Jamaine Punzalan

Photo by Praveen Kumar Nandagiri on Unsplash

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784169384130praveen-kumar-nandagiri-O-1hOdIqQz0-unsplash.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Photo by Praveen Kumar Nandagiri on Unsplash</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Canadian government said it was suspending the intake of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). </p><p>The program allows citizens and permanent residents to sponsor the parents and grandparents to become permanent residents of Canada. Sponsors commit to support their family members financially and guarantee that they would not need social assistance from the government for 20 years. The undertaking period is 10 years for those who live in Quebec.</p><p>“Interest in the PGP Program continues to exceed the spaces available under the levels plan. To manage this pressure responsibly, IRCC will not receive new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice,” Ottawa announced.  </p><p>It said it would “continue to process existing applications and plan to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the PGP Program in 2026, in line with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.”</p><p>“Family reunification remains an important pillar of Canada’s immigration system. Parents and grandparents continue to be able to visit their children and grandchildren in Canada through the super visa, which allows them to visit their children or grandchildren for 5 years at a time and provides multiple entries to Canada for up to 10 years,” it added. </p><p>Canada is known as a welcoming destination for new arrivals, including economic migrants from the developing world seeking better living conditions.</p><p>But the country has sharply curbed its immigration targets in an effort to &quot;pause&quot; population growth, as public support for immigration declined. </p><div><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong></strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/2/12/canada-police-say-18-year-old-carried-out-mass-shooting-0740">Canada police say 18-year-old carried out mass shooting</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/5/29/canadian-who-sold-poison-for-suicides-to-plead-guilty-1312">Canadian who sold poison for suicides to plead guilty</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/1/15/us-suspends-immigrant-visa-processing-for-75-countries-white-house-0111">US suspends immigrant visa processing for 75 countries: White House</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YhPCQYegd6o?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jsv7-rNQosY?&amp;pp=0gcJCZQLAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><strong></strong></div>

<p>The Canadian government said it was suspending the intake of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).</p>

The Canadian government said it was suspending the intake of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).

Canada pauses parents, grandparents sponsorship program

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Canada pauses parents, grandparents sponsorship program

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 16, 2026 10:39 AM PHT

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Updated July 16, 2026 12:50 PM PHT

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