Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has imposed an intake freeze on its Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) effective 1 January 2026, confirming no new sponsorship applications will be accepted “until further notice”. The policy, revealed in Ministerial Instructions 89 and reported by Indian media on 11 January, aims to clear a backlog of up to 10,000 files from the restricted 2025 intake. ([indianexpress.com](https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/canada-puts-parent-grandparent-sponsorships-on-hold-for-2026-10467092/lite/))
Why it matters: India is the largest source country under the PGP; in 2024-25, more than 34 percent of invitations went to Indian-origin sponsors. The pause disrupts settlement plans for thousands of Indian permanent residents counting on reuniting with parents this year. Processing times already stretch 24-48 months, and the freeze may push first-application opportunities into 2027.
Alternatives: Ottawa continues to promote the “super visa”, a multiple-entry permit that lets parents and grandparents stay up to five years per visit. However, it remains a temporary status, requires private medical insurance (~CAD 1,000 per year) and bars holders from Canadian health-care benefits or work rights—limitations that many Indian families consider burdensome.
![Canada Freezes Parent-and-Grandparent Sponsorships for 2026, Leaves Indian Families Dependent on Super Visa]()
For Indian sponsors now weighing the super-visa route, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) can streamline the process by pre-screening documentation, guiding applicants through IRCC’s online forms, and coordinating courier pickup and delivery—helping families avoid costly mistakes and accelerate reunification plans.
Business-mobility angle: Multinational employers with Canada-bound Indian assignees often rely on PGP sponsorship to provide family-support stability. HR teams must counsel transferees that PGP is off the table for 2026 and factor potential extended family visits via super-visas into cost projections. Companies should also review duty-of-care frameworks, ensuring private insurance meets IRCC thresholds.
Political backdrop: The freeze aligns with Canada’s new Immigration Levels Plan, which trims overall permanent-resident quotas amid housing shortages. Advocacy groups accuse Ottawa of favouring temporary streams while undermining family reunification—an issue that could resonate among Canada’s 1.3 million-strong Indo-Canadian community in the next federal election.
Why it matters: India is the largest source country under the PGP; in 2024-25, more than 34 percent of invitations went to Indian-origin sponsors. The pause disrupts settlement plans for thousands of Indian permanent residents counting on reuniting with parents this year. Processing times already stretch 24-48 months, and the freeze may push first-application opportunities into 2027.
Alternatives: Ottawa continues to promote the “super visa”, a multiple-entry permit that lets parents and grandparents stay up to five years per visit. However, it remains a temporary status, requires private medical insurance (~CAD 1,000 per year) and bars holders from Canadian health-care benefits or work rights—limitations that many Indian families consider burdensome.
For Indian sponsors now weighing the super-visa route, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) can streamline the process by pre-screening documentation, guiding applicants through IRCC’s online forms, and coordinating courier pickup and delivery—helping families avoid costly mistakes and accelerate reunification plans.
Business-mobility angle: Multinational employers with Canada-bound Indian assignees often rely on PGP sponsorship to provide family-support stability. HR teams must counsel transferees that PGP is off the table for 2026 and factor potential extended family visits via super-visas into cost projections. Companies should also review duty-of-care frameworks, ensuring private insurance meets IRCC thresholds.
Political backdrop: The freeze aligns with Canada’s new Immigration Levels Plan, which trims overall permanent-resident quotas amid housing shortages. Advocacy groups accuse Ottawa of favouring temporary streams while undermining family reunification—an issue that could resonate among Canada’s 1.3 million-strong Indo-Canadian community in the next federal election.
