Pause on Parent and Grandparent Sponsorships

Summary#

These are ministerial instructions under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that stop new parent and grandparent permanent-resident visa files from being accepted for processing as of January 1, 2026. Only applications that were received in 2025 and that meet specific conditions will be processed in 2026, and processing is capped at 10 000 sponsorship applications.

What it does#

• Stops the Department of Citizenship and Immigration from accepting any new permanent-resident visa applications by parents or grandparents, and related sponsorship applications, starting January 1, 2026.
• Allows only applications that were actually received in 2025 to be accepted into processing during the 2026 calendar year.
• Limits the number of sponsorship applications accepted into processing in 2026 to a maximum of 10 000.
• Requires applications accepted for processing to meet conditions, including:
  • the sponsor must have submitted an interest to sponsor during the period from October 13, 2020 to November 3, 2020, and have been invited to apply;
  • the application and sponsor forms must match the information from the original interest or explain and document any differences;
  • applications must be submitted by electronic means (online), except where alternate formats were made available for disability or as otherwise specified;
  • the file must include the documents listed in the application package.
• Sets deadlines tied to invitations: sponsors have at least 60 calendar days from their invitation to submit the sponsorship and visa applications, and applicants may get an additional 30 calendar days to supply missing documents after a request.
• Says files that don’t meet the conditions will be returned and that applications are processed in the order received.
• States that humanitarian and compassionate requests from outside Canada that accompany applications not accepted under these instructions will not be processed.
• These instructions take effect on January 1, 2026 (issued December 12, 2025).

Who's affected#

• People in Canada who wanted to sponsor a parent or grandparent and who submitted an interest to sponsor between October 13, 2020 and November 3, 2020, and who received an invitation to apply in 2025.
• Parents and grandparents who filed permanent-resident visa applications in 2025 in relation to those sponsorships.
• Immigration representatives and community groups who help sponsors and applicants with documentation and online submissions.
• People who did not file an interest in 2020, or who try to submit new parent/grandparent sponsorships or visa applications after January 1, 2026 — their new files will not be accepted unless later instructions change this.

Why it matters#

• If you hoped to sponsor a parent or grandparent and did not file an interest in 2020, you will not be able to start a new sponsorship or visa application after January 1, 2026 under these instructions.
• If you have a file from 2025, you must meet the stated conditions (correct paperwork, online submission, meeting invitation deadlines) or your application will be returned. Missing paperwork can be given an extra 30 days, but only after the initial 60-day window tied to the invitation.
• The cap of 10 000 sponsorship files means even some 2025 applications could be delayed or returned if the cap is reached.
• The instructions rely on the earlier randomized invitation process from 2025 and the pool of interests submitted in 2020, so people’s ability to reunite with parents or grandparents depends on those prior steps and on whether their 2025 applications meet the rules.