Ottawa, Canada: The Canadian government has suspended new sponsorship applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) from July 15, 2026, until further notice, dealing a major blow to thousands of Indian families, especially the Punjabi community.

Under the decision, new permanent residents (PR holders) will no longer be able to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence (PR). However, applications submitted on or before July 15, 2026, will continue to be processed and will not be cancelled.

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the decision has been taken due to a growing backlog of nearly 60,000 pending PGP applications and demand that far exceeds the annual intake. Under Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, the government aims to grant permanent residence to 15,000 parent and grandparent applicants in 2026.

Punjab Likely to Be Among the Worst Affected

The decision is expected to have a significant impact on Punjab, where thousands of families have members settled in Canada. Many permanent residents were planning to bring their parents and grandparents through the PGP, making family reunification an important part of their long-term settlement plans.

With new sponsorships now on hold, many families will have to put those plans on hold and rely on alternative options.

Super Visa Remains the Only Option

Although new PGP applications have been suspended, parents and grandparents can still travel to Canada through the Super Visa. The visa allows stays of up to five years per visit, remains valid for 10 years with multiple entries, and extensions can also be requested. However, it does not provide permanent resident status.

Existing Applications to Continue

The Canadian government has clarified that all PGP applications submitted on or before July 15, 2026, will continue to be processed as usual. No existing applications will be cancelled.

Experts Call It a Temporary Move

Immigration experts say the suspension is not a permanent closure of the PGP. They believe the program could reopen once the current backlog is reduced and the Canadian government revises its future immigration targets. However, IRCC has not announced any timeline for accepting new sponsorship applications again.