Grandparents Programme (PGP), dealing a major blow to immigrants—including thousands of Bangladeshis—hoping to bring their parents and grandparents to the country as permanent residents.

The decision was announced on Wednesday (July 15) by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which said the move is aimed at making the country's immigration system more efficient, orderly and sustainable.

According to IRCC, applications already submitted under the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan will continue to be processed. The government has set a target of approving 15,000 permanent residence applications from the existing PGP backlog this year.

The department said demand for the programme has consistently exceeded available quotas, resulting in a significant backlog. To reduce processing delays, no new applications will be accepted until further notice, and no invitations will be issued to prospective sponsors during this period.

According to The Canadian Press, more than 60,500 applications submitted through the lottery-based system introduced in 2020 remain pending. Officials estimate it could take more than two and a half years to clear the backlog.

Despite the suspension, Canada's Super Visa program will remain available. The visa allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years per visit and offers multiple entries for up to 10 years.

The latest government data show that 27,330 people obtained permanent residency through the PGP in 2024, down 3.5 percent from the previous year. During the same period, Canada approved 53,695 Super Visas, a decline of 26.6 percent compared with 2023.