Canada Suspends Parents and Grandparents Visa Applications, Cites Backlog

Canada has suspended new applications for the Parents and Grandparents Programme (PGP) as it struggles with a growing immigration backlog. Canadian citizens and permanent residents can no longer submit new applications to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residency, the federal government announced.

The decision, announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), means no new applications will be accepted under the PGP until further notice. However, immigration authorities confirmed that applications already in the system will continue to be processed, with the government targeting 15,000 approvals under the programme in 2026.

Why Canada Suspended the Programme

The IRCC will not accept new 'interest to sponsor' forms or issue fresh invitations for the PGP as it focuses on reducing a growing backlog of pending applications. The suspension extends a policy that has effectively limited access to the programme for several years. Since 2020, the PGP has operated through a lottery system, with invitations drawn exclusively from a pool of applicants who registered during a brief intake period that year.

Families that did not enter the 2020 lottery have been unable to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residency, and the latest announcement confirms this restriction will remain in place for the foreseeable future. The decision comes as immigration officials work through a substantial backlog. IRCC currently has about 50,900 parent and grandparent sponsorship applications awaiting processing. Of these, 40,400 involve applicants planning to settle outside Quebec, while 10,500 are destined for Quebec, where provincial immigration limits have contributed to longer delays.

Processing Times and Backlog Reduction Targets

To reduce the backlog, Canada has maintained a flat admissions target of 15,000 parent and grandparent permanent residents annually for 2026, 2027 and 2028, rather than increasing intake levels. Applicants who submitted their files in July 2025 are still expected to face lengthy processing times. Current estimates show an average wait of 18 months for applicants outside Quebec, while those intending to settle in Quebec could wait as long as 54 months.

Super Visa as an Alternative

Although the permanent residency pathway has been suspended for new applicants, the Canadian government is encouraging families to consider the Super Visa as an alternative. Unlike the PGP, which grants permanent resident status, the Super Visa provides temporary resident status for extended family visits. The visa is valid for up to 10 years and allows parents and grandparents to remain in Canada for up to five years per visit, significantly longer than the standard six-month stay permitted under a regular visitor visa.

Applicants seeking a Super Visa must meet several conditions before approval. These include obtaining a formal invitation letter from their child or grandchild in Canada, purchasing valid Canadian medical insurance, and proving that the host meets the government's minimum income requirements. Applicants must also satisfy Canada's standard immigration and admissibility requirements, including demonstrating that they intend to leave the country once their authorised stay expires.

For thousands of families hoping to reunite permanently, the Super Visa now remains the primary option while Canada focuses on clearing its existing sponsorship backlog.

For Nigerian families with relatives in Canada, the suspension means the already difficult path to permanent reunification has become even more restricted. With no new applications accepted and processing times stretching up to 54 months for Quebec-bound applicants, the Super Visa offers a temporary solution but not the permanent settlement many hoped for. The naira's weakness against the Canadian dollar also makes the required medical insurance and proof of income thresholds more costly for Nigerian sponsors.