Bringing Your Parents or Grandparents to Canada in 2026

Let’s start with the part most newcomers only hear through WhatsApp groups and private conversations. In 2026, Canada is not accepting new Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) applications for processing. This isn’t a rumour. It’s written into the government’s ministerial instructions and reflected on IRCC’s official information page.

 

If you want to verify the program status directly, you can check the official IRCC page here: IRCC: Parents and Grandparents Program https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/parents-grandparents.html

 

So what does that leave families with?

 

For many newcomers, it means facing a hard truth. The only reliable pathways open right now are temporary ones, and in practice, they shift much of the financial and emotional burden onto families.

1) The option still open: the Super Visa

Long stays, temporary status, and a price tag many families underestimate If your goal is extended time together, the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa is the main pathway still operating year‑round.

 

What it offers

The Super Visa is a multiple‑entry visa that can be valid for up to ten years. Parents and grandparents entering Canada on or after June 22, 2023 can usually stay for up to five years per visit, although the final decision always depends on the border officer at entry.

 

Where families feel the pressure

This is still visitor status, which means they can’t work or study unless they separately qualify. The biggest barrier for many households is the required medical insurance. The Super Visa requires private insurance with strict minimums, including at least $100,000 in coverage for one full year and coverage for health care, hospitalization, and repatriation.

 

Since January 28, 2025, approved non‑Canadian insurers can provide this coverage. That may help with pricing, but the cost remains significant, especially for seniors or families supporting multiple parents.

2) The “simpler” route: Visitor Visa or eTA

Shorter stays, fewer requirements, and more uncertainty than people expect If your parent or grandparent only needs a short visit, the regular visitor pathway is often the most straightforward.

 

How long they can stay

Most visitors can stay up to six months per visit unless the officer decides otherwise or issues a visitor record.

 

The challenge

Approval depends heavily on proving they will return home. Officers look at ties, finances, travel history, and the overall story of the visit.

 

This is where newcomers often feel blindsided. Two families can submit very similar applications and get completely different outcomes. It’s one of the most unpredictable parts of the system, and it’s why preparation matters more than people expect.

The uncomfortable truth: Canada didn’t end reunification. It changed who pays for it.

Here’s the part that doesn’t get said out loud enough.

 

When PGP pauses, family reunification doesn’t disappear. It gets redirected into a temporary model that relies on private insurance, higher household income, and ongoing responsibility from the family already trying to settle in Canada.

 

The practical result is hard to ignore. Long‑term togetherness becomes much easier for households with stronger financial capacity. This isn’t about anyone’s intentions. It’s simply what the current structure produces.

So what should newcomers do in 2026?

 

If your goal is long‑term stays

Choose the Super Visa and treat it like a structured project. Confirm you meet income requirements, budget for insurance early, and plan for an immigration medical exam.

 

If your goal is a short visit

Choose the Visitor Visa or eTA. Prepare a clear visit plan, show strong ties to the home country, and demonstrate financial ability with clean documentation.

 

If your goal is permanent residence for parents

Right now, the honest answer is that you’re waiting. The 2026 direction is clear: no new PGP applications are being accepted for processing until further notice.

Question?

Is Canada still committed to family reunification in a meaningful way, or are we quietly moving toward a temporary‑family model where long‑term togetherness depends on financial strength?